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

'cThe dearest little woman in the
world !'' l answered enthusiastically, when
Robert Payton asked me for descrip-
tion of Mable--' accomplished, and yet
as modest as violet; pretty, without
coquetry; dainty house-keeper, and yet
an ardent reader"
Then Robert interrupted me with a
light laugh:
"If you admire her so much, old fel-
low. why do you recommend her to your
friends2 Why don't you"
And then he caught his own headlong
speech, while his face flushed He did
not mean to be unkind, and his eyes
looked remorsely into mine, as 1 said,
sadly:
'Why don't strive to win her love2
All, Robert, shall go to my grave un-
blessed by n wife's Lowell
Here, meeting the conscience-stricken
eyes, plunged into discussion of some
public topic, and we spoke no more of
Mabel until she came herself to the porch
where we were seated, to be introduced
to my friend 1 left them together after
time, and strolled down-no, let me
write only plain truth here-limped
painfully down the garden path to the
summer arbor, where had carried many
hcart-wound before. Roberts words
had stung me, and every pulse was quiv-
ering yet with keenest pain.
lie was my friend in college, and had
accepted an invitation given y ars be-
fore, and come to spend few weeks in
Somerville with me. Our little family
consisted only of three, with the servants,
my Aunt Clara, Mabel and myself. 1
called Mabel cousin, and we had been
brought up like brother and sister, but
in reality she was only step daughter to
Aunt Clara.
Ours was q pleasant home. My own
income was an ample one, and Aunt
Clara's husband had left a competency
to his wife and child. We were fondly
attached to each other, and we had
around MS every comfort of refined life.
But I-ah, how my pen halts and ling
ers!-I was blot upon the fair beauty
of our home and surroundings.
was not born cripple; perhaps if l
had been, resignation might have been
part of my nature. At nineteen l was q
tall stripping, as straight and active as
n young Indian, with comely face, as
faces go, and the full, healthy possession
of every sense; and already, with my
boy heart, l loved Mabel and looked
forward to a life beside her as the hap
piest which fate could have in store for
me.
She was but fifteen then, au innocent
child, fair as a flower, gentle, loving,
and yet full of youths happiness. We,
Aunt Clara, Mabel and /, took journey
during that winter, and in one of the
great cities, where we remained for three
days only. the hotel where we stayed
caught fire. was still reading when
the alarm was given, but Aunt Clara and
Mabel. tired with our sightseeing, had
retired early. l fastened to their room,
aad had some difficulty in rousing them
l heard their rapid preparations to es-
cape through the closed door, and saw
the fire gaining upon me. just as they
threw their door open the staircase be
came a sheet of flame.
''You cannot escape this way" l
shouted, pushing them back into the
room; 1--WE must try the window"
They closed the door after me, and
helped me to knot the bed-clothes to-
gether. Amid the horrible din around
/
| bear. No word was spoken till l lifted
the end of a sheet to tie round Mabel 5
waist. Then, with white lips, but steady
eyes, she whispered;
'Mamma first Quick the fire is under
the door"
1 threw open the window, and the
door flashed into fame. A crowd be-
meath gave shout as lifted Aunt Clara
to the sash, and hundreds of arms were
raised to receive her as / lowered her to
them, while a stream of water was
thrown upon the flames beneath US.
Safely 1 accomplished this first peril,
and Mabel was next tied to the rope of
bed-clothes. BY this time the room was
all in flames, but my darling reached the
ground uninjured. l saw her safe, and
the smoke and fame suffocated me.
Leaning far out to steady the descent of
Mabel, l lost my b0 ance. and fell crash
ing to the ground beneath.
It was many long days before knew
ANYTHING more l was taken to another
hotel. and here my aunt and Mabel
nursed me back to life again. But, oh,
the miserable moekery that life seemed
to me Misshapen, lame and feeble,
returned to Someryille a shadow of the
boy who had left it. Fire and fall alike
had spared my face. The brown curs,
the large, blue eyes, the straight features
were left untouched, although the pallol
of death replaced the glow of health.
Tenderest love spared me all possible
pain but l murmured sorely. All my
dreams of ambition were put aside Will
much repining, for the deformity anC
| lamqnqss were mot 90 insurmCunfable
bar as a severe internal injury, that vii
make me an invalid till God takes M
from life.