The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-02
.sTELLA'S ENGAGEMENT.

''lJb TOO Dau y
Pretty Mrs. March, sitting on the edge
Of the bed in her handsomely furnished
reom, gave vent to the warmth of her
supposed feelings in this time honored
declaration of displeased people. She
said it with excitedly flushed cheeks,
and with tears in her fine, black eyes.
Whats too bad," Philip March de-
manded, striding in from the hall, with
his hat in his hand and overcoat on his
arm.
This" said his wife, in voice that
trembled touchingly.
She indicated the album lying on her
lap
''Well, what's the matter with thats''
said her husband, putting a sympathetic
arm about her.
years, and he was still guilty of an oc-
casional act of the aort.
''Look at that" was the. tragic re-
sponso.
Mrs. harch's finger touched, with
shrinking repulsion, the photograph OF
a gentleman,
II was gentleman of apparent middle
age, with an astonishingly broad face,
above which forest of hair stood in
perpendicular stiffness. The chins-
there were two distinct chins-were orna-
mented by an ungraceful tuft of scraggy
beard. The eyes were so light in color
that they had made no particular impress
sion on the photographers plate. The
nose was broad and flat, aud the ears
prominent.
''Pretty tough customer. odd he
didn't break the camera" Philip OBJ.
served. well, what about him?"
"Whatg Stellas engaged 10 him -
Mrs. March burst forth
Her husband stared at her in silent
CONSERVATION.
The notes of piano and the sound of
two voices, in talk and laughter and
snatohes Of aduet, floated up from below.
ooh, do wish l hadn't invited her
herelp cried Mrs. March, tremulously.
"Hear her down there with Avery Will
SON. How can shel It's perfectly plain
that he's awfully in love with her, and
she's been deliberately encouraging him
and leading him on ever since she's been
here. 1t will just break his heart, and
be the ruin of him I'm perfectly sure
he'll either take TO drink, or shoot him
self-and he's 50 nies-and all for that
heartless girl. don't care if she Is my
cousin, she's heartless creature. And
she's seemed so sweet and lovely ell this
time"
''Well, but you don't mean itg'' said
Philip slowly, gazing down incredu-
lousy at the photograph.
ssCh, there's no mistakep' said Mrs.
mi hn -
'she was showing me her album Just be-
fore Avery came, and when she got to
this-this thing she's got her own op-
posite it-see l)-she stopped and said I:
sOh, haven't told you about dear Old
Blumenberger, have II Blnmeabsrger,
Philip And she said that he's the
organist of the choir of which she's
soprano, and that he got her the position
in the first place, aad how perfectly
lovely he is-yes, she called him lovely,
Philip, and fairly rayed about him. and
declared she thought everything
of himl But l hope she doesn't
think / believe that. And she
went on to say-it made me almost
faint, PHILIPPIANS they're engaged, and
are going to be for year longer.
should want to be engaged fifty years
befos married him. Engaged, Stella
Haveys' / sad, just gasping. why,
yes she said, jut as sweet you
don't think I'd have refused an offer
like that, do you, dearl Pm great
deal too mercenary.' Those are her
very words. Aud she locked so sweet
md innocentl How / wanted to shake
her. oh, of course it's his money i
You'd know that when you'd seen hIs
dreadful photograph, if she hadn't said
so. Listen to them down there in the
parlor ! iust don't know how I'm go
ing to stand III"
Well, rmupa stump, said her hns-
Eand, with forceful inelegance, looking
in dazed establishment from the elderly
and strikingly ugly countenance of Mr.
Blumenberger to the round, fresh,
charming face opposite.
ut isn't Stella Pm concerned about
horrid girll said Mrs. March, severely,
anapping the album together. SITS
poor Avery
Poor Avery stayed TO lunch; he very
commonly did since Stella Harvey had
been 10 the house. He was nice-a
blonde young man, rather stout and ex-
ceedinJiv ioIlv IA. was =