The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-08-29

"My sister Kate is only SIXTEEN"
said Major Cheston, speaking without |
due reflection, land she reads and |
writes four different languages, plays |
the piano and guitar, draws and paints,
and"
"Pshaw p said Perseverance, arch !
ing her slender neck. "Can she shoot |
black duck and curlews?"
"That is hardly one of the accom-
plishments prescribed for young
ladies', said the major, smiling.
"Can she swim?'
"No, but"
"Can she clip a blue heron on the
wing? or get in a haul of bluetish
when the tide is strong and the wind
due east? or fight shark, hand to
hand, with only a marlin-spike for a
weaponI"
And once again MAJOR Cheston was
compelled to answer in the negative.
"Well," said Perseverance, compla-
Gently, az canP'
And she rose and went out of the
room, and Major heston saw no more
of her that night.
"She isn't offended, is she?" he asked
of old Zadoc Peck, who was smoking a
pipe and staring hard at the fire all the
while.
"Offended? Our Perseverance of
fended?' echoed the old man. "You
don't know her, stranger
"But, really" hazarded ChestoD,
cit is scarcely right to bring up girl
like that in such total ignorance, now
is it?"
"Well, we haven't no schools nor
academies hereabouts," said the old
man. "And if we had, Perseverance
wouldn't go to 'em. l don't see but
what she gets along lirst-rate"
And Major Cheston wasted no more
time in argument.
He slept well and soundly that night
under the sloping roof of the little
garret, through whose shrunk boards
the quiet stars peeped down at him,
and at daybreak he went down upon
the shore.
The reeds were all efTaced now-the
tidA was coming in with a rush and a
ro and an occasional flying shower
of bray. The fresh wind took off his
haN and whirled it into the water. He
lpate an involuntary plunge after it,
lost his footing on the slippery sands,
and the next instant he was struggling
for dear life with the surf, dragged
constantly down, and still further out
to sea ly the treacherous undertow.
In last effort to regain himself, he
struck his head against jagged point
of stone and knew nothing more
X 4
"You needn't thank me, stranger, >
said old Zadoc Peck, as he stood over
the recovering patient, with hot towels.
Il didn't know a thing about it till
she ran up, as white and breathless as
snow ilurry, to get me to help you
in. She had swum out to sea aad
dragged you back to land herself I!
She's brave girl. is Persevtr rance, and
there's nothing she can't do If once she
sets herself about it"
Major Cheston thanked his young
rescuer earnestly but nothing would
induce her to take the gold he offered
her.
1T must he poor creature that
wants reward for saving mans life,
said she, with short laugh.
And Cheston desisted.
1.-THE girl is too pretty" he said to
| himself. "No one but the hero of a
third-class romance ever marries a
half civilized young savage, because
she has dark eyes and hair growing
low on her forehead, l must get away
from this place-and l must keep
away -
Physically this was an easy thing to
do but mentally what is there but
the wild winds Of heaven so uncon-
trollable as Il mans thoughts?
At the end of year he came back
from Switzerland and went straight tC
the Long Island marshes.
81 must see her." he said to himself
Z" I must tell her that | love her.
must ask her to be my wife"
When the train reached Nine
veh, the nearest tation, a tall, beautiful
girl, in a cashmere dress. sparkling
with Jet. and a saucy black hat
came to him, holding out her hand.
"You are Major Cheston ?" said she
And you," he answered, care Per
severance Peck?'
She smiled and nodded. How bealti
full she had grown!
Il was going out to the old house.
he said.
81 do not live there any more" !" saiC
Per- everance. Fathers dead, anC
Tin being educated. You see" shl
added, "that your words, hard an.
cruel as 1 then thought them, werl
: not without Their effect. l am stay
) ing with some friends. and l share tn,
advantage of their governess. AnC
Mr.. Russell thinks i am not stupiC
. scholar"
RUSSELL"
That name was very familiar L
him