The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-05-31
The very thing l'' exclaimed Frank.

JNuj blIS bhlu AlIdJ u6T Cu66k DIlBuJ6H'
ing into still deeper carmine at his
evident satisfaction,
"But why didn't you show me this
the other day ~ he questioned.
IL hadn't found it then" answered
Alta, in some confusion.
Apd what is the price p Mr.. Frank
lyn asked, putting his hand in q bust.
ness-like way into his pocket.
Here again pretty Alta seemed to be
puzzled. She didn't know, she said.
Gould the gentleman tell her the price
OF the other oneP
1t was ten dollars, Mr.. Franklyn be-
lieved.
"Then, said Alta, speaking with an
evident effort, "would you think this
too dear at eight dollars. seeing that it
isn't mounted?"
&c I should consider it a very fair
price," said Mr.. Franklyn, kindly. And
he paid her the money, a gold half
eagle and three crisp, clean one-dollar
bills; and she vanished away down the
long hall like gray shadow.
"What fool 1 was," thought Mr..
Franklyn, suddenly rousing himself
from reverie, "not to ask her to take
it to Anoko's to be mounted on ivory !
And now 1 shall have to go around there
myself. Very stupid of me; but then l
often am stupid. But how pleased my
aunts will be, bless their dear old
hearts And what wonderful pair of
limpid hazel eyes that little girl has
got"
And all day long Alta Graves sweet
pea face came between him and the
dusty pages of his prosy law-books, like
vague dream of what might have
been, had she not been a shop girl and
he bachelor close on the forties,
He went home early, and on his way
he stopped at the establishment of
Tado Anoko.
Mr.. Simpson uttered an exclamation
of amazement at the sight of the ibis
and the sacred peak Fusiyama. "Well,
never !" cried he. "Aunt Sarah, look
ere. Where on hearth did you get this
ere, sir, if 1 may make so bold as to
ask For didn't know, l give you
my word of honor, as there was one like
it in the city"
1t was now Mr.. Franklyn's turn to
open his eyes. "The young lady
whom you calliAlta Graves brought it
to me-" said he "and 1 supposed, of
course, that you had sent it..
"Alta Graves - repeated Mr.. Simp-
son.
"Our Alta |" shortly spoke Aunt
Sarah. "Then as true as my name is
Sarah Simpson she have stole it-and
out of our very stock. And she knowed
of it all the time. the ungrateful mink,
while we was a-turning over heverything
to find a match for the banner that you
brought here. And you paid her, you
say, sir? Her ?"
"Certainly 1 did," said Mr.. Franklyn,
becoming more and more puzzled and
uncomfortable. For as to the oval
faced little maid with the liquid brown
eyes being thief, he did not believe a
word of it.
"Very we'll" asserted Simpson; "this
settles the ole haffair. There can't be
no doubt about it now; for she ave
never paid us the cash for this ere satin
banner"
"I always suspected she wasn't relia
ble," said Aunt Sarah, slowly wagging
her head to and fro. "She's deal
too good-looking. / never had no faith
in good looking shop-girls myself.
Didn't tell you so, Simpson {"
And Alta Graves, who was unpacking
large hamper of cups and saucers and
Enthusiastically pattern plates down in the
moldy basement, was promptly sum-
moned up by mouth of an eager, painting
little errand-boy. She came, coloring
and little abashed, but prettier than
ever.
" Young woman" uttered Simpson,
maiestically, what does this meanP"
"Confess at once, you base, unprin-
cipled girl |" said his aunt.
"Look here, Miss Graves" spoke
Franklyn, "Pm awful sorry to startle
you so, but there seems to be something
wrong about your saleof this banner to
me-"
"There is nothing wrong" said Alta.
quietly did sell it to you"
"And where did you get it ?" sternly
demanded Aunt Sarah. f" Confess, base
girl, that you stole it. Prevarications
won't do here"
Atlas cheeks crimsoned; her eyes
blazed into sudden brilliance.
81 never stole it." she cried do you
| Lulnk ANA bnlel Ous mtb. OlmpSOu,
how can yon, woman, be so hard upon
me, friendless girl made the banner
myself. 1 bought the satin and the
embroidery silk, and the gold thread
out of my savings, and sat up two
nights to embroider it, 80 that l could
earn a little more money than the poor
wages you pay me, to buy fruit for my
mother, who lies at home dying Of
consumption. There If that is being 9
thief, then 1 stand condemned"
And here poor Atlas dignifed bear
ing gave way all at once and she burst
out crying like child!s
"Don't fret, my DEAR" soothed Aunt
Sarah, who was kind-hearted woman
in the main. "It's a Misunderstanding
that's all. Don't fret"
"It's a very good limitation of the
expanese style-very," remarked Mr.
/ l.. L. L..