The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-03-21

self, but he didn't care. He was the
happiest fool that moment in Gods
happy world.
=" You are just as much mine," she
said, at last, her hands resting upon his
! head, which some way or other had
found place in her lap" you are
just as much mine as if had not done
all The wooing myself"
The Merdon mansion had never seen
such storm as followed Charlottes
avowal of her betrothal. Her mother
insisted that she would never consent,
never in the world, and the girl who
/ had always hOnored her wishes above
everything else was in distress.
" But you did not marry a rich man
yourself. mother; why should you want
me to?" she urged.
married man who was great
whom everybody knew; why, if you
were to marry the man, whoever he is,
who will fill his chair, / should be
! happy forever, but this fellow" and
her indignation almost overpowering
her she left the room.
1t was late in the afternoon when
Charlotte stole upstairs. Passing her
mothers room she saw that the door
was partly open. She knew what it
meant. Women, even among them
selves, make their reconciliatiohs
| gradually. She pushed the door wide
open. as her mother had intended she
should, and went in. The lady
sat by her writing table; her
head rested on her hand, and she was
evidently sleeping. A little pile of
letters lay before her, a picture beside
them. Tears had dropped upon The
letters and the picture showed the
stains of tears. Charlotte looked at
the picture closely. The face was
familiar. Surely she had seen it be-
fore. But where? She could not
place it among her acquaintances.
Whose face was it? She started. A
broken, uncertain voice seemed to say,
That's good picture of the presi-
dent" Her lovers awkward remark
at the party, the portrait on the wall,
the picture that her mother cried over.
1t was all clear, very clear, and she
didn't care to read the open letter by
the picture
my poor, dear mother" she
thonght, as, without awakening her.
she glided TO her own room, carrying
the greatest secret of her lifetime
save one.
1t was after midnight when Mrs.
Merdon awoke, She had hoped her
daughter would come in. She wanted
to tel her that she was no longer an
cry. She had bAen carried back over
parts of her own life and she wanted
to tel Charlotte that after all she must
follow the voice of her heart, that her
own experience had taught her so.
She was almost ready to confess to her
that although she had married q man
who was great, whom everybody knew,
she-nO, no, no, she could not tell her
daughter that-she could not tell her
that. Very slowly she put away the
letters and the picture, saying, {" Yes,
| loved him then, and, God forgive
me, l have loved him ever since"
At noon the next day servant
brought note to the presidents S study:
Charlotte i. Merdon requests the
pleasure of few moments private
conversation.
"I wonder what Addie AIather's
daughter wants Of me?" thought the
old bachelor as he passed down into
the reception-room. How the girl
brings her to mind ~
In a dignified way that even sur
prised herself, Charlotte began. IL
understand that the trustees have
given you appointing power regarding
the professorship which fathers death
made vacant"
"YeS."
"Have you made any provisions
yet?"
mo"
81 have a candid ate to present"
"What-you! A candidatel Who
is it?"
Brent Seymour"
Charlottes intimacy with Seymour
was not unknown TO the president, |
but this astounded him.
"It is impossible" he said; 81 do
not see how you can ask it, how you
can think of it,"
"WOuld you not do much to bring to
you one you loved ?" she asked, boldly.
A peculiar light came into the gray
eyes behind the steel-bowed spectacles.
Yes"
"HOw mIch?"
Anything"
Would you give a professorship?"
The peculiar light increased. 1t |
was almost blaze.
"Yes."
"WillyOu giyeme this professorship |
if l bring to you one you love?"
The gray eyes were now fairly |
afiame. She was understood He /.
sprang to his feet. Age seemed to fall |
from him like a scale.
Girl, what do you mean ?" he
shouted.
"That she loved you all the time"