The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-02-26
THE WHITE FUR CAPE.

"Do you think she'll like it, Mrs.
Lifford?"
"Wal, I declare, l don't see how she
can help liking it," said Mrs. Lifford,
turning her head this way and that like
an elderly blackbird, as she viewed the
pretty little fur cape at that moment
lying on the kitchen table, lined with
cherry-silk, and exactly matching the tiny
muff in its paper box beyond.
Up in that frozen North-land the snow
was heaped like masses of alabaster to
the very window sills, and one could
only reach the door through a passage
way of rough-hewn pearl.
Far off the lake CLEANED like floor of
frozen steel, while the cedar thickets
dropped beneath their weight of snow,
and the keen January wind cut like
knife; for in Manigro winter meant
winter.
Mrs. Lifford was little, shriveled old
woman, dressed in some quilted wooden
material, with white ruflled cap and
round silver spectacles.
John Benoit was a tall, brown-faced
young farmer-an Apollo of these North
ern woods - whose costume, oddly
mingled of homespm and fur, reminded
one of the old history pictures of
Daniel Boone.
"It's only a rabbit-skin cape after all, -
said the young man, tenderly lingering
the soft folds. "But l shot every one of
the rabbits myself, and they're all as
white as milk. And Desire Whatman,
that used to sew furs in Montreal store,
she cut the pattern and bought the
lining and stufiing, and made it up all
ship-shape. 1t looks like Leah, now
don't it3-so pure and white and in
nocent like. And / was dreadfully dis
appointed that it couldn't be done in time
for New Years; but they tell me there's
to be grand Twelfth Night sleighing
party for the grand house where she's
visiting, so calculate it'll come just in
time after all. ="
Mrs. Lifford smiled and nodded.
"She'll be powerful pleased" said
she. 'Im glad you brung it over to
show me, John. can jest fancy how
she'll look in it,"
''I'll take it across to the express office
right away" said John. "There's a
shipment of furs going by the midnight
train, and I'm detailed to pack 'em, so
things will work in sort o. handy"
ga Twelfth Day present-oh, Leah,
what luck you are in!" said Evadne
Ledyard. "Open it, somebody! Let
us see what it isw
There had been a party the night be-
fore-at the Ledyard mansion something
was going on all the time-and the eld-
est Miss Ledyard, in an amazing tea
gown of cherry plush, was leaning back
in cushioned divan, studying out some
new stitch in worsted combinations,
while Evadne leaned against the mantle,
one pretty, slippered foot on the fender,
and her bright eyes sparkling with ami
nation.
The onyx clock licked softly; the blue
ribboned pug, curled up in his quilted
satin nest, blinked his eyes at the col
ored servant who had brought in the big
express package, and Leah Lifford her
self blushed TO the roots Of her "bon-
ME brown hair" as she recognized the
bold, uneultivated writing of her lover.
She was a dove-eyed, sweet-faced girl
of eighteen, with an exquisite hly-and-
carnation complexion and the uncon-
scious grace of a wild fawn, and even
the critical Misses Ledyard looked fa-
vorably upon her as she ran to open the
box with the glee of child.
"a white fur capew she cried, IA
diantly. "Oh, how beautifulw
'Erminel" questioned Evadne, lean
ing eagerly forward. "No-only rabbit
skinW
Leah looked up with a troubled ex-
preston in the sweet hazel eyes.
"But rabbit skins are very warm, " said
she. "Aren't they?"
"Goodness mel" curtly rejoined EVad-
ne, $50 is white tlannel!"
"And there isn't a speek nor a spot
on it,"
"No," absently spoke Evadne.
''But Of course you wouldn't wear
rabbit skins in Montreals" cried Magda-
lene, the elder sister.
"Why not2 John Benoit shot the
rabbits himself. He says so in the note.
1t is a lovely capeln
''Listen, Leah" cried EYadne, taking
both the plump little hands in hers, I'm