The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-04-11
In THE RED ROOM.

On a certain brilliant Januarv morn
ing young man was approaching the
| White House, and reading a letter as
well as the hanson in which he was
being hastened along would permit
He was handsome fellow in n manly
way, which even the fauitless precision
OF his attire could not make foppish.
ears OF foreign life and habits had not
destroyed his native American humor
or alertness, but had given to both
an air of being the result of
large-minded sort of ciyiliza-
tion, which the young ladies of Colonel
Hale's acquaintance found fascinatingly
Saxon, and which made him among men
regarded as good fellow all around"
Some six years before, he had been
crossed in love. Miss Marion Van
Buren, had Unexpectedly Tilted him.
marrying a man from California, whose.
death, however, had made her rich
widow just eighteen months ago. Colonel
Hale had made no particular effort to
meet her; indeed, had not for some
months cared to inquire her where
abouts; but now he told himself that he
was sure his folly would be quick
ly revived, since he had experienced such
pleasure when the letter he was now
reading reached him.
"Marion is in Washington. " the letter
ran; ''she is going to be at the White
House to-day at the reception: and 50
am |. Pray come there and find me ms
speedily as you can. shall be in the
red room, and so glad to see youl
wonder if YOU can imagine half how
glad. ! have only been in WASHINGTON
q day or two, or would have notified
you sooner. Dear me! | believe we will
talk of nothing but Richmond davs Re
sure to lie at the Executive Mansion bv
twelve l hope you'll know me after
these two years..
Hale smiled again as he read these
words, for very vivid remembrance of
the Richmond days arose. dominated bv
the picture of the charminely pretty girl
who had written the letter: a girl hold
ing as it were the secret of her hapny.
joyous youth on her lids and in her frank
gray eyes; girl who could sit in the
saddle for twenty. mile ride and dance
half the night afterward: and vet whose
presiding charm was purely domestic
Tor never had she seemed ia so hewitcb.
ing as when she was pouring tea at her
fathers Richmond villa. and exercising
the most unaffected of hospitality. If
he had not been in love so long and so
bitterly with Marion-welll
Talk of woman's constancyln Hale
said TO himself as he spranp out of the
hanson: 'nothing but mans constoncv
ever prevented me from foIIipo modir, ~
love with Portia Day."
A small company of people were
being admitted within the sa red nre.
cincts beyond the White House vesti-
bule, and ale followed in their wake
ushered across the hall by n nolife at.
tendant, into the Blue room. throupb
the doorway of which he beheid the fair
young mistress of the mansion m whom
he was glad enough to pay his respects
as she stood there dispensing pretty
bows and smiles. shaking hands with
every one, and saving something BRIGHT
or good-humored it would appear to
most of her guests.
Hale escaped presently through the
Green Room, and thence around to the
lower door of the charming parlor
where he might expect to find Miss
Portia Day.
She was standing against a tall vase
of ferns, whose green width and luxuri
ance formed a fitting background for her
charming figure, in its SIMPLE costume
of soft gray, with ornaments at her
throat and in the clasp of her belt-which
Hale was sure he remembered CHOOSING
with her-queer Oriental stones in dull
silver setting.
II am so glad you sent for me ~ was
Hale's greeting as he took Miss DAYS
hand in his. And show well you are
looking" he added.
"Yes, said Porta, frankly, and with
out a trace of embarrassment, II sun
pose am, since am perfectly well. Il
have been home from Europe nearly six
months, and have had neither nervous
prostration nor malaria, and as vet no
one has thought it necessary to recon-
mend Florida to me"
Hale seated himself on a divan next to
her, feeling as though the months of alb
sence were suddenly bridged over by his
pleasure in this meeting.
And so Marion is coming herel' he I
said, presently, feeling it best to plunge
at once into the subject.
"les. And now you know, perhaps,
why | sent for you"