The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-11-07

But then he couldn't forget. That
was what he was going to say when the
door opened. The Bible don't ask that.
Or. does it, when it speaks about God
casting our sins into the depths of the
sea-behind his back-remembering
them no more against us Forget
What was there to forget He had lent
his own brother 5000. Might have
given it to him and never missed it.
Under his remorseful eye his great fields
stretched away, white now with snow
white as the soul God had forgiven, but
yellow enough he knew as summer came
on, yellow as the gold they would bring
to his pocket. Those few poor, pitiful
hillsides of Samuelsl Why hadn't he
given it to him right out and saved hard
feelings There was Johnny (named for
him) wanting to go to college ever since
he was out of petticoats. Suppose he
had given it to him.
Misery-misery of remembering un-
kindness when it is too late And then
that cutting letter. Had it reached him
before he died, or was it only his poor
stricken brothers family that would read
the brief harsh words :
He turned to his wife, who sat holding
the dreadful envelope, sad, but doubling
if she would be wise to speak yet to
him.
Get your things on, will ye," he
said, in voice that sounded dry and
harsh even to himself. "rll be round
with old Billy TO the front door, Wrap
up warm and take q soapstone. p1l
have the buffaloes It's mortal cold."
She was ready and waiting when he
take care of itself She locked it.
They had some sixty miles to ride. In
the course of it his tongue became some
what loosed, and he told in broken and
jerky sentences into her sympathetic ear
what little of the chaotic grief and re-
morse he was able to put into words.
My brother, after all. Used to play
together when we was little. Hum,
hum"
A man grows very tender when he goes
back to the days when he was little"
Bought me pair o. skates once,
when | wanted some. Older than me-
Samuel was always making me kites
and whistles and all seech rattle-traps.
Never could seem to get along Big
family9 Yes. l oughter to ha' helped
him. Amt a man 1ivin' could scratch
anything but moss off them rocks he calls
a farm. I'll help the boys-see if I
don't"
1t was long cold ride. Mrs. Mackle-
fresh wrapped the buaaloes higher and
higher till at last she was quite extin-
guished in their folds, and her husband
thought on drearily alone.
Almost there. The house is in sight.
A long, low, unpainted affair. The
oldest inhabitant could not remember
when its owner had had money enough
to paint it. Here at last. "Who-o-a,
Billy You remember the old hitching
post though it is so long since you've
stopped at it. There hasn't been much
visiting lately. Remember how brother
used to rush out in his old blue coat,
Alice, and-n
Why, John ! Why, Johnp
Mrs. Macklefresh rose up out of her
enveloping furs like startled Esquimaux
She pinched her husbands arm hysteri-
cally, and he in his turn rubbed his eyes
half out at sight of the apparition that
confronted them.
"Come in ! come imp it cried, cor
daily "You must be half frozen, both
of you"
/" How do you come here ~ said John
Macklefresh, fearfully, not stirring step
in answer to this invitation.
"How do you come, should say"
returned brother Samuel, for it was he,
blue coat, brass buttons and all "Come,
are you dead You act so"
No, " broke in Mrs. John, who had
found tongue, "but we thought you
were. 1t said so-the telegraph did.
We came up to the funeral l''
And so, between hysterical tears and
laughter and questions that nobody pre-
tended to answer they unloaded and got
into the house. At least Mrs John did.
The two brothers sidled off behind the
barn. There John got hold of brother
Samuel's hand and shook it silently and
solemnly, while the strong tears ran down
both their rugged faces. Neither offered
or asked explanations. In that moment
their hearts spoke plainly enough
"This my brother was dead and is alive
again"
In the house they went to work more
reasonably to unravel the mystery. Mrs.
John showed them the telegram.
II see!" cried one of them with
sudden light, "there's Samuel Maekle-
fresh down at the Four Corners, and I
did hear he was very low last week. He's
got brother John, too, but l didn't
know he lived in your town. Now he
won't get it. Amt that too bad2"
Two brothers now came in wiping
away surreptitious tears with their coat
sleeves They sat talking over the curl
GUS event, when the village post came
rafting by, tossing the mail at them as
they sat at the window. Some one
rushed out to get it, but seized with
sudden impulse John Macklefresh dashed
passed him and secured it himself
Hastily glancing about him he stuffed