The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-12-19

knowed that it would "a hurt your feel
in's wuss than anything else. There,
Libbie; take it. 1t was very nigh a-goin'
as everything else has"
He held out the little gold ring to her
and turned his head away. In an instant
the woman was on her feet. Her long,
thin hand clutched the bauble and ahot
flush showed itself on her pallid, sunken
cheek.
'Father, " she cried, "would you dare"
In her indignation she was speechless
for moment, but then she broke down
and the tears came.
at is all l have left" she moaned,
call have left to remind me of him -
all of his fathers the child may ever see.
How could you think of it, father2 1t
was cruel-cruel.
"'Twas all wrong, yes twas, Libbie, 1"
the man asseuted. ''Bnt it bruck me
heart to think o. you and that leetle 'un
sittin' here supperless. heerd the bells
tolin' up in the city and the horns
a-blowin', and knowed that everybody
was havin a good time on Chrismiss Eve
night, while you was starvin'. / couldn't
stand it. / sneaked away with thesring
to pawn it or sell it, didn't care what,
till heard the little creetur's cry aud it
brought me to myself agin His childr
l says to meself. His child And
right about and comes back here with the
ring to you, Iibbe-to you, me poor
gal"
He sat down on box and ran his hand
through his tangled hair and saw the
woman dry her eyes and look at him
kindly and pityingly. Once or twice he
bit his lips aud shook his head, asthough
a struggle were going on within him and
then, in a broken voice, he said: "Libbie,
I've scmethin' e tell you, but I've been
ashamed t open me mouth about it.
There's times now when | look back T.
the days when you was ii bright gal, and
poor Ned-yes, poor Ned never called
him that before, but now l must-when
poor Ned was maxim love T. you and /
was maxim brute o. meself Z him. lie
wus a good lad, but | wus so cussed
stuck up with me shop and the loafers
about it that used T. brag about me that
| wouldn't stand his marryin' you. When
you tuck him, and l hunted him away
with me abuse and me drink, didn't
think the day would come when I'd be
sorry for it. But it has, Libbie, it has.
He's gone. Maybe gone. for good. Z
The woman was crying again, but she
wiped away her tears ut this and raised
her pale face again.
"Oh, don't say that, father, don't say
that" she cried. "Ned will come some
time. lie will find us yet. 1t seems so
strange this long waiting. But he said
he would come to claim me as his wife
when he was able to support me, and
he'll do it. / remember when he went
away. He said TO me: 'Libbie, your
father forces me to this. Come with me
or stay with him, which ever you wish,
but depend upon it that | shall be back
soon to claim you, my little Wife, and
when / do I'll come like man, will
ing and able to take tare of you and
take odds from no one.' Hhen he said
Whenever. you soc that ring athinlSsof
me and remember that will be working
hard to keep my word He went away
then and have tried never to doubt
him. But it is so hard TO wait and wait
and hear nothing. He may be dead. He
cannot be untrue. Disappointed and
perplexed as am will not believe it..
But no word, no word. 1t is that is
kllllnS me.
Old Tom arose and walked the length
of his cabin, then turned about and came
back to the seat on, the abox. Then he
leaned over to her and said'ssss',-aus,.. =.
I'm agoin' to tell you somethin' Lib
bic. It's somethin' oughter told you
long ago but didn't have the courage,
me gal, to own up to what scoundrel l
wus."
The woman dried her tears and there
was look of interest in the pale face
that encouraged him to go On. But he
still hesitatedy and said to 'her with a
trembling voice, "lou won't cuss me,
Libbie, will you ;Sbad as | may be you'll
forgive me now that Pve come around
and mean to do better.n
She remained impassive and only said
"Go on; father"
81 will. | will, if it kills me- Libbie,
don't you worry yourself on account o.
Ned's sticlun by you. lie wus true to
you all along. He wrote to you. He
sent money to you. He never forgot
you, poor boy, and II tuck letters,
money and all.