The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-09-02

glided into her usual beaming, pretty
manner; and very soon Mrs. Bell came
in, and asked him to remain TO dinner.
After dinner, Mrs. Bells clergyman
called about some Of the church's chari-
ties, and as the young people were sing
ing, they went into the library to discuss
them. Now was the golden moment,
aud Julius was not afraid to seize it.
What do men say on such occasions1
Do they ever say what they intended
Do they remember what they say9
don't believe Julius did; for before he
had done--right in the middle of a most
eloquent sentence Bessie laid her hand
on his with frightened little move
ment, saying:
"Mr. May, please, sir, please do stopl
Surely you know that / have been en-
gagged ever since was eighteen TO Pro-
fessor Mark Tyler. Everybody knows it
we had betrothsl-party--he is just
gone to Europe for six months, that is
what was crying about; why, all our
set knew about it, though he has been
away for nearly two years in the Rocky
Mountains and California. Mamma said
we were to wait until was twenty-one,
but love him just the same-and am
quite sure never did anything to make
you think l could care for you in this
way, Mr.. May" and Bessie looked just
q little bit indignant.
al have had the honor, Miss Bell, Of
being your escort all winter"
"Oh, dearl Did you think was 60
ing to marry you for thata In all our
pleasant little dinners and drives and
dances, is there matrimonial speculationsR
That would indeed be dreadfulp
She loved the professor too truly; she
had been simply pleasant and friendly to
him as she had been to all her other gen.
tlemen friends, who, however, had had
too much sense and modesty to miscon-
strue her kindness. Then she walked to
her pretty little aviary and began cooling
to her birds. Julius hardly remembered
what passed afterward, except that he
received cool courteous "Good Knight,
SIR" in answer to his "Farewell," and
that he found himself walking round
Madison Square in very unenviable
state of mind.
To this speedily succeeded the thought
OF Nora; he must see her tonight; to-
morrow Bessie would give her own YER
sion of his conduct, and then-well, he
would not acknowledge that that could
make any difference in Nora's liking for
him. Sand yct," he murmured, "wo-
men are such uncertain creatures.
Where his own interests were concerned,
| T,1i,,o xuantitor in in
strength and decision of character, and
in less than an hour after his rejection
by Bessie Bell he had SO far composed
and encouraged himself as to determine
upon visit to Nora, though whether he
should offer himself to her or not was a
point he left to the development of cir
cumstances.
He found Nora at home, and, more
over, she seemed disposed to welcome
him with extra cordiality. He noted
with admiration the refined and cul-
tured aspect of the room-the luxurious
copies of her favorite authors-the
artists proofs of rare engravings-the
blooming ferneries and flowers - the
cosey students chairs-the sofa, warm
rugs and carpet the dancing freight
tho rich silk and lace that robed the
1.-THE, graceful figure of Nora-all these
things had fresh and delightful charm
in them. In little while he managed
to make the conversation drift toward
Bessie.
Would she be married when the pro-
fessor returned from Europe2
"Oh, dear, no; not till she is twenty
one."
''Is it not rather a mesalliancel"
Morals eyes grew dangerously bright
"Certainly not. Professor Mark
Tyler is a wonderful chemist and geo.
logist-a man of worldwide fame. 1t
is great honor for Bessie to be loved by
such great SOUL"
"Ah, indeed! had not thought of
it in that light. People usually spoke
of mesalliances with regard to money
affairs"
"Yes, know" replied Nora, sand
just there they are frightfully wrong
there are worse mesalliances than dis
PARTIES in fortune-but, however, here
there is none of any kind; the professor
has found chemistry sufficiently rich
alembic with residum admitting of no
kind of doubt"
"will you be glad when she marries1"
"Very."
''Yet-you will lose your friend2"
'By no means. She will remain at
home, and the professor and are very
old friends; he knew me when was a
little girl"
"Indeed! Perhaps you may marry
before Miss Bell"
''I may do so. l have no specific
against doing such a thing eventually;
but am quite sure shall not do so i'm
mediately."
"Why not2"
"Because I cannot afford it. 1 am
just one Of those women who would be
likely to make mesalliance-in money
matters-and repeat, cannot afford it
just yet. have at present another ex-
travagance before me, great deal nicer
than husband"
al should like to know what it is"
"a long European tour, with, per-
haps, peep at the Pyramids and ram
BILE about old Jerusalem"
"Oh, dearln said Julius, in tone half
serious and half mocking. 81 should
have no chance, suppose, against such
temptation9"
"None at all" she said, positively;
and though she kept up the bantering
tone, it was quite evident to Julius that
/ if he asked her in sober earnest she would