The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-09-22

me. MADeIS voice spoke the words OF
resignation that l took into my soul,
knowing her sorrow was almost as great
as my own. Mabel taught me to think
of the two lives gained at the price of
my infirmities And the love that had
been my hope and pride became,an added
torture to my heart.
How could / fail to love her more and
more every day-my comforter, my dar-
ling Was she not ever beside me, to
wait upon me, to play for me, sing to
me, read with me, wear away the long
hours in games, and when my suffering
was shown in my face, to bend over me,
and with her tears falling, thank me for
her life.
Three years had passed since the fire,
when Robert came to visit me. He had
left me in the full flush Of youthful
strength; he found me a crippled in
valid; but by Gods mercy no longer
despairing, murmuring one. Before me
ever was the perfect, sweet life l had
saved; the motherly love my own
hands had rescued from death, and with
these two to comfort me, l had learned
to say, sincerely and ferventlY: Goods
will be done"
But when the letter reached me an
nouncing Roberts intention of visiting
me, strange vision rose before me, unit
ing the lives of the two who were my
dearest friends on earth. Dearly as L
loved Mabel, l could wish for her no
happier fate than to be Roberts wife. 1
knew him to be a man. honorable to his
hearts core, noble in every impulse,
talented and gifted with marvellous
power to win affection. He was rich,
too, though he pursued his profession,
and was already winning good position
as "a rising lawyer. Sitting in the summer
house, could see Robert and Mabel as
they stood conversing on the porch where
had left them. His tall, erect figure,
his handsome face, his perfect, manly
beauty contrasted well with her small,
dainty figure, her sweet, earnest face and
the gentle wOmanliness of every express
sion. She wore white on that day, with
soft blue here and there in her hair and
on her bosom.
My darlingl my darling! My heart
hungered to catch her away from all the
world, and fold her close, close in its
embrace, and l sat looking upon her and
praying sincerely that Robert might love
| ner ana WIN ner love.
| There were many walks and drives in
Somerville well worth visit and, with
Aunt Clara for chaperone, these two
spent hours in the soft summer air, driv-
ing or walking. Ihad overcome Mabel's
reluctance to leave me alone, by repre-
senting to her the impossibility of my
performing the duties of host excepting
indoors. and begging of her to take my
place in the exercise of hospitality to our
guest And in the hours, now very few
and far between, that we were together.
| talked to her of Robert, of the many
noble traits had seen in his character,
of the honorable place he held among
men, of his gentleness and bravery.
She would listen to me silently, bend
ing over her sewing, and keeping her
face hidden from me. / thought she was
shy of showing the pleasure she felt in
hearing her lovers praise. For, before
the first week had passed, / knew that
| Robert was her lover. However he
might prosper in his wooing, it was GER
tain he was loving more and more the
gentle girl whose sisterly care and affec-
tion had made the very sunshine of my
life.
Shyly at first, but in little time,
with all the frank confidence of the
years we had spent together in college,
Robert made me the confdant of his love,
meeting my warmest sympathy, sure of
my listening patiently to all his enthusi-
asm, his hopes aud fears. The fears pre-
dominated He found his advances met
by a gentle friendliness whose very
frankness discouraged him.
''If she wonld blush and look shy as
other girls do, - he would say to me, 81
would have some hope, but | might be
her grandmother for any such emotion
might awaken in her. My very prettiest
compliments fall fiat when she raises her
large soft eyes and smiles half merrily
and with spice of mischief, but never
coyly, as if the words touched her heart.
Later he would be provoked, and once
he limited at a rival. Earnestly and truly
1 assured him that in the whole range OF
her maiden friends, Mabel had never
shown favor to one above another
Gentlemen visitors were not numerous
at our house, Somerville being a quiet,
sleepy place, apt to be deserted by its
children when they arrived at ''man's
estate" Our minister was sixty, with O
staid wife and half dozen grown-up
boys and girls. Our doctor was an &C.
centric ola bachelor past fifty, who
looked upon women as very troublesome
bundles of aches and pains, whose r.
quirements interfered sorely with his
study of sundry pet theories in his pro-
fession. Lawyer we had none; and,
anXiously summing up our entire mascu'
line population, | was quite certain there
was not one who could ever hope to win
Mabel's affections.
Cheered by my assurances, encouraged
by the affection of Aunt Clara, Robert
became more hopeful as the summer days
wore by, and my first attempt at match
making seemed in fair way to prosper.
If grew paler and paler, if my physical
suffering was increased by the mental
torture of my daily life, l made no moan,
and thought only of Mabel, her future,
her happiness.
,,I