The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-08-26


seldom that he was in the lower ofiic
alone, and he amused himself by climb
ing up on high stool, and taking pei
and ink and scribbling on some Of th
office paper. p
81 can do this, when am one of th
eddytors," he chuckled to himself.
Just then he hear re one comini
up the stairs slowly and turn in at tn
door of the office. lie raised his hea,
and looked over the desk, and saw
woman standing there, She had YER,
pale face, but was very handsome. Sh
looked at the boy wearily.
"Is the editor in2" she asked,
"Well, that depends" said Swlpesey
still scribbling vigorously, and looking
up between dabs at the white paper be
fore him. (Which one do you want tc
sect"
The woman sighed wearily, and ther
said, with an effort, "Mr. Griswold."
81 am very sorry" began the boy
hitching his stool a little forward, ant
grabbing his cap off, and laying 1t care
fully down before him, "but he is YER,
busy-very busy indeed-and gave orders
that he was not to be disturbed. If there
is anything l can do" and he paused
expectantly.
Nothing" she replied, and sat down
in chair near the window. "Will you
please tell him lady is waiting to sec
him when he is at liberty9"
Now the office-boy scarcely knew
what to do. He did not exactly care to
go upstairs on an errand like that; it
would ruin his dignity, after the re-
marks he had already made. Besides, the
editor was in nasty temper, and might
throw an ink bottle at him, or something.
if disturbed. The speaking-tube-t
was his salvationl He jumped from the
high stool and yelled the message up.
There was no reply, but it answered
every purpose, and he turned to the lady
and said: every good; he will see you
when he is not busy, but you may have
to wait"
This was the first time that Swipesey
had seen the lady face to face, and he
started little, and looked at her again.
Then he put his hands behind him and
stared at the floor for a moment. "I
know who you are" he said presently.
"You are his wife,"
The woman looked up quickly and
raised one of her hands to her forehead.
She seemed a bit dazed, and asked, in
way that convinced Swipesey that she
scarcely knew what she said, "How did
you knowG"
81 knew / guessed put two and
two together, and l know more about
the old man than the rest of the people;
and do you know, if you will let me say
it, l think you haven't treated him
right"
The woman flushed, and looked at the
boy angrily.
"Don't get mad about it," he advised
her, in fatherly way. az mind my
own business. What you two people
want to do is to make up and stop all
this" He paused, with a judicial air.
"How did you know this2" the wo-
nan asked. "Does Mr.. Griswold make
confdant of an Office boyl"
Swipesey was all dignity then. "You
ire mistaken there. He never said a |
word to me about it, l don't know very |
much about it, only have put two and two
ogether. l remember about six months
go, when he bought the paper, that one
lay some one was in the office and asked
lim about you. He all to once became
'ery cool, and said, in an uneasy way,
hat you were in Californy for your
lealth. And one day l was cleaning up
lis desk, and l found picture there
our picture. l put it back where l
ound it; and one night when l had to
ONE back to the office with some copy
o leave for the compositors to begin on
n the morning, 1 found him in the
ark at his desk, sitting there and cry
ng, with the picture in his hand. He
ldn't know | saw him, but did Just
he same. And that's why 1 am sorry
Or him; l had never seen man cry be-
ore. And when he's cross and hard
nth us people about the office, know
e amt really that way, but that the
ain drives him to it, and he is trying to
orget about everything"
The othce-boy told all this in a grave
tanner, and his quietness evidently i'm
ressed itself on the woman in his favor,
'r she said nothing, and allowed him to
o on.
"Sometimes l would see in the other
lpers that Mrs. Griswold, wife of
ditor Griswold, of the Briggsville Bu- !
e, Is In Santa Barbara for her health !.
nd then you would be in Tacoma and ,,
sorts of places; but he never spoke of
'u in his paper, and you never came
ere. have heard talk, too, of a quar-
! you two had, and-of course have
have surmised that something was
rong. | don't know what separated n
'u, or why you left him, or he you, and r
isn't any of my business; but now you Il
we come back to him, hope you will P
ly with him." Il
The woman looked at Swipesey's in o
lligent freckled face, and saw the a
ightness of his small gray eyes. She o
Is impressed with his red hair and his 81
ub-nose. And she humored him by p
king, "Is that what you would advise t.
, to do" W
Certainly" answered the boy, with, q
t hesitation. "Thats what l would b
wise you to do" ol
"But suppose he wants me to come IL
're than half wayl Suppose, after all, m
doesn't want me to stay2" g
"That's all right. I'll fix that. 1 can ii
mage it. He's been waiting for you IL
lg time, l guess, but he's too proud to b;
| you to come back to him. He's up W
irs now, writing a letter, and"-here Z
ipesey looked at her brightly-"I
nix il Is IN VOu Sometimes ba hoe