The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-07-22

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the Lord will provide, somehow"
''I'll have to sell the cottage" con-
tinued the captain, despondingly. But
don't you go to worryin', Cynthy; Miss
Forbes and /, we'll look out that you get
cared for, we won't either on us forget
how you struggled and brought me up,
wicked little imp as l was, too. How in
the world did you ever have such pa
ticncc, Cynthy"
ut was perhaps the hundredth time
he had asked the same question and
only to receive the same comforting re-
ply:
'Oh, / knew there was good in you
somewhere brother. and it would only
take time and patience and plenty of
prayer to bring 1t out, and sure enough"
Two more days must elapse before
Mrs. Forbes would return from the city,
and it was both pitiable and laughable to
note the conflicting emotions with which
her worthy but troubled spouse antici-
pated her appearance.
"Of course she'll know all about
the failure and our losses" he said 20
his sister, repeatedly. $50, thank
fortune, we shan't have to tell her
about it, but should think sh ed hurry
home on that very account now, shouldn't
youp
"Well, suppose she thinks she might
as we'll have her visit out" Cynthy
would reply. "You know her brothers
wanted this visit ior long time"
"Hope they amt urging Miss Forbes
to stay away from me in the future,
said the captain the afternoon of the
day his wife was expected home. BY
this time the poor mans anxiety and
forebodings were truly painful to wit
ness.
"Now, Jonathan, that's downright
naughty of you," said Miss Cynthy, "as
if Maria would desert in trouble of all
times"
At last the stage coach stopped at the
cottage door, but somehow, the captain
could not go out, as expected to greet
his wife, longed for as she had been.
He stood peeping through the blinds
as the stage driver helped her alight,
then rolled her little trunk into the
gravelly path. All at once he turned to
his sister, his face fairly working with
emotion.
ooh, Cinthy, she doesn't know
thing about it. l know she doesn't.
She's a smilin' and noddin' to the
driver, an her face is as peaceful as the
coral isles, and poor Miss Forbes don't
know, know she don't"
But he could hold off no longer, his wife
was at the door, and the next moment
had entered the room, given him low
ing embrace, and receiving his sounding
smack, then went over and kissed sis
ter Cinthy" affectionately.
The little maid of all work soon an
nounced supper, and although the cap
tain sat with the most lugubrious face
imaginable, yet throughout the meal,
Mrs. Forbes was as bright and joyous as
a young girl, her round, dumplinglike
face and figure shaking with laughter at
the queer stories she had to tell, and the
amusing "reminiscences of her journey.
After tea, when they were sitting
costly together, the husband, wife, and
sister, Captain Forbes felt that at last his
time had come, so summoning all his
courage, he said with gigantic effort
at calmness.
"My dear, there's awful news"
"Now, the little black kitty amt dead
Vi du1 VI bhO ShlShShoy l. hOPS1 oeAo
Mrs. Forbes.
"Mercy, noln Then as gently as pos
sible, the captain broke the disastrous
tIdings, how the bank had broke, and
they had lost all.
Law, yes. l knew it had broke"
said Mrs. Forbes, complacently. ''But
thank kind, merciful, Heavenly
Father, it amt hurt us any,"
"Why, what do you mean~ gasped
the captain, fearing her senses had de-
serted her at the news; ''all we had was
there, wife"
''No, 'twasn't, she answered placidly.
'I'd drawed it all out three days afore
the smash came. Brother William has
it all safely invested in his business"
'Why, but Maria, you could't draw
it. l deposited that money, no one
could draw it without my order"
"NIrs. Forbes broke into a ripping
laugh.
"Well, now, do you think, Johnny
Forbes, I've lived with you all these
years without bein' able TO write eX-
actly like youl l never did approve of
all your money bein' in that bank,
and William didn't, so I just writ out
an order an endorsed It, l had your
book along, had an idee once in the
city I might want it, so | just got the
money as slick as could be, an its all
safe an sound. l didn't tell William
that"
But Captain Forbes was regarding his
wife with distended eyes. Finally ne
roared in true sailor fashion.
"Houolulu and all the Gulf States ''
Why, Miss Forbes, that's forgery"
"What's forgery" asked his sleek,
contented wife.
"Why, coppin' my hand writin'.
Didn't you know that"
"Sakes, no; wouldn't done wrong
for all the money in the world But
how long since you and have been
two, Jack Forbes, should like to
knowl"
When at last she became convinced