The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-04-04

| SNil obtI Udu bCtIlCu W Iuit tb HST
birth. Her father, formerly engaged
in a comfortable business, had taken to
drink, ruined his custom, squandered
his little property, and finally died,
soon after LUIS birth.
Her mother, broken-hearted, strug-
gled with adverse fortune for few
years, and then she, too, died, leaving
her little daughter to the care of her
only relative, married aunt. The aunt
was kind, in so far as her nature knew
the meaning of the word; but she had
made Mammon her God, and nature
had given her great power for physical
endurance-two dangerous qualities
for the same person to possess, espe-
! cially If that person be a woman.
LUIS uncle was the proprietor of a
bakery, and in connection was a sales
room and clearinghouse. Mr..
Towner superintended the former; his
wife the latter; and so it was that when
Lu had mastered the rudiments of the
common school education, she was
taken in as sort of general help for
her aunt. 1t was as though the sun
light of her dawning life had gone be-
hind some great cloud. There was so
much that she could do, and she was so
willing to do whatever might be de-
manqed Of her. From peeling pota-
toes, chopping hash and washing
dishes, her sphere of usefulness gradu-
ally extended through all the depart
ments of the clearinghouse and sales
room, till now we find her, at the age
Of twenty, after eight years of inces-
SAINT toll, with no prospect of any
change so long as life and health should
remain.
From very early in the m orning till
very late at night, through seven long
days in every week, with only an hour
or two Of respite on Sunday, h was
here, there, wherever her services were
demanded, not conscious that she was
doing more actual physical labor than
two like her should perform, beside
shutting out from her young life the
joys of companionship, and ignoring
all those social privileges which are so
dear to young life.
Lu was not especially pretty. AT
first glance she seemed so-her small,
compact figure, oval features and great
brown eyes, so full of honest truth,
were certainly the elements of beauty
but her incessant toll had wrought
its lines upon hands and face, INSULT
cient sleep, continued care and the alb
sence Of social joy, tinged and shaded
her whole life with hue of sadness.
Nod SnUHar fn tlto~Ixy
as "the fool" In some respects the
epithet was quite appropriate. for
while he had sufficient intelligence to
be of much service in the bakery, and
even in the salesroom, he was yet of
such uneven mental balance as to puz-
zle the most acute philosopher as to his
degree of soundness and accounta-
bility. Ned, too, had been adopted by
Mr.. Towner, just as he would have
taken horse for its keeping. Itwould
be handy to have such boy about the
establishment, there was always some
thing for him to do, and there were
fragments enough left after the thirty
or forty boarders had finished their
meals TO give the poor fool aroyal repast.
At first, life had not many pleasures
for Ned, but as his sphere Of useful
ness began to develop and he some
times talked about packing up his
duds" and going to sea--for Ned had
way of talking whatever came into
his mind-he began to receive better
clothes, and occasionally little pres
ents, and spare half days, till his lot
really in comparison became quite en-
viable.
Lu had always been kind to him, out
of the kindness of her heart, and many
favor she had taken pains TO bestow
upon him because she pitied his forlorn
condition. Generally at the table she
would procure for him a nicer piece of
meat or some little delicacy which had
never been intended for him, and this
she delighted to do, even though hesoon
came to look upon such favors as IL
matter of course, and to scold and
growl if they were not bestowed.
Yet, after all, Ned did not mean TO
be ungrateful, and as he could think If
no other way of repaying LUIS kind
ness, he had grown up into a convic-
tion that he must marry her at some
time in the unknown future. Dread
full as such thought must have been
to her, could she have brought herself
for single moment to a realization, and
annoying as was Ned's constant refer
ence to the purpose of his heart, 1t
had become his mental food and drink
the inspiration of his life. No more he
talked of the sea; no more of shoulder
ing his "Turk." Even his nature
bowed to the sway of love, and in the
presence of Lu only was he happy or
contented.
Naturally enough the belief soon
gained ground that Ned did not speak
unadvisedly, and that some arrange
ments had been made by which Lu was
actually to become his wife. The girls
uncle and aunt came in for more blame
than they deserved.
Ttic i11ct lilo fhapa - oaf1