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

the children and ief nhother help
less and dependent on her. Clearly
some one would have to make a sac
rifice, and with equal clearness Edith
saw that it must be herself. SO she
resolved 10 accept DIR. Ashbys pro-
posal, and tried TO assure herself that
she was acting for the best.
Presently she heard step behind
her on the narrow path, and looking
round she saw the doctor approach
ing tall handsome man, dressed in
suit Of tweed, with a gengarry cap
pulled down over his eyes as different
from his predecessor, DIR. Bertram, as
man could be, but with dash and
cleverneSs men Of the old school never
possessed.
81 have been trying to oyertake 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 ana every
trace of color left her face.
"You know what l would say,
Edith-you must have seen during
all those months how I love you. /
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
little about me?"
For u 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
l thank you for the confidence you
have reposed in me, but 1 must think
this matter over 1 love you Ear too
well to risk your happiness in any way.
Six years is long time to be faithful
to a silent lover, Edith"
"We were scarcely lovers, DOCTOR"
she replied, with a sad little smile.
"Jack just said, I'll come back Edith;
will you waltz and said would
that was all. But poor papa was alive
then, aud we were rich !; now every
thing is so different For myself, / am
content as an, but the children |"
"Ah, yes, the children-something
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
his fortune in the diamond fields, but
he never wrote, so dare say he was
not successful, poor fellow Indeed, L
think he must be dead"
ss"I think not" DR.. AshbyIreplied,
thoughtfully. "Once more, Edith, l
thank you heartily for your candor and
confidence, and 1 will come to you for
your final answer at the end of a
month. Till then, goodbye" and the
doctor lifted his cap, and turned down
a by-path that led to the Dingle, and
poor Edith went home more perplexed
than ever.
y r x x 4 4
"It's whole month since we've
seen DR.. Ashby-whatever did you say
to him, Edith?" Mrs. Bertram said
one evening "the house has seemed
wretchedly dull without him. You
did not surely refuse him point
blank? ?"
"No, I did not refuse him." Edith
replied, wearily; she had answered
nearly the same question every day for
four weeks, and was tired of it. She
was looking pale and worn. but Mrs.
Bertram never had eyes for any ones
illness but her own.
Mamma" Eva cried, bursting into
the room, "here's the doctor and an
other gentleman :"
And Mrs. Bertram smoothed her
fluffy hair and put on her amiable
smile, while Edith's heart began to
beat fercely. She had thought the
matter over from every point of view,
add at length came to the conclusion
that it would be positively wicked to
marry the doctor while Jack Clifford
was so much in her thoughts, and,
come what might, she would not do it.
Presently he came in alone, and,
after few moments conversation, he
asked her to walk with him for a few
minutes in the garden. She went at
once, longing to have the interview
over, and burst into the subject di-
rectly. 81 cannot be your wife, DR..
Ashby; l think it would be wrong of
me to accept your proposal, feeling as
1 do. Please try and forgive me and
let me go"
"First, let me Introduce my friendly
he said, laying his hand on her arm.
"and my new assistant-the work of
Ashmead is rather too much for me
Miss Bertram-Mr. Clifford"
"Jackp In a moment she was in
bis arms, her face hidden on his
shoulder. all the long years Of absence
and silence forgotten. She only felt
that he had returned and she was