The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-06-17


the desired chance, but it came at last.
Guy, although wealthy, did not disdain
to put his own shoulder to the wheel
day after day and set his men a good ex-
hmple' None could lay more regular
swath Of grass with the sickle in now
Ing time. No one could cut OF bind
the ranks of grain with more rapidity
than he. II was before the time when
moving and reaping machines took all
the poetry out Of harvesting, and Her
tnione was fond of making a visit to the
scene Of labor about luncheon time,
carrying with her a pitcher brimming
over with a cooling, hon.stimulating
beverage with which to quench the mems
thirst.
Then, book in hand, she would seat
herself under the shade Of some friendly
tree, and alternately read or note the
movements of the actors In the busy
scene before her.
One day in the height of the harvesting
one of the men fell i'll, and 1t CHANGED
that a stranger came to the place and
asked to be employed about the farm.
He was a dark, unprepossessing man,
with restless, uneasy ways and lowering,
stealthy looks from his deep-set eyes
but Guy engaged him, thinking only of
the Inconvenience of being short-handed
at the time.
After they had all set off for the fields
a man drove up to the farmhouse in hot
haste, asking If person Of the strangers
description had been seen there; and
upon receiving reply in the affirmative
he looked very much startled, and caused
Hermione's blood to turn cold in her
veins by explaining the cause of the un-
easiness.
SHE is an escaped lunatic, and nearly
killed his keeper to make his way out Of
the mad-house. II his frenzy seizes upon
him he will make bloody record for
himself before the day is over. Is any
one here who can 90 and warn Mr.. Eel
lows1 1t won't answer for me to be
seen by him. He knows me and it
would set him frantic to know that he
has been followed. The only safety lies
in not arousing his suspicious until
strait jacket can be put upon him."
al will go, said Hermione, unhesitat-
ingly. "Iwould do anything to prevent
such tragedy"
"Take this with you and give it to
MIR. Fellows. 1t is strait jacket.
Whisper the truth about the man to him,
and tell him to watch his opportunity
and take him by surprise"
She reached the place, and catching
her guardians eye, motioned him to
come to her; and, in few frightened
whispers, told him the danger that
threatened him.
Some instinct must have attracted the
lunatic's attention and conveyed to his
mind the idea that they were speaking
of him; for, with wild cry, he banished
the scythe he held in his hand with
threatening gestures and shouts of fren-
zied flry. Then he started toward them.
Louis had stopped work moment
previous, and was about halfway be-
tween his cousin and the madmau. Look
ing up, upon hearing the discordant
yells, he saw at once that Guys life was
in danger, and, throwing himself direct
ly in front of the madman, caught him
about the waist and clung to him, max.
ing himself as much of a deadweight as
possible. The swinging scythe described
a mad circle in the air, and then it
descended upon Louis, giving him fear
ful cut in the side, But by this time Others
had reached them, and the lunatic was
overpowered by numbers and secured.
Louis, however, lay like one dead
prostrated by the shock, and with the
blood pouring from his ghastly wound.
Unless 1t could be stanched at once he
must bleed to death; but where were the
cloths to apply to it before messenger
could be sent to the farm house2
This question was soon answered.
Hermione was dressed in a dainty gown
of embroidered white linen, with man
tie of the same material over her shoul-
ders. She tore this in pieces, and,
kneeling by him, applied one after an
other to his wound as each in turn be-
came wet with blood. Her white hands
were colored crimson, and her dress was
spotted with the same ensanguined hue;
but she faltered not. She who had al
ways before felt faint, even at the sight
of blood, now unflinchingly played the
part of surgeon until more skilled help
could arrive"
In these terrible moments Hermione
first learned her hearts secret Without
Louis the whole world would henceforth
be as nothing to her.
For long days afterward the youths
life trembled in the balance, but at last
his naturally strong constitution
triumphed and he began to mend. Guy
and Hermione were rarely absent from
his bedside, and one day Louis surprised
them by saying with faltering voice,
while his pale lips parted in a half
smile:
"Cousin Guy, we are even. One good
turn deserves another. You saved my
reputation, and l rather think you would
have been a dead man now if it hadn't
been for me. It's worth ones while to
earn fellows gratitude, isn't itl"
"What does he meant Is his mind
wandering2' asked Hermione, looking
from one to the other with surprised
eyes.
"He is thinking of the bank book you
lost, HermioIe. He was afraid would !
connect him with the forgery on account
of his fancy for copying signatures.
"What silly boyl would as soon
imagine an angel from heaven could do |
such a thing us You Louis!" and Her
mione took his poor, pale hand and |
kissed it, bright tears falling upon it as
she did so, in spite of her efforts at self
control. "And l am sure Cousin Guy