The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-06-30
A TRIAL OF FAITH.

"What I consider the essential element
Of happiness in any love affair is the
supreme faith and perfect trust of the
one in the other said the heroine, in a
voice that in moderately pretty girl
would have seemed authoritative, but not
in splendid creature as tall and stately
as Tennyson's Maud, with red-brown
hair, dark violet eyes, and mouth
shaped like Cupid's bow. mo matter
what appearances are against him, no
matter if time or distance or malicious
tongues separate, the woman should trust.
Since l have become engaged"
Engaged to do what, Florence ~
asked Jacks sister, with her irreverent
gigge. But what could you expect of
little undersized creature, with turned
up nose, and pair of green eyes rs in
quistive as an interrogation point?
when l think that you and Jack are
really to be married, it does seem too ridic-
ulous he just gone into the Senior at Yale,
and you just out of school last June. And
then such a lot of sweethearts as he has
had! There were Emily Hazen, and
Marie De Brese, and last year Professor
Peters daughter-the youngest one, with
the big black eyes, that giggled. And
to hear you, the veriest spittire in school,
when you get jealous, talking about love
and trust and faith Now, my lady,
don't get vexed; it's all 'badinage and
persiiage, as the woman of society would
say. I'm merely watching the miracle of
love"
II am eighteen years of age, Susie
Lane, and your is-ah, twenty
one; we ar Ss children; and,
beside, I'm g to have you making
fun of me II ~, and ridiculing every
thing. l ii never tell you anything
again as long as live. thought you
sympathized-
''Oh, Florence, don't cry" cried the
scoffer, melted and distressed in turn.
''Do let's sit down on this log, and tell
us all about it. BERTHE is dying to hear,
and has been pinching me black and blue
ever since we started. Don't mind me /;
you know BERTHE and | are nothing but
miserable schoolgirls in scrubby clothes,
and know nothing but chemistry, and
moral and mental philosophy, and French
and German and the sciences, and Eng
lish literature and Art; don't be bashful
before us
"Oh, hush, Sue, cried BERTHE; "we
are tired Of you and your nonsense. l
want TO have real sensible, sentimental
time. Let's sit right here. wish had
2y sketch-b book. How deep the wood
Is, and how soft the shadows, and that
bank of ferns, and the great boulder COW
cred with lichens! See the waterfall
yonder, and that half-charrcd log. All,
this is the very forest of Arden. Come,
dear, tell us all about it."
"Well,n ~ said the heroine, at happened
at this very spot, yesterday afternoon,
Just before he left on the Z T.. NJ. train.
Indeed l Just can't tell you the very
words, girls, because it's kind of sacred ;
but he vowed he had never cared one
straw for Emily HsZen or Marie DeBrese,
and as for that Peters girl, he positively
scorned her, locked very uninterested
and dignitied, and said l really didn't
know why he should make me his conf
dante, though / was Sues friend and
STAYING in his house, and all that, and he
pumped right down there where you are
sitting, BERTHE, and kissed my hand, and
told me- No, l just won't; but he
talked perfectly beautifully about t.ust
and faith, and how ] must believe in
him, even though he were far, far away
at Yale, and here in Pennsylvania. And
he said We must remember we were to-
gether in heart though the hills lie be-
tween -
"He got that out of my scrap book, y
said Sue, conscientiOusly. ''But il came
IN very we'll Jack is a very tidy boy,
and really believe he is in love this