The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-10-07

promised to drive me over TO Dapleston
to do some shopping"
''Hang cousin Joe"-
"Mr. Dorseyp from Martha's aston
ished lips
81 beg pardon, I really-I hope you
will have delightful time, Miss Dun
can. assure you shall a-enjoy it im-
meusely being left to my books and.
confound it Excuse me L"
And before Martha could reply, Paul
Dorsey had left the room.
How queer it is" soliloquized Mar
tha, as Paul's departing footsteps echoed
through the hall. 81 don't see why he
should dislike Joe so; Joe is always such
favorite with every one. Ihope / haven't
offended him. am sure 1 didn't mean
to-" And with rather q puzzled look
upon the fair young face, Martha closed
the organ.
That evening as Martha stood down by
the meadow gate caressing oil Doxey,
the mare, her quick ears caught the
sound of a familiar tread advancing to-
ward her, and moment after q voice
exclaimed;
81 am an idiot, Miss Martha, but II
hope you will forgive me. l couldn't
bear the idea OF his monopolizing you
all day. know you could never think
OF an old bookworm like myself still I
i have been very happy, and forget
sometimes that-that there is such diff
ference between u.s."
Martha's cheeks had been growing
roster and roster, while a strange, wild
joy surged through her veins, as she an
swered, her tones trembling slightly.
'Since can remember Consin Joe and
l have been playmates, and since father
died he has been so good and kind to
mother, helping her about the farm and
in every way, that he has become like n
son to her, and as dear as brother to
me. Dear Joel l don't know what we
should have done without him." She
paused, the tears gathering in her pretty
eyes. Paul drew nearer, then hesitated,
as Martha continued:
Joe is engaged to my dearest friend,
and they are to be married in just six
weeks"
81 am awfully glad-I mean I wish
them joy, and all that sort of thing"
aud Paul Dorsey advanced still nearer
the little figure into whose eyes a sweet
shyness had stolen.
"Martha, do you think there is a
ghost of a chance for met AS it's my
first attempt at anything of the kind,
perhaps you will sum it up lenientlv. and
make my sentence as easy as you can,"
then gathering courage from Martha's
half averted face, and the extreme pink.
ness of the one visible ear, he laid his
hand caressingly upon hers. adding:
Martha, do you think you can forgive
me for-for loving you9"
"Why should forgive you for what 1
have done myself2" came the low answer,
followed naively by, "But l did not
know it until to-day, when 1 thought l
had offended you"
"And-and you don't mind my being
odd-or anything9" stammered Paul, in
his excessive JOY.
"You are not a bit odd," was the in
dignant reply; 81 wouldn't have you any
different, and Martha touched shyly the
coat-sleeve in close proximity to her
waist, whereupon she Immediately dis
appeared from view, and from some
where in the region of Pauls waistcoat
pocket muffled little voice might have
been heard calculating:
"Oh, Paul !! suppose somebody is look
ing9"
'I hope they are," was the audacious
reply, succeeded by second disappear
ance on Martha's part.
A week or so later stylishly- dressed,
middle. aged lady was sitting teta-a- tete
with Mrs. Duncan, who was observing:
Dear me, Lucindy, you've no call to
thank me. had nothing to do with it.
Not but what am real pleased that your
son and my daughter should come to-
gether; but had no more thought OF it
than yourself"
A slight smile stirred the lips of Mrs
Dorsey as she remarked
'You are just the same as ever. Mary.
Well, If Martha only turns out half as
good a woman as yourself, am satisfied
that Paul has won treasure"
"And he'll never forget, mother, that
he owes that treasure to you, for if you
had not sent him to seek out your old
friend he'd have remained bachelor to
the end of his DAYS. " interrupted mas
culine voice, while girlish treble ex-
claimed, ''Oh, Paulln the rest OF the SEN
tence being forever lost by Paul daringly
sealing his betrothed's lips with his own.