The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-06-18

Cling her dishes noisily together, "aud
I'll keep on saying it till the year o.
doom. She loves that little gray
donkey-they've growed up together,
Mrs. Emmerick-and she'll rake it awful !
hard when she finds he's gone"
"But it was such good Offer" said
Dorothy's mother-a pale, pink-eyed,
washedout specimen of humanity-Awho
sat at table, shelling peas, "and really
the beast was unsafe for a woman to
ride"
"Never unsafe for Miss Dot" said
Pamela, beating savagely away at bowl
of egg. 'If ever two creeturs under
stood and loved each other, it was her
and Neddy"
"Apd Mr.. Emmerick needed the
money!" added the lady, conclusively.
at was really foolish extravaganza for
us to keep the animal. Dorothy is
quite able to walk where she wants to
GO"
"All the same" persisted Pamela, at
was cruel thing to sell the creeter while
she was gone"
"Sold" gasped Dorothy, when at last
she realized why the little gray donkey's
stall was empty, the bars leading to the
highroad let down. 'My Neddy
Mother, why didn't you sell me3 But I'll
buy him back again, see if l don't!
Didn't you know that Neddy never could
be happy away from mef
Like a whirlwind she rushed across the
fields to where the Crowninshield man
sion stood grandly up against the Grim
son sunset sky.
"Colonel Harold" said she, painting
and breathless, ''you are rich! Will
you lend me some money! can't pay
it back just yet-but l will some day.
I'll work hard and earn it. I'll sign a
note, or give mortgage or something;
but oh, please lend me 500 to-day"
Colonel Crowninshield was sitting al
his desk, writing. He rose and drew
forward chair, but Dorothy was by far
too much excited to seat herself.
ats to buy back my dear little gray
donkey" explained she. ''Papa has
sold him, and do love him so dearly |!
Oh, l never, never could part with him.
And l don't know of any one who has
money enough to lend me to redeem him
with except you"
Colonel Crowninshield hesitateal sec
ond; then he opened his pocketbook and
drew out a crisp, new one-hundred- dol
lar bill.
Dorothy grasped it as a starving white
kitten might grasp at food.
II never saw one-hundred- dollar bill
BEFORE" said she. "Oh, thank YOU
thank you so much. But was sure you
would be kind to me-"
"May ask you a question:" said he.
"As many as you please, she an
swered.
"Why didn't you ask Edward sellecl
for the money!"
Dorothy looked up at him with blue,
wide-open eyes.
edward Selleck2 Why should l ask
himl How could ask him? Isn't he
cruising somewhere around the coast o
New South Wales2 And Edward Selleck
poor fellow, never had hundred cent
of his own, much less hundred dollars.
Colonel Crowninshield colored.
al beg your pardon" said he. @.
had an idea you were engaged to him
that he had returned from his cruise"
al "Iengaged to Teddy Selleck? Never!'
"Wasnt it to him you were talking
this morning in the red barn?"
Dorothy thought minute. Then sh
burst into a merry peal of laughter.
"Oh, remember now?" cried she. {"
was thinking out loud to dear little gra,
Neddy, the donkey. l otter do that
He looks at me just exactly as if he under
stood me. But mother says it's yer,
silly habit of mine, and now l see tina
she is right. And you-you thought
was talking to MANI"
The sudden scarlet fiarcd up to he
: temples, her blue eyes coruscated lik
; old mine diamonds.
She flung back the hundred dolla
bill to him.
"Take it," she cried. 81 won't hav
it nowm
"The little donkey All" exclaimed
the Colonel, "I see it now2 What
, tool, what dolt have beenl No, Dor
l othy; you shall not go until you say yo
7 have forgiven me. And am the culpri
after all. 1t was who bought the gra
donkey. uGNCI SuppOSCu Ihdb lOu NtlS
} for him. If l had But, Dorothy
look herel"
He threw open easement draped wit
pale yellow japanese silk, and just belo1
t the terrace steps she saw her little favor
ite feeding in the plush-like thickness @
the soft, green grass.
} at was to be a playmate for my sis
ter's children when they came here i
4 August" said he, "but comprehen
: now how cruel it would be to part you
, He is yours once more"
| 81 won't take him !" stoutly reiterate
Dorothy. IL am so ashamed to thin
r l asked you for that money"
"Why, Dorothy! Cannot you trus
+ me?"
r "Oh, 1 can, l can!" she cried, fervent
ly. 81 think you must be like 81
t Launcelot, or even King Arthur himself
Colonel Herold-a 'chevalier withou
fear and without reproach" l could trus
, you with anything"
"With anything" He advanced
G step or two and held out his hands er
treatingly. "Well, then, I'll try you
y Win you trust me with-yourselfi Oh
little Dorothy, you don't know how trul
G and tenderly love YOU! how earnestly