The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-05-14
WHICH TO MARRY.
BY WILLIAM II. BUSHNELL.

Robert Ellis sat alone in the room he
was pleased to call his study. It was,
however, used more for smoking than
any other purpose, he being one of the
wise men who leave "shop" behind when
business for the day is over.
Now his neglected cigar burned dan
gerously near his fingers. He was not
thinking of his clients interests, but his
own. All of mind and sight were con-
centrated upon two photographs lying be-
fore him; in studying the form, face and
expression reproduced; in endeavoring to
read character. So much was this the
case that he failed to hear the rustic of
his sisters dress as she entered, crossed
the door, stood behind him and looked
at the cause of his abstraction.
For a few moments they remained
thus. Then Jeanette--not Ellis any
longer, as she had welded few months
acknowledgements Mason asked in
half -bantering, half-earncst voice:
(which, Robert, whichl"
"You here, Jean?" he questioned in
astonishment. ~ thought I was alone
and-the deuce take that cigar 1t has
burned me nearly to the bone" and he
threw it spitefully away.
"And mind, Rob, one of these does
not burn you more deeply-burn your
heart to ashes"
'Do you speak from experience,
Jeanl"
"Very far from it. With me marriage
has been no failure--has been the frui-
ton and glorifcation of love. But
which of these are you dreaming of max
ing wife, Rob?"
"What have you to say to this onel"
and taking from the table one of the
pictures he handed it to her for closer
inspection
1t was that of girl, below rather than
above twenty years, blue-eyed, golden
haired, with skin as the lily and lips as
the rose, slight of form, with dainty
hands, whose unstained whiteness and
smoothness forbid the idea of labor.
"That, jean" continued her brother,
''is Miss Annie Belford young, 'fn-
ished' with a slight sneer upon the
word) at fashionable female academy;
rich and acknowledged to be beautiful.
l met her last summer at Long Branch,
caught her as she was being swept away
by the undertow, and so became easily
acquainted and won her everlasting
gratitude. "
"What of her character, Robm
"The very problem l was studying. /
know she rides fairly well, can play and
sing, and can dance gracefully for an un-
| limited number of hours
'Welll"
There was something in his open,
manly face, in his accent, that told of
more than a casual interest. 1t alarmed
his sister, for with the quick intuition
of woman she felt the girl would not be
the wife she desired for her brother.
"The other" he answered, reading
the decision in the bright hazel eyes and
flushing a triie indignantly, sis plain
Mary JONES'
''Plain enough, certainly, if judged
by the worlds standard of female love
illness, but of the kind to grow beautiful
with love and time. Did you also save
her life, Rob-"
mo, the circumstances were reversed.
She saved mine.
"And won your everlasting graft
tudel"
Scarcely. You remember was
hunting in the mountains of Pennsylvania
a few weeks since No, was not about
to be devoured by bears Or have my
bones picked scrupulously clean by Wild
cats, but lost my way, slipped upon a
messy rock, hung suspended over a
dangerous precipice and would soon have
gone crashing to the bottom had not this
young lady-hum, she must be about
my own age-heard my shouts, come to
the rescue and by strength Of arm draw
me up to safety"
ga mountain, with a little confused
pause at her inability to command the
word she desired, "whatever the term
for feminine Hercules may be-"