The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-09-22
'cTo-dav ~ 7 cried and LOOKING full in

'To-daym cried, and looking full in
his face. knew why he was going.
81 did not mean TO speak so soon, " he
said, in q low voice, that he made even
by a strong effort, but 1 met her on the
porch, and she was so kind knowing my
stay was nearly over, that was hopeful
for the first time. l told her my love, and
before she spoke read my answer in her
sad, wistful eyes. She does not love me.
Very gently she told me this. l cannot
accuse her of any coquetry, for she has
given me no more encouragement than the
frank friendliness of hospitality. 1t was
all my own folly. But, John, " and Robert
placed his hands upon mine, looking
earnestly into my face, "she told me in
her pure, womanly sympathy for my
pain, her maiden secret. When pleaded
for time, hoping still to win her, she told
me all her love, all her heart, was already
given to another. Death might come be-
fore her love was answered, but it was no
longer hers to bestow.
Before / could speak Robert left me
again. Did he guess, by the pain of his
own heart, the secret of minel Was this
unknown rival as startling, as unexpected
to him as to me2 Mabel, this child had
known from babyhood Mabel nursing
secret Lowell 1 could not believe i'll
Reject Robert for some st anger, whose
name I could not guess 1t must have
been while was in college that the love
grew in her heart, while she was yet but
q child.
rose up bewildered and went slowly
to the house. Aunt Clara was in her
! little sewing-room, and entered my own
snuggery beside it. The doors were not
closed, and Mabel was on her knees, her
| face hidden in the bosom of the only
mother she had ever known. could
hear her voice as she sobbed;
ut was cruel, mamma, to- bring him
here-cruel to him and me-"
'But, Mabel" my aunt said, gently,
caresslng the bowed head, II cannot un-
derstand. You say you cannot love him
because you love another. Tell me,
darling, where have you given your lover
Then Mabel raised her head
''Whom could love but Iohn?"
heard no mole. The sudden rush of
happiness was too much for my feeble
health, and fell forward heavily, utterly
unconscious. When my senses returned
1 had been lifted by Roberts strong arms
to the sofa in my snuggery, and he was
standing beside me- 1 could see my aunt
holding Mabel in her arms near the win
dow.
"Why, John, old fellow" Robert said,
in a CHEEKY tone that gladdened my heart,
after the confidence of the morning, 'do
you often scare folks in this may9 could
heard your aunt call in the garden, and
your cousin is nearly frightened to
death! john" he whispered, bending
low, ''did you find out the truth"
could only look wistfully into his
face.
81 know You meant it all for the
best, he said, still in the same low tone
"but, you see, love will not be driven.
God grant you every happiness! l can
say it from my heart Mrs. Meredith, "
he said, aloud, "can l speak to you mo-
ment in the gardenf
Aunt Clara gently released herself
from Mabel, and we were alone.
'Mabell' l'' l cried, sitting up in spite of
the agony it caused me.
And she came at my call. At last, she
read the love in my face, and she nestled
in my arms, sobbing quietly.
81 can scarcely believe it yet, " l said.
"You love me, lame, deformed, sick!"
"What made you so" she answered.
''Was it not to save my life you risked
your own9 You could have easily es-
capped, but you waited for me. Oh,
john" she said, earnestly. 'I loved you
always. l cannot remember when my
love was not given to you, but never has
it been so strong, SO true, so lifelong as
since you were crippled, deformed and
sickly for my sake"
So she is mine now, my darling, my
Mabel. am stronger as the years go
by, but shall never be quite well, never
anything but a deformed cripple; yet
Mabel loves me, and in my wife's affoc-
tion find happiness.
Swedish Manners.