The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-03-20
LIBBY'S AMBITIONS.
DY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

B1 HELEN fOhhEST .GhANESs
"Why, Libby, is that your Stop
minute; I'm going your way, and I'll
walk home with you"
'l'm in hurry, Jobp stammered the
tall young girl whom job Lindley had
addressed.
"But | won't detain you secondw
catching up the change and the parcel
from the counter of the little general
shop which served for grocery, dry
goods emporium, flour-mill and postof-
fee for the dwellers in Succothville.
'I'm ready now"
Libby Morse was a slender, bright
eyed girl of eighteen. Job Lindley was
tie village druggist quick, keen faced
young fellow, with a healthy glow on
his checks.
They walked briskly along over the
hard-frozen winter roads, in the gray
twilight.
''Were you getting anything at the
storel" Job asked. "fIave you any
bundles for me to carry2n
Libby laughed bitterly
81 was asking for letters" said she.
"There were none forme didn't much
expect there would be. Luck don't
come to meh
"Luckl" Job looked at her in per.
picked way. II hope, Libby-I do
hope you haven't been persuaded into
buying tickets in the Breezetown Lot
terry"
'Nonsense )" retorted Libby.
"Your uncle gives you all the spend
ing money you want, don't he2'
ale gives me all / ask for" Libby
answered-adding, within herself
And little enough that isl
"lou're not discontinued at living
with himT'
"Not especially"
Because, Libby; if you don't like it
'Oh, Job, there comes Alice Mark
ham !" hastily interrupted the girl. 'Ive
got message for Alice. You'll excuse
me, won't youl Gond-byi"
Job Lindley stood puzzled, in the
middle Of the road, watching Libby's
figure vanish against the yellow bar that
still marked the spot where the sun
had gone down, half an hour ago.
'It's queer" said he. 'pm hanged il
! understand it Every time get any.
where near that subject she slips away
from me, exactly as if she understood
what was going to say. It's like try
ing to catch the waters of a running
brook in cne's hand. To me there's nc
girl in all Succothville like Libby Morse,
and yet | can't for the life of me tel
| whether she cares for me or not "
In the meanwhile Libbie had Joined
Alice Markham, the young district scho0
teacher, whose week it was in "boardinG
| arOundn TO on To Mr. Morsa's
ooh, Alice, ," said she, breathless will
the haste she had made, "pve had sucl
an escapen
"Child, what on earth do you meanl'
said Miss Markham, who, though sh,
was scarcely month older than LIB,
in actual timo had the dignity of a
least thirty summers.
Perhaps it was as much owing to the
responsibilities of her position as Il
natural temperament, but still it wa
there-the SOBER charming sedateness o
young queen.
81 think, Alice" said Libby, in
mysterious whisper, "that Job Indie,
wants to ask me to marry him. I've jus
been walking with him"
"Well-and if he doesln
'Its such nonsense" said Libby
slightly accelerating her swift, elastic
pace.
~ don't see that at ali, " said composed
Alice. "Every girl is the better for
good, sensible husband"
"Fiddlesticks )" cried Libby. GAS
girl with an ambition like me wante;
to be tied down to life in the back par
lor behind druggists counterln
'An ambitionp repeated Miss Mark
ham.
"Ah, haven't told youw cried exult
ant Libby, dancing up and down unit
her feet sounded like tiny castanet
against the frozen ground. "But hay
an ambition-two or three of them
Shall tell you what they are, Alicel"
''If you can leave off fitting alon
like will-o'the-wisp, certainly" sal,
Alice, twining one arm around Libby
slender young waist.
"Well, you see, explained Libby, low
ering her voice TO confidential mystery
although there were only the frost
frightened stars and the yellow rim c
light above the western woods to ovel
hear her communication, "Uncl
Thomas hasn't been very successful wit
his farm, of late, and as he has min
children of his own, he naturally feel
as if l were burden to him. And h
hints that ought TO be doing somethin
for myself Now what can girl do fc
herself in Succothville but go out I
service, or enter the factory, or take i
plain sewing2"
"Not much else, must confess" sal
Miss Markham.
"Well," pursued Libby, 81 don't fame
any of these three roads TO a livelihood
So I've picked out three other paths fC
myself. Pye been studying up Il
papers, Alice, and I've written love
story, in competition for the hundred
dollar prize offered by the Titusiel
Literary Ciari0a.n
"Child, childm cried Alice. "Wh
do you know about lover"
, GAS much as other girls, l fancy
said giddy Alice. "I've read abOl
Ophel and Desdemona, and Lucia {
Lammermoor, and all those classic her
: ines, and of course one depends a goC
: deal on ones imagination. 1t wasn't
bad story, / know. Well, that's OF
road. And read the statement of Il
Woman's Barter Establishment, in Ne
YOrk-hoW they'll pay YOU for GOO