The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-07-21

arrow is piercing it. Charlie passed out,
and Ruth went into the kitchen. There,
on an old lounge, her father was lying
drunk. BY his side sat Usher Cowan,
basin in one hand, sponge in the other
He was bathing Mr. Silver's face, and
Ruth saw that the water in the basin was
bloody
"Why, Usher, what is this2"
Don't worry" said Usher, in the
calm, steady, assuring tone SO natural to
him.
"But is he hurt2"
"Not much. He will be all right to-
morrow"
''But has he hurt anybody2"
ell-there-there was a little
trouble between him and Jack Linton.
Both had been drinking
Jack Linton Ruth started. Jack
belonged to Charles set As to habits,
the only difference between him and Mr..
Silver was that Jack went in at the back
door of the apothecary- and Mr..
Silver went in at the front door of the
beer-shop. Jack had pressed his atten-
tions upon Ruth, and Ruth had as per-
sistently pressed them back. Jack was
angry at last and vowed that he would
yet be even with her. The next day
after the trouble with Mr.. Silver, to bal
ance accounts, Mr.. Silver, at Jacks in
stigation, was pulled up in court. Mr..
Silver, it seemed, had struck the first
blow. Then money and respectability
$50 consideredD were on Linton's side,
and Mr. Silver was fined heavily.
Guess" said Jack Linton, ejecting
tobacco juice from the window of the
law where he was-the same non
descript that Charlie was in the count
ng-room-"guess Ruth and are about
even now"
The next night Ruth took from the
post-office letter from Charlie. She
hurried home, and, finding her father
was out, neglected her own tea and
fastened up into her chamber. There,
with heart futtering like birds wing
broken by rihe-ball, she read these
words:
"MIss SILvER-After the disgraceful
transactions of yesterday, in which your
father figured so conspicuously and so very
creditably in court. you cannot expect me to
continue an acquaintance where must
miugle in such low circles. free you from
your engagement, and l free myself also.
Respectfully yours, G. MANToN."
Charlie had spent the previous evening
with the elegant and refined circle that
met in the apothecary's back office.
Stung by the jokes there executed at his
and Ruth's expense, goaded by hi
mothers sharp criticism also, Charlie sal
down and wrote the above note.
After reading it, Ruth held it a long
| time in her hand. Her face was as pale
as snow drift; her heart seemed nc
warmer. Poor thing God only knew
how cold was this repulse of her hopes.
/ How long she sat by the window of he
chamber in this chilling stupor, she knew
not She was aroused at last by voice
outside.
81 tell you, sir, there's hope for you
Make one more trial. God will he'll
you.
That was Usher Cowan's voice.
Il thank you, Usher; but what gooC
will it do3 And tonight l am burnin!
with thirst. Let me go just this once
just this once"
''No, no, you cannot goW
Ruth heard Usher pleading. Thel
she heard their voices sounding in tn,
alley-way. Then she heard them in the
kitchen. Ruth hurried downstairs.
"Ruth, have brough your father in
and don't want him to go out again"
'You are very kind, Usher. I will
make him some hot coffe directly. Don
go, fatherw
II won't, Ruth. She is goo,
daughter, Usher. wish l was goo'
father" the man blubbered, and thei
broke into pitiful weeping.
"What is the matter, Ruth9" aske'
Usher, noticing her appearance.
''Nothing, Usher"
Something is the matter, said Ushe
to himself, and left.
Usher Cowan was plain, upright fel
low, with a warm, generous nature, ten
der in his feelings, quick in his sympa
thies, but quiet in department. Hi
habits had always been correct, and cor
sequently he had not been that conspicu
Gus member of society that some of thos
scapegoats are who, guilty of dashin
sin, reform and are lionized for thei
penitence.
"Usher has always been a good boy,
said his mother, one of Ruth's neigl
| bors.
He was bookkeeper in the counting
room of the mill, and person thu
turned off a good deal Of work. Charl
disliked Usher, because Usher did SOM
! thing and he did nothing. Usher an
} Ruth had always been good friends
, They had in childhood pulled dandelioI
together in Spring and IN Winter ha
gone down-hill on the same sled. The
had at school often blushed to fin
themselves standing side by side
t front of the masters desk whe
r caught in common misdemeano
and had walked home at night tryir
to comfort one another in their mutu
disgrace. So they had grown up t
gether. Such a word as 'love" h1
c never been hsped between them. Ush
, was very diffident about expressing h
= deepest feelings, and ere he had SUI
f moned courage to speak, Charlie Mant'