The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-02
mood to day he iOEed and laughed un.

ing to his badinage with prompt and
appreciative brigk>pess; behaving, in
short, ms a charninA girl inevitably be-
haves with charming young man who
openly admires her.
delightful day for sleighing,"
Avery observed, with his eyes on Stella.
''lsn't it," she murmured, without
looking through the window.
"What do you say to a turn UP the
road, MarchPS Avery pu.sued, as he
folded up his n bl1in. "ill get a double
sleigh, and we'll take spin up, stop at
the Halfway House for something hot,
and be back by five. Glad thought Of
it'll" he said, as he rose, with an unblush-
ing attempt TO imply that he had not
been thinking of it all the morning,
'Pll be round by the time you've got
your things on. Bundle up, Miss
Harvey
The hall door slammed behind him a
moment later.
''How nice' p cried Stella, clasping her
hands in impulsive Joy. 'Isn't he de-
lightful2"
She foated to the door with waltz
ing step, looking back, sparkingly, over
her shoulder, and flew up stairs.
Mrs. March stood in stony horror
"How can shel" she cried, in poignant
despair. ''How can she be so unprin-
cipled, so conscienceless2 She isn't dull !;
she knows perfectly that Avery's in love
with her, and that she's leading him on.
| can't understand it; she seemed so
sweet. And l am sure Aunt Clara is
strictly religious. She couldn't have
brought her up SOTO be mercenary, and
shallow, and q heartless firt. Pm
ashamed to think that she's relative of
mine, Philipp
1t was delightful "spinn to the
Halfway House; but the Half way
House was at a distance Of some five
miles, and they were all chilly when
they entered its spacious, many-tabled
dining-reo at three o'clock.
Chilly; but, so far as Avery and Stella
were concerned, extremely lively. They
had had standing joke all the way up
about the blueness of the latter's nose,
which Avery had insisted upon, and
which Stella had as strenuously denied.
They had bowed to parties they
didn't know, and laughed with puerile
gaiety at the effect of the performance.
They had eaten marsh mallow philo-
pena, the bet being polka-dotted calico
neck-tie against bottle of bandoline,
and had conducted themselves generally
in the senseless, mirthful manner which,
regretably enough, is so deeply enjoyable
during the period of youth.
Mrs. March sat ia cold silence, while
they drank their hot lemonade and
ginger, and while Avery Wilson and her
pretty cousin continued to ''carry on"
with subdued hilarity.
Philip looked panied and puzzled and
deprecating. The two. were relieved
when the glasses were finished, and they
had sent something comforting to the
driver, aud sauntered into the parlor for
a last five minutes by the stove.
Mrs. March grasped her husbands arm
determinedly as they entered its door
81 shall not endure it, Philip" she
whispered. 81 cant see her going on
so; and poor Avery-I am going to tell
him. There nowl And hope he will
have the good sense to be glad of his
escape"
And while Philip stared in apprehen-
sive alarm, and Stella Strengthened her
boa and twisted her veil into yet more
coquettish combination before the mirror,
Mrs. March talked in low and earnest
tones to white-faced young man in the
corner.
Whether it was the lo1g, cold ride,
and the succeeding hot drinks. or the
wearing strength of her painful emotions,
or a mixture of BOTH is a subject for
speculation; but certain it is that Mrs.
March dozed all the way home.
She was onscious-unpleasant and
yet proudly eonscious-of Avery's pale
and stern.set face opposite her, and of
Stella's soft eyes raised to him in fright
ened appeal; aud she was conscious of
nothing further.
She was cozy aud comfortable, and the
soap-stones were hot; and she sank into
a peaceful sleep, with her head on her
husbands arm.
She was awakened by the clash of the
bells as the sleigh came to standstill at
her own door. 1t was almost dark, but
Mrs. March could make out Avery's Welt
enveloped form in the act of lifting Stella
to the ground; and she hesved sigh Of
relief
She had been reused from dreadful
dream that Avery had poisoned him
self in her kitchen closet and that Stella
h"N AouS hCO AhAhaVoSAo otciJ ot tno III
cldent
Indeed, Stella was laughing so was
Avery so was Philip. Mrs. March stared
at them all in the light Of the front
parlor. Moreover, they were all looking
at her with peculiar brightness. Mis-.
March's latent and certainly much.ti:ed
temper rose.
''What is the joker" she queried,
severely.
"The jokes on you, my love- her
husband responded, unsteadily, drawing
her down beside him on the sofa
Decidedly on you" !" said Avery, glee-
fully.
Mrs. March noted that his hand rested
on the farther side of Stella's vast
"Stop, both of youln cried Stella.
She looked at her cousin with her eyes
shining with asweet sympathy, aud sud-
denly broke away from the OBTAINING
arm, and threw herself down beside her
grasping her hands in her own.
''We've had an explanation, Mrs.
March, Avery observed, nonchalantly.
"We'ro engaged.
Mrs. March drew her hands away.
''stella " she cried, ''what are you do.
ing-what have you donel It won't
make up for the wickedness Of trifiing
with that poor old wretch 10 We in 70
Avery now. Oh, what ate YOU coming