The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-05-22
THE STOLEN LETTER.

"You are very foolish to think of it at
all, " said Miss Antonina Blodgett.
Miss Blodgett was trimming her hat
with a bunch of artificial honeysuckles.
The spring fashions were in, and Miss
Blodgett had no idea Of being called a
dowdy. She was n handsome, high-col-
ored girl, with hair arranged in the very
latest style, rhinestones screwed into her
ears, and two or three different colored
rings on her plump fingers, and she
hummed the refrain of the latest opera
bouffe as she sat there waiting for the tea
bell to ring.
Madeline Murray had just come in from
school. The children had been unusually
troublesome that day. -Four obstinate,
bullct-headed little lads had stolidly re-
fused to capitulate, on the subject of the
multiplication table, until four o'clock
and then there were the copy-books to
be gathered up, the object lessons for the
morrow to be glanced over, and the
weekly report to be carried in to the vice
principal.
81 am afraid, Miss Murray, he had said
to her, "that your diciplinc is hardly
what it ought to be. None of the other
teachers have trouble with their chill
dren.n
''None of the other teachers have such
a bad class rs mine,' instinctively re-
torted poor Madeline.
But the vice-principal had only frowncd
and muttered something about "excuscs
being convenient"
And Madeline had dragged herself
home, with a headache that seemed like
red-hot needles tingling at the base of
her brain, and heart full of despond-
ency, for she knew well that Mr.. Double
day, the vice-principAl had sister who
was eagerly awaiting the first vacancy to
become herself teacher.
At home she had found a letter from
an old grand aunt awaiting her.
II don't know whether you're tired of try
ing that experiment of city life, " wrote Aunt
Eunlce, after peculiar photography of her
own, but | should think you might be by
TINS TIME. Lois Ann is married, and l need
somebody TO help me with the housework If
you choose TO come back TO the farm, I'll pay
dollar and half week, just the same as
PAD LOIS Ann, and give you good home
And it is an offer shall not make twice"
Madeline looked wistfully at the let
ter. Go back to the shrill sound of Aunt
Eunice's voice, the dreary drudgery of
washing and ironing, baking, soft soap
making and cellar scrubbing-go back to
the old existence from which she had
been so anxious TO escape? Would it
not be tacit admission that life for her
had been failurel
Yet, on the other hand, there was the
vice-principars persistent disapproval-
the sister only waiting chance to edge
herself in as a teacher-the headaches
and the utter disheartenment.
"You'll never have chance to oct
married." said Miss Blodgett, sif YOU
bury yourself alive in the country like
that
81 do not think l shall ever marry"
said Madeline, sadly.
"Why ynot2" said fair Antonina. "There
isn't much style about you, to be sure,
but there are always plenty of opportuni-
ties in such place as this"
For Miss Blodgett's sister-in-
shrill-voiced widow, with tomahawk
shaped nose and a cap invariably slipped
to one side-kept the boarding house. and
it was full of eligible boarders; and nota
gentleman sat down to the table for whom
Miss Antonina had not, at one time or
other, "set her cap
She was like a gaudy double tulip-
Madeline Murray like one of the slender
stemmed violets that only blossoms in the
shade, but are ineifably sweet.
81 am almost discouraged, " said Made
line, in low voice.
"Oh, well, do as you please, " said Miss
Blodgett, remembering, as she spoke, that
If blue-eyed Madeline were gone. she
would have no rival in the eyes of Mr..
Avenel, the young lawyer, who sat op-
posite them at table.
Madeline was very silent this evening.
Miss Biodgett talked and laughed with
unusual volubility
Mr. Avenel, d black haired, straight
featured man, with pleasant hazel eyes,
watched them both with unusual tacitllrn-
ity.
"Shall l." he asked himself, as the
shuitiing waiter muttered the various
items of dessert into his ear, s'or shall |
nots Have l known her long cnoug,.
has she given me any right to hope for
such blessingf Shall l, or shall notin
And. the