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

: less and dependent on her. Clearly
/ some one would have to make sac
riflce, and with equal clearness Edith
saw that it must be herself. So she
resolved 10 accept DR.. Ashby's pro-
po5al, and tried to assure herself that
she was acting for the best.
Presently she heard a step behind
her on the narrow path, and looking
round she saw the doctor approach
ing tall handsome man, dressed in
n suit Of tweed, with a engarry cap
pulled down over his eyes ; as different
from his predecessor, DR.. Bertram, as
a man could be, but with dash and
cleverne5s men of the old school never
possessed.
"I have been trying to overtake you
for ten minutes, Miss Edith" he said,
falling just a step behind, for the path
was too narrow for two. al have
something Of Importance to say to
you"
"Yes, DOCTOR" she replied calmly,
though her heart beat fast and every
trace of color left her face.
"You know what 1 would say,
Edith-you must have seen during
all those months how love you. 1
want you to be my wife. Your mother
has given me permission to address
you, and given me some little reason
to hope that you will listen to me.
Tell me, Edith, can you or do you care
a little about me?"
For q minute or two Edith was
silent, then she told him all the truth,
how they were situated, now she had
liked Jack Clifford, but for six years
had not heard anything of him, and
how, if she consented to be his wife,
he must be content with mere esteem
and affection, for she had no love to
beStoW.
"You are honest, Edith, and truth
full" he said in very low voice, "and
1 thank you for the confidence you
have reposed in me, but must think
this matter over. L love you far too
well to risk your happiness in any way.
Six years is long time to be faithful
to a silent lover, Edith
I'VE were scarcely lovers, doctor"
she replied, with sad little smile.
Jack just said, 'Ill come back Edith;
, will you waltz and l said L would-
that was all But poor papa was alive
then, and we were rich now every
, thing is so different. For myself, / am
content as L an, but the children -
"Ah, yes, the misunderstanding
must be done for them. They are far
: too much for you. Did you say Jack
: Clifford went to the Cape, Edith, and
that you never heard from him?"
"Yes, he said he was going to make
r his fortune in the diamond fields, but
: he never wrote, so l dare say he was
: not successful, poor fellow Indeed,
think he must be dead
al think not DR.. AshbyIreplied
q thoughtfully. "Once more, Edith,
' thank you heartily for your candor anG
/ confidence, and I will come to you fol
a your final answer at the end of 9
month. Till then, goodbye" and the
: doctor lifted his cap, and turned down
a by path that led to the Dingle, ant
, poor Edith went home more perpleXet
than ever.
= 4 X X x
0 ats q whole month since we've
, seen DR.. Ashby-whateve did you say
to him, Edith?" Mrs. Bertram sat
e one evening; "the house has seemed
t wretchedly duh without him. You
0 did not surely refuse him point
9 blank"
"No, I did not refuse him." Editf
f replied wearily; she had answered
e nearly the same question every day fol
:, four weeks, and was tired of it. She
o was looking pale and worn, but Mrs
s Bertram never had eyes for any one:
illness but her own.
Mamma" Eva cried, bursting into
the room, "here's the doctor and an
/. other gentleman ~
: And Mrs. Bertram smoothed heI
: fluffy hair and put on her amiablC
i smile, while Edith's heart began tC
beat fercely. She had thought thC
i matter over from every point of view
h add at length came to the conclusion
| that it would be positively wicked t
| marry the doctor while Jack Clifford
f was so much in her thoughts, and
Y come what might, she would not do it
Presently he came in alone, and
f after few moments conversation, he
4 asked her to walk with him for a few
e minutes in the garden. She went al
d once, longing to have the interview
f over, and burst into the subject di
A rectly. 81 cannot be your wife, DR.
a Ashby; 1 think it would be wrong o.
a me to accept your proposal, feeling a:
n 1 do. Please try and forgive me anC
G let me 60"
: "First, let me introduce my friend
|. he said, laying his hand on her arm
= "and my new assistant-the work o.
{ Ashmead is rather too much for me
h Miss Bertram-Mr. Clifford"
S "Jackr In moment she was il
a bis arms, her face hidden on hi
d shoulder. all the long years Of absenc,
e and silence forgotten. She only fel
II that he had returned, and she wa