The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-05
BALKED.

Rose AnncSley paused, with ner hand
on her sisters chair; but Olive only
laughed merrily, aud shook her cad.
What !" she replied "when this is
Mr., st. Clouds first visit, and you two
have not seen each other since you parted
at Mount Desertl No, Rosie dear, moth
ing would induce me to spoil the meet
ing"
''But you wouldn't spoil it." persisted
Rose, in her quiet, straightforward way.
'He understands all about you, Olive.
He knows that we two have only each
other in the world, and that you have
always been more like mother than a
sister to me. He wants to meet YOU
ever so much You needn't laugh and
shake your head He does, indeed
Dear Olive!" she whispered, affectionate-
ly, laying her cheek against her sisters,
''don't think that my happiness can ever
make me forget you, or love you one bit
the less"
Olive did not answer, only stroked the
sunny little head that nestled so close to
her own.
She was a quiet, reticent girl-in fact,
society considered this elder Miss Annes-
ley, with her keen, gray eyes and sarcas-
tic manners, ''rather an eccentric young
woman
But then, society felt a little vexed
that Olive Annesley was so utterly indif-
ferent to its claims.
The two sisters had been orphans for
several years, Mrs. Anneslcy having died
when Rose was quite a child, her hus-
band year or two after.
Those who knew Olive best, knew that
the softest spot in her heart was for the
pretty, golden haired child who had been
left so entirely to her charge.
She had tried to rouse herself, of late, to
go rather more into company, to enter
tain more extensively, for Roses sake.
But during the previous summer Rose
had gone with party of friends to Mount
Desert and the result had been this en-
gagement to handsome BERTHE st. Cloud.
Olive had never met the young man.
He was one of the employees in a large
banking house, and had been sent abroad
on some business matters, shortly after his
engagement to Rose.
He had Just returned, and his first visit
was, of course, to the large Western city
which formed the home of his fair fan
Gee.
Rose had pleaded in vain that Olive
would go down and join her in this well
come to her lover.
81 am not well, tonight, y she said, as
a ring at the door announced his arrival
81 shall see him tomorrow and do my
best to cut you out. Perhaps / shall
succeed. Who knowsW she added, with
smile, as Rose, looking like veritable
fairy, in her soft, blue cashmere and
creamy laces, fitted joyously from the
room.
But as the door closed behind her,
Olives face changed. She arose YEARLY,
and crossing the room, paused in front of
the MANTLE where stood a large and
handsomely photograph.
The face which smiled back at her,
with its soft brown eyes, delicate fea-
lures, and dark moustache, was one
which few women would have had power
to resist.
"Why is it," she said, impatiently,
''that feel such an inward distrust of
that manl His face is simply perfect
too perfect to be true-yet it must be my
own jealous fears for Rose which make
me so unreasonable. He is probably no
worse than others of his class. Oh, if l
could only read him aright-could only
find out what manner of man he isl"
Meanwhile, the lovers below, free from
all apprehensions of the future, were
tasting the full bliss of reunion after
long separation.
The hours flew quickly by, and when
st. Cloud returned to his hotel he was
surprised to find it so late.
One of the walters met him in the cor
ridor.
"a gentleman has been asking for you,
sir, he caid, "and showed him to your
room. He has been there some time"
st. Cloud hastened up stairs, and on
opening tn door, deserted, to his great
pleasure, an old friend, whom he had
not seen for some time,
'eYou here, Max" he exclaimed,
shaking him heartily by the hand. 'My
dear fellow, there did you drop from at
this unreasonable hour2"