The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-05-07
LEFT BEHIND.

1t was 10 o'clock of a July morning,
and the largest fraction of humanity had
been some hours earning its daily bread
The idlers had just risen from the break
fast table. To this latter class belonged
the young man who leaned lazily on the
piazza railing, and looked absently out on
Lake Winnipale. Beside him in a huge
chair, sat little woman rocking to and
fro, with an untiring movement and
with deft fingers plying in and out
among bright silk and erewels. She was
idle. too, in her womau's laborious way,
but there was lack of repose in her in
dolence that made it restful to turn again
to her brother, who stood in statuesque
inaction, looking into the still water
below.
"What are you going to do, to-day 2"
the little woman asked.
Nothing"
''There's great deal going on, and
see that pretty girl down there at the
landing'"
The one with red l'
ayes, don't you think she's pretty 2"
81 hadn't thought of it,"
"Well, she is-remarkably. Wouldn't
you like to meet her i could easily
manage it."
'pm not particular Is she worth
while ~
"Ben, you exasperate me. Do you
take an interest in anything 2"
II don't do anything else In Wall
street. Pm off duty now. | believe in
resting in philosophical sort of way.
"Well, suppose you are tired, poor
fellow l know how you feel. l am
tired myself most of the time"
"Tired! l look like it, " laughed the
young man. "pll tell you how it is;
simply want my liberty 1t doesn't pay
this dancing attention on half dozen
girls whom you never see again.
"Oh, well, don't, then"
Ben Adams at twenty-one had per-
formed his social duties with great zest.
Four wears later he was still heart whole,
and beginning to take purely fraternal
interest in blushing debutantes. He
danced less and went to the opera alone,
or with his friend Rutland, confirmed
bachelor of twenty-nine. With entire
resignation young Adams acted as usher
at many fashionable weddings, and with
out sigh saw Catharine, Kate and Kitty
led down the aisle by other men. And
so he approached his thirties and within
year of them leaned idly over the
piazza railing at Lake Winnipake, and
declared to his sister that "Robinson
Crusoe was the luckiest fellow of his ac-
0uaintance. Give me a desert
isle for a summer sojourn. What would
refresh u man like going back to savag-
cry"
II don't think it would be enough OF
a change to benefit some | know
laughed his sister. "Well, Ben, all
can say is, you are very different from
what you use TO be-.
In the meanwhile the boat below
pushed of. .anC nsfollowed it with hi,
ewes, chiefly ,a it would have beer
more trouble to look another way. The
Young lady in the stern twas Miss Joseph
inc Vail, and the boy at the oars was hel
twelve year old brother. Josephine was
young lady of views supported by more
or less logic and by what some thought
an extremely pretty face. Her enemies
but she had none-would have saic
that while she despised conventionalitie'
no one was more annoyed when obliged
10 disregard them, and while she re
sented the protecting limitations of he
sex, she was quite willing to accept th'
attentions based on the theory Of thei
existence Her father said one day
Nothing would take the kinks out 0
Josephine like settling down with a gooC
husband" The young lady took 1t Il
high dudgeon, and went away meekly t
wonder ii it were true. On this par
ticulat July morning Josephine accepted
her brother Toms services as oarsman
not because she was not perfectly able t
row herself, but because it would kee
Tom out of mischief.
"Don't rock the boat, Tom. 1t doesn'
frighten me, but | can't read. y
There was pause.
"Row near the bank, in the shade
Tom"
Another long pause.
Say, sis, said Tom at length, ''no'
we're off, I'll tell you where wei
going"
"Where you're going Why your
going to take me out for row."
''Not much. Pm going two mile
about to see some fellows who are CAM
ing out"
"And going to take me 2 ! think 70
are mistaken, sir. Give me those oars