The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-01-11


was going out with smile on his face
when Caddy shot by him in the passage
way. 1t occurred to him that Mrs.
Parkhurst's remarks had probably met
other ears beside his own.
No doubt was left in his mind when,
the following morning, Caddy appeared
in long dress. The change certainly |
made her lack year or two older And |
in the fresh light thrown on her person
ality by this fact Scott decided that she |
was really not snch an ill-looking girl;
that she had, indeed, some good points. |
He reverted to the idea of sketching her
against some effective background. But
his purpose did not prove easy to carry
out. There was no doubt Caddy was a
somewhat singular young person. Mrs.
Parkhurst said as much. "She amt
never been like folks" was her comment
on her offspring. And Courtand Scott,
though his ideas of being like folks
were probably not quite identical with
those of his worthy landlady, was fain
to agree with her.
Having concluded that he could not
quite make Caddy out, it caused him no
surprise when she came strolling down
the beach with detached air, while he
was at work, and, seating herself on the
sand little behind him, alternately
watched the natural picture before them
and the canvas on which that picture
was being reproduced in silence never
broken on her side. 1t occurred to him
that she might be an Angelica Kaufman
or a Rosa Bonheur in the bud with an
untutored love of art struggling in her
heart; but he gave up that supposition,
as it had nothing substantial to rest
upon. He observed that she often
watched himself, and his clothes, and his
other belongings, with just the same
worldless, enigmatic absorption. She
took cues here and there. She was neat
or about her appearance than formerly.
He gave her few books, and he learned
afterwards that she had sat mp half the
night reading them. She asked for
more; but she evidently had no desire to
talk about them Finding all his efforts
to draw her into conversation fruitless,
Scott used to forget her presence and go
on cheerfully with his work, scowling at
it and whisting snatches of comic operas
under his beard by turns, until, after an
hour or so, he would be reminded of her
existence by seeing her get up, and, al
ways silently, wander back toward the
/ house.
"a weird young specimen, " he would
| laugh.
The cold weather held off well, but
when it came it reminded Scott that his
/ little vacation was at an end. He had
really enjoyed it.
I'm sorry to be leaving you, Mrs.
Parkhurst.
"Goin', be We 2"
"Yes-to-morrow."
When the morrow came he called Cad
dy aside. He had been revolving some
thing in his mind, and he had decided
that he could oIer her little present.
He quite liked this strange little girl.
Some books he knew she would enjoy,
and she could cultivate her mind (Which
was, however, an unknown quantity tc
him and apparently to every one else
with them during the long Winter oven.
ings. He reserved to himself the privi
lege of putting little substantial fnery
in the box also, as such tn ngs were never
known to come amiss to her sex.
''Good-bye, Caddy,n he said, kindly
taking her hand. Take care of your
self. am going to send you a little
box to remember me by when get bach
to town. You won't mind, will your
For it came upon him anew that Mis-
Ermengard Parkhurst was an uncertain
young person.
lie had instant confirmation of tn,
fact. She flung his hand off.
"Koep your presents" she said
hoa sely. 81 don't want themm
"Gut sec here, Caddy, won't you sa!
good bye &" he cried after her.
He had one glimpse of her face as sht
turned it over her shoulder. 1t wa
white and drawn and her eyes had ;
wild look.
"The deucel / really believe th'
childs sorry to have me gow muttcreC
Scott, and thought no more about it.
When he got back to town he founC
in his room letter waiting for him whicl
decided his winter for him. He had 81
many things to claim his attention be
fore starting for the new railrovd whicl
was being built that he quite forgo
about Caddy's present. But he remem
bercd it at Christmas, and despite he
unmannerly protest, sent her box from
the rough settlement near the line of tn
new railroad, where, with several othe
young engineers, he was quartered 10
the season.
, "Well, it's about time the new sec
, tion of the road was pushed through
) II somcthin' amt done to that 'er
bridge down by the bend soon thercl
} be smash-up, and don't you forgit it !.
The prognostication fell on deaf ears
1 The prognosticator had always "takeI
more in that 'ere Scott than in som
others o. them dandy fellers," too, Blu
70 Luke Peabody was, as he toldIy pro
claimed at those not frequent times whe
G his sessions at the various rum shops
which had sprung up along the line Q
Z the railroad, had been unsuccessful
t prolonged, Independent. And an indie
pendent man naturally felt that Que gen
tleman should listen to another whe
70 that other spoke.
But Scott was not exactly in cond
tion of mind to listen to Mr.. Peabody G
to any one else. lie was, in fact, wait
'ingfor the down train which brought tn
evening mail with great impaliencC
I There was, indeed, a certain yonng lad
whose acquaintance he had made durin
short run up to town few weeks b'
[ fore. Scott had found some excuse fC
I writing to her, and though the reply h
e expected could be nothing but the mos
/, q Co ,ual of notps there WAS a tiuplinH