The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-07-31
She said so with sharpness equaling

husks again, call l know is that | haint
any time to spend traipsing over to Tip
ton or anywhere else. can't go-that's
alln
at don't make any difference, my
wanting to gol" cried Hitty. "You
don't care for me-"
She pressed corner of her apron to
her eyes, sobbingly, and ran into the
house.
Old Mrs. Pierce witnessed the proceed
ing from behind her blinds, and re-
counted it to Miss Gardner next day.
81 thought to myself that something
was wrong" she declared. $50 last
night just stepped in a minute with my
mending; and, sure enough, it was Jest as
plain as day that there'd ben some sort
OF a fuss between 'em. Hitty didn't say
two words to Phil the hull time; and
Phil he took his lantern, long about
eight o'clock, and went off to the barn,
and he hadn't come in when 1 come
home. l told you how 'twould be,
didn't II"
"Well, well" said Miss Gardner,
sadly convinced.
"You hain't changed your mind about
going to Upton, l s'pose2" said Hitty,
stopping Phil somewhat timidly, as he
was leaving the breakfast-table the next
morning.
''No, l haint, said Phil, rather shortly
-he had not expected revival of the
subject. ''If you're so set on it, you can
go; but you'll have to leave me to home"
Hitty frowned. She had intended to
give it all up peaceably-she had meant
to tell him so; but his sharpness scattered
her good resolves to the winds.
81 was thinking" she said, with equal
coolness-she had thought of it only that
instant-"that l might go with the
Patchins if you amt going. ! guess they'd
take me along"
She was sorry the moment she had
said it; for Phil looked hurt and aston
ished. But he recovered himself promptly
and angrily.
81 presume they would, he said, turn
ing toward the door. II hain't the least
doubt of it,"
He strobe away rapidly.
"Ill leave your dinner right in the
cupboard" Hitty called after him, "and
I'll be homc before supper"
Half an hour later she was closing the
front gate behind her, and hurrying down
the road toward the Patchins's, looking
very pretty in her new brown silk-her
wedding dress,
She was trying to~make herself believe
that she was in extremely good spirits;
but the task was rather difficult. 1t
seemed strange to be going on and leav-
ing Phil in that way. But then he might
have gone. Apples and potatoes as
though he couldn't have left them for a
day. Certainly he couldn't have expected
her to stay at home on account of them;
she had been quite right not to.
The Patchins's sleek white horse, har-
messed to their big, dusty old carriage,
was nibbling the grass at the gate. The
Patchins themselves, a pleasant old
couple, were just coming out of the house
in their Sunday clothes. They looked
inquiringly at Hitty.
"Im going to beg ride to Upton"
said the girl, smiling.
They were old friends, and she was
sure OF welcome.
The old couple looked puzzled. Mrs.
Patchins frankly expressed her wonder.
"Why, where's Phill" she said.
"He amt going" Hitty responded,
hesitatingly. 'He-he said he had too
much to do"
"Well, well, git right in," said the old
man, pleasantly. Gwen be glad to have
you along"
His wife echoed the invitation, and
Hitty climbed in. But if each had said
in so many words, "Why are you going
there?" their thought could hardly have
been palmer, and her heart sank
little.
Nor did the pretty drive serve to
Tighten it. She tried to shake off her
discomfort-she was sure it was unreason-
able; but she was feeling rather doleful
at the end of the fourth mile.
''Guess therell be considerable many
there, " said Mr.. Patchins, as they ratified
along.
Indeed, they were in the midst of a
long line of vehicles, all bound for Upton.
Everybody had a word for them as they
passed or were overtaken.
"Why, Hitty Bruce!" cried Amanda
Backbone of Hitty's best friends-tun-
ing to shake finger at her. "a pretty
state of affairs! Where's Phil?"
IIitty Redeemed painfully. Everybody
was saying the same thing. Had she been
wrong to Gomez
"Well, swan" said bluff Sam Crosby,
looking backward quizzically over the
grapes on his wife's bonnet. "You
don't mean to say you've left him already,
Hitty l declare fortn
He laughed jovially.
Hitty dropped her eyes to her lap; she
was on the verge of tears. Then she
suddenly laid hand on the lines, and the
white horse stopped.
"I'm going back" she said-'I never
ought to have come at all, and I'm going
back.
"Mercy, child!" said the old lady, re-
monstrantly. "Why, we're most five
miles from home"
"I've walked more than five miles
plenty of times, " said Hitty, springing
from the carriage. ''No, mol l can't
go ON to Tipton-I shan'tm
She waved her hand to the astonished
old couple, and walked away,
1t was surprising how much better she
felt for II She burria6 aIopo, brisly l,r.