The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-12-02


what home Bah would make of the
stately pile that was to be his inheri-
tance.
"There is not much that is home-like
about it now," he thinks, "for Mrs.
Clark is too old TO fuss much, and i'm
agine the servants have it all their own
way. But how Babs little trim figure
and red hair would tighten up those big
gloomy rooms"
A week later, he Is on his way to New
York, to visit his aunt, to see society,
and, by his fathers express desire, to
! find a wife.
Heart-whole, fancy free, he mIngles
with the guests who gather at Mrs.
Markham's, his aunt's; escorts his pretty
cousin Mabel to opera, theatre, concert;
dances gracefully with one belle, takes
another out to supper, makes himself
agreeable with a third on a slcighing
party, escorts fourth for promenade,
and so on-sixth, seventh, eighth, num-
bers indefinite, coming under his care
pro tenn, but not one stirring his heart
as Bab's cordial greeting did when he
returned from college.
Babl There is scarcely frolic of his
lonely childhood that is not associated
with Bah. How many times has her
mother called him in from SNOWFALL
fighting or coasting frolic, TO eat crisp,
hot doughnuts or gingerbread How
many candy-pulls has he had with Bah at
one end of the sweet, sticky mass and
himself at the other
Bah is not his ideal. That was tall,
stately, bruuettel Bah is short, merry,
brown-eyed and with hair of FURNISHED
bronze that Malcolm irreverently calls
red And then, although there is no
foolish pride about Malcolm, he has GER
tainly moved in more cultivated and re-
| fined social circles than Barbara ever
saw. He wonders how Bah would look
in clouds of tulle, her round white arms
circled with bracelets, her glorious hair
starred with gems, and mentally decides
that she would look "jollyl"
A letter from home reached him in
the middle of November.
"DEAR Mr.. MALCoLM: l think ought to
write you about your pa. He won't COM
plain. and he amt to say sick, but he's pin
ing, and very weak. Barbara Croft is here
every day, reads to him, sings for him, plays
chess and brings him all sorts of good things
she cooks to please his appetite. She's
the best girl in the world l think
but she amt like your pas own. He frets
for you, though he won't say 50, and think,
Mr. Malcolm, il you'll excuse the liberty OF
my saying so, the time is coming when you
"Your obedient servant,
NMARY EI.ARKEn
"My dear old dadr' thought NAL
colin, tearing down stairs with the Letter
in bis hand. "He is sick was afraid
he was last summer, and here I've beer
fooling away for months while he has
been fretting for mel"
His remorse was deeper than his neg
lect warranted, but he loved his father
the ever indulgent friend Of his life, his
one tie in the dear old home. Aud so,
making graceful apologies to his aunt
he started at once for Dcerfeld.
Mr.. Hoyt was in the library when hC
drove up to the door, and through the
window Malcolm could rec the ruddy
light from the CRATE, the deep arm chair,
the figure of his father reclining there.
But, pausing on the porch, he saw more.
He saw that the dear face was hollow
eyed, haggaTd, fearfully changed. He
saw trim little figure bending lovingly
over the sick man, coaxing him 70 ca
the dainty luncheon on the table beside
HIM. Aud he saw Bah more than onct
draw back to hide quivering lips ant
eyes filled with tears.
"How good she is" Malcom thought,
''to leave her bright home, to comfort q
lonely old man." And he stepped soft
ly, not to disturb the pretty scene, and
went to the back door to send Mrs
Clarke to give notice of his arrival.
He was disappointed when he went in
to find his father alone, but he forgot all
else in his sorrow at finding such
change in him.
"Why have you not sent for me be
forel" he asked, reproachfully.
~ knew you were enjoying you
visit, my dear boy. Your letters wer
like CLEANS of sunshine; Bah read then
over and over to me, but l would not le
any one write but myself, for fear o
troubling you"
'BuJ you were lOnelyF
eyes, very lonely, though Barbarl
has been very kind. She is the gentles
} of nurses, the most patient of com
panions," then. a little wlstfully: "Hav,
you no news for me, Malcolm?"
'None, but what | have writtenw
81 so wish to see you settled in you
home, before-I mean, soon."
Married But if fail to find IN.
ideal2"
"Ah, we all fail in that"
''But father, you would not have M
marry without lovel"
"Neverp
) 81 saw nobody I loved in Me-
York"
"But, nearer homer"
"Your tea is ready, Mr.. Malcolm,
said Mrs. Clarke at the door, and Ma
colin obeyed the summons.
The subject was not renewed as fathe
) and son sat far into the night cOnversing
There were many matters needing super
< vision, and again Malcolm reproache
= himself that all the care of the estat
had fallen upon his fathers feebl
hands while he was pleasure-seekiug.
, ''But l will never leave him again,
e he said to himself as he assisted his faith
T. er to his bedroom.
+ A whole week passed busily, and ther
e came few days of warm weather, sue
S as November finds often iu her drear
D weeks. Barbara was il the gardeI
F, walking up and down, thinking.