The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-05-16

4 YIN anu tllOh bOll lAAC Wlldb 1Ou
about the b. in the middle. you un-
worldly creature" laughed Nell, as 1
slammed down the cover, and she
helped me fasten the old strap.
"And now" said !, zone more thing
remains-I must rush to the woods. 1
must give myself one more Indian
warwhoop, if die for it,"
"Oh, it won't kill you, you will live
all the longer take the carving knife
with you for tomahawk and if you
meet the ghost of old Meb in the forest
shades, give her my compliments, and
be sure and be back in time for supper
its poor economy to be absent at
meal time"
Nell was laughing, as she shut the
doors after me, but she unconsciously
used a word that sent my nerves all
reasoning. Economy" didn't know
all about its hateful twists and turns
Wasn't l the oldest of six children and
fathers farm stuck like ridge pole
on the very rockiest, bleakest corner
Of all New England, with it's sterile
pasturage, its wood-lawns, its gaping
corner lots and its tumble-down build
ings, descended to him from his father,
covered all over with mortgages at
that-the only thing that had stood
between us and the poorhouse. Hadn't
l seen my mothers pale face grow
paler every year, till three years before
the first day of winter, she placed in
my arms the little baby for whose life
she gave her own 1 accepted the
trust as an older sisters portion, and
henceforth life became to me more
than ever q duty. The only character
that gave any originality to my child
hood was the Indian woman Meb, who
strolled into my native town without
giving any account of the way she
came, and who after a while disap-
peared mysteriously. But she taught
me the war-whoop of her tribe, and I
had never forgotten it. There had
been times when it had been my
safety-valve.
That night held Tot longer than
usual lingering over the undressing.
Come what might. l had always given
the child her half-hour every night. 1t
was her time; I brushed her blonde
curls and sang softly to her. Before
l retired father came stumbling into
my room and placed twenty dollars in
my hand. / wanted to thank him, but
somehow 1 couldn't speak - words
"stuck in my throat" so, these last
days.
81 's'pose you won't hev to pay from
the depot to Richard Remington s
house, though should ruther pay my
way in spectacle manner, than to be
beholden to such feller as Mary Ann
Bromley describes. Mary Ann Brom.
ley was alters a high fiier, in nay
opinion, an 1 du hope she won't get
you into trouble with her flighty
ways"
He turned to go out, and I opened
the door for him. l think l never ap,
preciated the sterling integrity of my
fathers character as 1 did at that
minute. One thing that he had said
revealed the true motives Of his life
He was an old man-old and broken
before his years, bowed down, with
their accumulated weight; his hands
were rough with toii, his manners
were not formed after Chesterfield; he
was not always sure of his English, but
thank God, my father was an honest
man. "To pay his way had been the
rule of his life.
We arrived in New York on time,
and Mrs. Noah's trunk, my best black
alpaca and my made-Over broadcloth
cloak. All have to say about the
circumstance is, briefly, if l was not
equal to the occasion, Marian Reming-
ton was. found her as utterly unlike
what l remembered of her as one
woman could possibly be unlike an,
other, and yet there was the same
warm heart behind it ALL If ever
mortal made crooked paths straight
anc rough places plain, she did. Every
thing was delightful to me but the
''Prince," and toward him did not
relent.
81 am surprised at you, Marian"
said, "not to see the evil in that man
If l know anything, know he is not
to he trusted
Marian only laughed. "Your judg
ment is at fault, my dear. He ha,
been with us a year, and have never
had occasion to doubt his honesty; anG
for his dinners, you must confess they
are faultless." They certainly were
My birthday sun rose without &
cloud; March was evidently making uI
his mind to settle down to steady
quiet work. With the old yellow
paper, containing the instructions OF
my great-aunt Bates-whO, by the
way, 1 had never seen-Marian and ]
made our way without any trouble tt
the place designated. "A more anti
quated spot could not be found in New
York." said Marian, as she lifted the
heavy brass knocker. 81 wonder il
has not fallen or pushed aside, ages
agone."
Judge OF my surprise when, all pre-