The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-01-18

charming as before.
"Do you know" said Mr.. Hartley's
mother, one twilight, some time after
ward, "Pm afraid I have been doing an
injustice to Miss Barnes? She really
has q heart. Those poor McNultys
When Mrs. McNulty died she used to
go down there every evening, and carry
supper, and hear the children's
prayers, and put them to bed, and
leave breakfast set out for the father
in the morning. just think of that
girl doing such things !"
"Did she tell you that she did,
mother {" asked Harold.
"Well, no, That is, not exactly.
heard that one of the Hill ladies was
down at the McNulty's doing these
ings, and spoke of it incidentally to
Miss Barnes; and she asked me to say
nothing about it, and said she only did
what she couldn't help doing; and when
l said l thought it great deal for her
to leave all Eer gay life every sunset,
and go down there, night after night,
and wait on that family, md then hurry
home to her household of company, she
colored up so prettily, and said we we're
all stewards, and it was duty and pleas
ure, too, to do what s.sbe could"
Humph |" said Harold Hartley. He
knew very we'll now who it was that he
saw through the window of the Nc
Nulty cottage. But, after all, pretty
face covers a multitude of sins. he
set about forgetting the deceit; he
Reasoned that it was q girlish jest, sig
nifying nothing; and he went to Wash
ington all the same, shortly after the
holiday season arrived, and presented
himself among the fist New Years
callers at the great doors of MIR. Barnes
residence there.
"Ah have you come? ?" cried Miss
Barnes, hurrying to meet him. "We
were so afraid you wouldn't. And now
you know so few people in town that
you have'no calls to make, and 1 want
you to stay the whole day here with us.
I've perfect crowd of pretty girls to
help me receive, and dear deat-and-
dumb old duenna for a chaperon, and it
will be one long festival Will you have
some refreshment now? Champagne
punch? There's some Madeira, fifty
years old. All there's the bell. Every
man to his post There are no privates
here; but I'm captain general !" and she
danced back to her place, well content
that Mr.. Hartley should see the trium-
phal procession that the day was likely
to be.
And triumphal procession it was
the .jeunneSse doree. Loungers, clerks,
attaches, members, senators, score
taries, officers in their splendid uni
forms, all swelled the ranks, swept
through the great house, and kept it
thronged with groups in the rose draw
ing room, groups in. the gray parlor, in
the music hall, the dining-room and
the conservatory.
AS the day wore on Miss Barnes,
with portion of her attendants, was
as much in the dining-room as the
drawing-room, sauntering in with one
and out with another, or standing under
the heavy curtains between the rooms.
What a picture she made, Harold
thought, in her scarlet satins, with yell
low poppies In her hair, against the
background of the citrine-colored cur
tains. There she was now, taking that
Venetian gem of a decanter from SER
want, and herself pouring wine for an
old senator, who had perhaps already
too much. Here came a parcel of gold
laced officers, flushed and gay and hand
some. What did she mean by urging
that old port on the half-tipsy boy
among them, while the others laughed
and iested?
Harold was not ordinarily troubled
with scruples but this seemed to him
to pass the limits of a jest, and he ex-
perienced a sense of relief as he saw a
lady approach in the shadow of the cur
I tain, and placing her hand on his arm
lead the boy away. Gowned in cleaning
white satin, her shining shape crossed
that scarlet blaze like the passing of q
moonbean, and knowing who it was
and thinking she might have trouble,
Harold followed but it was only to
find Nina alone in the gray parlor, the
boy having laughed her cup of bouillon
to scorn and left her out of hand.
" Isn't it too bad?" she said, with a
laugh that was half sigh, after all.
"He asked me if was temperance
lecturer, and called this delicious bouil-
| Ion 'slops.' VIII you have it p
"Where have you been all day ?" he
said, setting down the cup.
/ Ohs 4 AL Oh NdeJ Oi DAAA9 nAQCs W o
are all stationed by plan Of battle but
most of my battalion have deserted to
the other rooms. Isn't this lovely
one? 1t almost units a person for
quiet life at home, these gay nights and
days. 1t would, at least, if one were
quite at rest in st."
1t was lovely room. 1t tempted all
Harold's old love of ease and luxury.
The gray velvet on the floor, draping
the walls, covering the cushioned
divans, wearing frosty bloom under
the silver chandeliers, the delicate
carved jades, and worries, aud spars, the
one white-winged marble, it seemed
somehow as if Nina herself had taken
shape from all these pure, pearly
shadows. He looked through the
cleaning arches that led from room to
| room and saw fha apariat-ciad and