The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-02-22

could furnish.
AS usual, 1t was Maud who was leader
and prime favorite. But she was admi-
rably seconded by three of her friends,
only little less brilliant and daring
than she. Then there we're two or three
society men who would have gone any
where that Maud and her set proposed.
Little did they care for the grandeur OF
mountain scenery in its severe winter
dress, but the trip promised much fun
and unlooked-for opportunities OF car
ry1ng out certain intentions. Last and
noisiest of all came George Yelling
ton, a Harvard Sophomore, with an
equally reckless and hair-brained class
mate, whom the ladies alternately
petted, snubbed and used as foils in
their most serious schemes.
Mr.. Thornton felt out of his element,
as he had done so many times during
the summer. He was not Keyed to the
same pitch of high spirits and unceas-
ing gayety. He was grave, quiet-a
man who was terribly in earnest about
everything he did. From the first mo-
ment that he saw her he became fasci-
mated with Maud, against his will and
better judgment. Her beauty, wit, CO.
prices, would not let themselves be for
gotten. He was angry with her, he
heartily disapproved Of her dozen
times day; and then, when he was
most indignant with her, he discovered
that he loved her with love which he
could not reason away nor live down.
He was more bitterly enraged with her
than ever to-day, as the cars rapidly
bore them toward the mountains. He
cursed himself and his folly in having
joined them. No one seemed to want
him. Maud, with her usual perverse-
ness, had given him careless greeting,
and turned away to lavish her brightest
smiles and merriest speeches on Gilbert
Livingston, MIN whom he cordially
hated aud despised. Mrs. Wellington
nervous, weak and timid, dreading the
journey, and unable to control her
children's madness, SO she clung to
Thornton with instructive trust in his
sober strength. He never dreamed,
being blind as men are, that Maud saw
every motion that he made, that she
had so placed herself as to hear every
word he spoke. He only saw, with
wrath and shame, that she was flirting
openly, desperately, with that soulless,
brainless Livingston.
But even Thornton shook off his
gloom when they came among the hills.
The highest peaks were white with
snow, rejecting the setting sun with
dazzling brilliancy against the marvel
ous blue of the sky. It was very
cold, but clear and still, when they left
the cars for their drive of a few miles
Mr.. Little met them with his six-horse
stage; the wind had not left enough
snow on the rising ground for sleigh
ing, to Maud's regret. 1t was an ex-
hilarating drive. The clear air made
each inhalation an increasing joy. The
laughter and the sweet, ringing voices
of the girls no longer Jared upon him;
he was a boy himself, and startled
them by his wit and gayety. Maud was
delighted. She warmed toward him,
and left poor Livingston shiveriEg out
of the sunlight of her favor. 1t was all
going to be q perfect success, she
thought, and blessed herself for the
inspiration.
The hotel, when they reached it.
after the stars had come out superbly in
the clear air, looked as if prepared for
siege. 1t was closed, except few
rooms on the ground floor of the west
and south sides. On the north and
east every blind was securely fastened.
Have you had an east blow yet p"
asked Maud, as they dashed up to the
door.
"No, miss; not yet" said the land
lord. 81 guess we will hev, pretty
quick, though. The maountings heY
kinder looked like it all day"
81 hope it will come. I should con-
slider our whole trip failure if it
doesn't"
Mr.. Little shook bis head and smiled
doubtfully. 81 guess when you've seed
one you won't be likely to want to see
another very quick"
The next day was gloriously clear
There was no wind stirring as yet. 1t
was this stiffness that reused the fore
bodings of the landlord. His guests
had a magnificent walk, they said; they
climbed part way up Starr King and
had a view hundred times more su-
perb than they had ever imagined it
could be. 1t had been hard work
| climbing over the slippery rocks and
they came back to the house delight.
fully tired and in undiminished spirits.
The general hilarity tagged not dur
ing the cozy evening round the huge,
open fire, and one and all pronounced
their satisfaction and delight-all ex-
cept Mrs. Wellington, who had not
stirred from the fire all day, and who
grew more and more nervous as the
talk about the expected east blow con-
tinued.
In the morning Mr.. Little's pre-
dictions were verified. The city peo-
ple's ears were startled by what he had
so often described as the "roaring of
the maountings." This strange, steadi-
ly increasing roar, which seemed so in
explicable, filed some with alarm, some
with most enjoyable excitement. Mr..