The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-04-19

had they given him, hiding himself in
the garret of the old house, in the back
part OF the hay.mow near the dusty
gable window, or in little hut he had
built in the woods. But his prying
little sister betrayed him one day, and
not only was his treasure confscated
but he himself was tied to the bedpost
by his mother and given such a whip
ping as would have discouraged most
youthful artists.
Later in life, when he was too old
for such vigorous measures, many leo
lures had he received on the frivolity OF
such tastes and the wickedness of min
istering to them.
These scenes passing through his
memory convinced him that it was vain
to battle with such inhexible rules, and
that to be free he must leave the farm
and all its associations.
There was but one which had really
held him. This was Sibbilla Vernon.
The daughter Of rigid parents, her
mother even "public friend" whose
voice at monthly and quarterly meet.
ings was familiar to all members of the
Society, Sibbilla was not unusual type
of the advanced thought of her sect.
Calm, self-possessed, clear headed, she
had announced when but fifteen to her
family that her own conscience was her
guide, and that in all essential matters
she should follow it.
From childhood she and Richard
Harris had delighted to play and talk
together; and though no word III love,
no kiss and no caress had ever passed
between them, both their families and
themselves considered their union
merely matter of time and money.
Nor did this absence of the usual. pas
sages OF love seem to any one conc, med
a strange circumstance. They were
accustomed to the repression Of all
outward show of feeling. In neither
household had the children ever seen q
kiss exchanged among it's members,
young or old.
Though devoid of any passion for art
herself, Sibbilia understood and re-
spected the forbidden tastes of her
lover. She looked upon his peculiar
abilities as gifts of God for use in life,
and she quietly but firmly put aside the
them indiscriminately.
"Wilt thou presume to deny the
many testimonies of Friends, both in
England and America, against these
sinful arts p her mother would ask
being "public friend of considera-
bic local fame she never employed the
incorrect nominative "thee," even in
family life.
Mother" replied the daughter,
" they spoke for their day. I must act
in mine by the light 1 have, not by
theirs"
Her mother wisely avoided argument,
trusting that the Spirit would enlighten
her daughter in time.
Leaving the fodder stack Richard
walked across the bare fields toward
the plain brick house which was Sib.
billa's home. His mind was made up.
He would go to New York and devote
himself to the study of art. He had
saved since his majority about three
hundred dollars. He had youth,
strength, talent. love-was not that
enoughP Would Sibbilla approve Of
itP Would she make the serious sacri-
nee 1t involved
AS he approached the house it was
about 10 o'clock, and all the males were
out at work. He knocked at the front
door, instead of the side door as usual,
and Sibbilla herself opened it and
gazed at him with considerable surprise
in her hazel eyes, quickly changing to
an expression of pleasure, which Rich
a Nd n Tofl IN 81.
filed him with both joy and anxiety.
Why, Richard, what brings thee
here at this hour2" was her exclama-
tion.
Sibbilla," he said, ct wish to see
thee, +" and stepping in he closed the door,
and they both stood in the wide hall,
obscurely lighted by the transoms at
each end. He paused a moment to re-
cover his control, and then spoke in a
low, vibrating tone: / am going to
leave the farm in order to study art. I
shall have to give up my membership
in the Society, as thee knows. Father
says he will leave me nothing if do,
and know thy mother agrees with
him. But am not afraid. All 1 ask
is that thee approve of my decision and
will become my wife as soon as / am
able to offer thee home"
At that supreme moment of resolve
all the strength which for generations
had been nurtured by the noble Quaker
theories of sel..reliance, all the passion
which for generations had been mufled
and smothered under the narrow Quaker
system of formality and repression,
burst forth and were expressed in the
face of Sibbilla Vernon. She seemed
to rise in stature, and looking him full
in the eyes, laying one hand on his arm
and passing the other round his neck,
she said:
Richard, will come to thee then,
or / will go with thee now."
The tone was low and the words with
out haste, but he who heard it felt in
his inmost soul that no oath could be
stronger.
Thank God and thee" he uttered,
and for the first time in their lives each