The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-11-24

deavor to win pretty Fanhies heart. He
was partner in his fathers law Office,
winning his own way to fortune, and no
thought of the blondes patfimony
tempted him. 1t was pure, true love
that softened his voice for Fannie's ear,
shone in his eyes when they rested upon
her, and brought him often to her side.
And the love he coveted was given
him, though no words had yet been
spoken, when Herbert Norris suddenly
fled, and twenty-four hours later his son
was also missing.
1t was blessing, Nell said, that they
choose the spring weather for their jour
ney, as the cottage in Harlem was Ger
tainly not tempting, as it stood, for a
winter residence. 1t made large hole
IN the money realized from the sale of
the furniture, to put the old house in re-
pair, 1T having been empty for a long
time. And eveluwhen it was newly
painted and papefed and frightened by
the prettiest of furniture, it looked very
narrow and poor, contrasted with the
home where the girls had lived from
childhood. The piano had to stand all
askew, to fit at all in the little parlor,
and the easy-chairs and lounges looked
all out of proportion. But Nell worked
busily, and gradually the "iittingn be-
come a frolic; and even Fannie was in.
terested In wedging bureaus into impos-
sible reces es, and finding accommoda-
tion for the contents of the great vaps
at the door, Il
Just imagine, we have spare-room, +"
cried Nell, gleefully;S S'here is Aunt
Sues, here ours, here one for a servant,
if we ever again indulge in suchsaA TX
ury, and here magnificent apartment,
handsomelEefurnished to let! All the
rubbish and trunks can go in th6sattic
or loft, or whatever you choose to call
the sky parlor, and the whole lower floor
can be degoted to parlor dining room.
pantry and kitchen! Fan, seriously, 1
like 1t. 1t is ours, that is one good
thing, and we can have lots of fun cook
ing and cleaning"
Fun" said Fan, dolefully.
eyes, fun! Come, I'm going to give
Jane her wages, now we are all fixed
nicely, aud we will get dinner. Amt
you glad now we learned to cook at
Uncle Rodney's. How we hated itl'
Fan. sighed over the memory of two
years spent with their mothers brother
on a cosy New England farm, while their
father was in Europe irving to bring
health back to his wife, who died under
Italian skies. But Nell would not let
her NOPE, and the summer days were
coming to make the cottage gardena new
interest, and long walk to the boat or
car only pleasant country stroll.
There was a Tptle money to put in the
bank for rainy day, when Aunt Sue OBJ
taiLI I'd employment at her old trade, and
the girls undertook embroidery for a
large dry goods establishment. June
had come, when one morning Aunt Sue
received a letter, asking her to take a
boarder.
"a boarderl" crBa sanie, aghast
''the man is crazyp
For the letter was signed "John Har-
ris!" So it was man.
''He is an. invalid, and wants perfect
quiet in private family He offers ten
dollars week, Fam"
''And he'll be twenty dollars worth of
bother. Just imagine sick man TO fuss
over"
"Ten dollars week." said practical
Nell 'Tt would nearly keep the table
for all of us
Discussed in all 1t bearings, the pro
posal was finally admitted to have its
advantages. The old family physician
was given by the writer for reference,
and there was the spare room fairly
yawning with, emptiness" Nell said.
So John Harris was graciously per-
mitted to take up his summer residence
in the little cottage. He was a white
haired old gentleman who stopped badly
and had large soft eyes, as blue as Fan
nie's own. From the time of his arrival
his devotion to Aunt Sue was so marked
as to excite the mischievous raillcry of
the girls in spite of the little old maid s
bushes and protestations
Was Aunt Sue in the summer-house
stitching upon her caps, John Harris was
sure to be found, reading aloud the in
terestlng portions of the daily newspaper.
Was she in the kitchen stirring cake, or
rolling pie crust, John Harris was GER
tainly leaning against the window-sill,
making sage rem rks upon the beans or
tomatoes in the wee vegetable garden.
Did Aunt Sue remark her love for a
HbNGI, DcuOlu lllG HtAb udN NdBOaA
from town with a whole ga den ready to
be transferred TO the soil of Harlem,
Under John Harris's direc,lns. lie was
very kind to the girls, but their youthful
charms evidently faded before Aunt
Sues mature ones.
1t was a pleasant summer, in spite of
Fan Is heart.sickness and the many pri-
vations that were now duty. Poverty
had not bitten deeply into the nest-egg
at the bank, thanks to the supply of
work and the board of john Harris
Upon the plea of poor appetite, this in
valid was constantly sending orders to
the city for supplies of dainties for the
table, that aided materially in lessening
the culinary expenses, and he set the
girls TO emSroidering such a pile of
handkerchiefs with initial letters, that
Nell declared he could never want an
other if he spent the remainder of his ex-
istence blowing his nose