The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-04-14

And he went into the wide hall and up
the stairs
"He ought to invest it at once" said
Horace, disapprovingly, He'll always
be uneasy while he has it on his hands
81 am afraid so, said Ruth, looking
after him regretfully.
And then the conversation drifted to
| less practical subjects than that of Mr..
Briscomb's money, and was carried on in
a rather lower tone
/ 1t was of Mr. Briscombs money that
/ Ruth was thinking. however,, as she sat
/ in her window that night, looking down
/ the sleeping road and listening to the
/ Chirp of belated cricket.
She had heard "a slight jarring sound
/ from the next room-her hosts; and her
thoughts had flown Immediately to the
loose board and Mr.. Briscomb's inheri-
/ tance.
She sat motionless, with startled face
listening intently.
A soft step crept down the stairs
she heard it plainly; and the front door
opened with a creak.
Ruth felt her heart beating fast and
her hands trembling; but she arose to her
feet and leaned far out of the window,
straining her eyes.
A tall form stepped softly to the
ground and made its way through the
yard with a careful stealthy movement.
But at sight of it, Ruth gave al sigh of
relief and laughed softly to herself
She stood watching the proceedings of
the ghostly figure until it turned and
came toward the house-until the front
door closed softly, and the stairs creaked
under an ascending tread.
Curiosity, perplexity and amazement
had filed her face in turn, to be followed
by regretful pity.
''Poor man l' she said to herself com
passionately. 'It will worry him into
his grave, at this rate"
School closed, a week or so later, for
one of those untimely vacations which
district school committees are fond of
decreeing; and the surveyor drove Ruth
to the station-she was to go home for
the holidays
These two had come to an understand
ing Ruth wore ring on the proper
finger, and all their conversation of late
had been upon one subject-which was,
upon how little young couple of ex-
tremely modest wants could safely start
out together.
They had not vet succeeded in bring
ing the probable amount within the mar
row limits of Horace's salary, although
their feats in this direction had been mar.
velous; but they had not dreamed OF
losing courage.
II shall begin cutting rags for carpets
as soon as l get home, " said Ruth, cheer
fully, as the train came rumbling in
Dear me! what will mother say2"
She shook her handkerchief from the
window as the train moved off, and
leaned forward to catch Horace's parting
words:
'I'll be here to meet you of course"
With that assurance still in her ears
it was no wonder that, when she stepped
off the train, two weeks later, and looked
arou nd with an eager smile, the sight OF
the de serted little station should have
filled her with something like dread.
Nobody wasin sight except the station
master. and he was tipped back in chair
against the baggage-room door, half
asleep.
Ruth walked to the edge of the plat
form, and looked anXiously up and down
the road There was q. cloud of dust ii
the distance, and she watched it with {
lightened heart.
But the wagon which numbered W
slowly and stopped before her was moi
Mr.. Briscombs nor was the tall young
countryman who stepped out awkwardly,
the person she had hoped to see, She
recognized him as neighbor of Mr.
Briscomb and her fears returned.
Going down TO Briscomb's, amt
you?" said the young man, hesitatingly
WANT TO ride? can take you down as
well as notn
Ruth climbed into the wagon silently.
p Why had Horace not Gomez Something
must be wrong.
'Heard about that surveyor fellow 2
her companion observed, as they drove
, away, and he looked at her sympathetci
p cally.
about what" said Ruth, clutchine
tho edge of her high selt, tremblingly.
1T was the day after school let out,
said the young man, obviously divided
E between pity for her distress and his en-
joyment of telling a startling story
| 'Briscomb went 10 mill that day, anC
the surveyor tBennet) he went out I,
t Crawford; he said he wanted to telegraph
TO the railroad company about something
, or other. Well. when Briscomb got bacl
YOU know he had lot of money willeC
to him latelyl-well, he got to thinking
. about that money, and he went TO see i
it was all right. He kept it up in hi
C room, under the floor. with a trunk owe
it. Well, the money was gomez Tn
trunk was Just as he'd left It, but tn
, money wasn't there.
He paused to note the effect of this an
- nouncement, and stared at his compan
e ION in astonishment.
For there was something like amuse
:, ment in her face.
e "Well, - she said, calmly What di
- he do?n
p ''He told the neighbors about it.
G You'll believe it, he hadn't thought @
L. .F esl ina he "a