The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-01-30

had been surrounded by love and friend
ship, as Kate was now. She felt little
hurt, too, that Mr.. Chester had not offer
ed her a seat in the boat; it was not like
his usual kind thoughtfulness for all,
which she had so constantly admired in
him.
"Ah, well, am only Aunt Margery to
him, suppose. dare say look forty,
at least, beside Kate, she thought.
But it was not in her nature to spend
long in repining. She was soon engaged
in merry hunt through the maze with
the younger members of the party, and
when the rowing party returned, shouts
of "Auntie, where are you 2" "This way,
Johnniel" ''Take the path to the rightp
''Keep round to the leftl" "Oh, / am
lost p resounded through the usually ST.
lent ruins.
Presently Margery found gap in the
hedge, which she plunged through, call
ing on Reggie, her youngest nephew, to
follow her.
'I'm coming, Aunt Margery; wait
momentm he cried.
But, willing to give him good chase,
Margery sped on, and presently found
herself in a small stone grotto, in which
the path unexpected terminated, and
shut in on either side by masses of tangled
bushes and underwood. Breathless, she
sat down on little worm-eaten wooden
bench, and waited for Reggie.
Footsteps soon were heard on the leaf
strewn path, and, springing out, intend
ing to give Reggie a start, Margery flew
right into the arms of Maurice Chester.
Kate herselef could not have blushed
more vividly than did Margery at this
unlooked-for visitor to her retreat, nor, had
it been Kate, would Maurice have looked
more embarrassed, or have had brighter
look of pleasure on his handsome face
directly after
"Pray, excuse me, Mr.. Chester; I
thought you were Reggie" exclaimed
Margery, who, woman-like, was the first
| to recover herself
"Well, Miss Derwent, really think
you owe me some apology for so nearly
knocking me down. What sort of a
place is this!" he continued, coolly look
ing around him, and not offering to re-
linquish the hand he had caught when
Margery darted out upon him.
I" 1t is very nice place. think we
will go back, Reggie cannot find me, "
said Margery, blushing more deeply, and
trying to withdraw her hand.
~ don't want Reggie or any one else
to find you just now, though / am only
too glad have done So" answered Maui
rice, and he gently drew her back to the
grotto. "Come and sit down just for a
few moments; have something to tell
you"
Margery's face grew pale again, and
with gentle, yet dignifed movement,
she withdrew her hand.
''He is going to tell me that he loves
Kate, and wishes to marry her," she
thought And with another sigh for her
own vanished youth, when love, and joy,
and happy marriage had lain within
the limits of sweet probability for her
future life, she seated herself to listen.
1t was strange how the commonplace
civilities she had received from the man
now before her had seemed to reawaken
the hopes and thoughts of that time
which had for so long seem buried. But
he, too, began to speak of buried past,
and she resolutely put aside her own
thoughts, and listened with an interest
in the speaker that bred in her a vague
alarm. What was Maurice Chester to
her, she tremblingly asked herself, that
his tones should thrill herQ
"Ten years ago, Miss Derwent, was
engaged to be married, and can truly
say that no two people could haye loved
each other with truer devotion, or have
seen before them the prospects of more
happiness than my poor Marion and 1. But
she was taken from me, and the blow
was cruel indeed For years 1 have
mourned her, and never hoped to bt
gay and happy again, until happy fate
sent me to Maundbury, where have seer
one whose sweet self-forgetfulness an6
gentle care for others awakened my ad
miration, and has now won the love o.
my later manhood. Margery, dear gentle
Margery, will you accept the gift2 viii
try to make your life happy and free
from care, and l shall think myself
blessed at last if you will give me you
sweet self in return"
He was standing before her now, ant
speaking with rapid, eager utterance
while Margery could only stammer out;
''Mr. Chester-I-I-yOu surprise me
thought my niece Kate"
''Kate is very charming girl, and
hope will some day meet with a husband
worthy Of her. But my answer, Mar
gery2"
What could Margery sayl Looking VI
into the handsome face and loving eye
bent over her, she said words that Il
both of them were as binding as the mar
riage vows which few months later, Il
the chagrin of Mrs. Derwent and Kate
and the astonishment of all Maundbury
they uttered at the parish church, on I
lovely spring morning.
Maurice Chester was supremely happ!
in his choice, while his wife was only
Avuf Marorarv'i no lonUer