The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-08-24

The young mans face fell perceptibly.
"When will she be at home2" he
faltered, embarrassed between his dis
appointment and his awe of Mr. Parftt's
stern looks.
al have not the remotest idea, r."
George responded.
Would the fellow keep him there
uttering mendacites all day Not but
that the cause was good and sufficient,
but he was not accustomed to lying.
'l'm sorry, Hugh Dudley declared"
He fingered, looking touchingly un-
! happy, only Mr.. Parfitt was not touched.
He looked as though he was waiting to
shut the door, and the visitor retreated
down the steps and into his cart.
Ellen had the ginger tea ready. 1t
was not strong enough, and too sweet.
And when Ellen, having been some
what gruffly informed of it, had made
some afresh, Mr.. Parftt drank it, and
resumed his shawl and his chair aud his
uncomfortable reflections.
The door-bel rang again. George
thought he knew the ring. Sure
enough, it was Tom Danforthl
"Laid upl" that young man demand.
ed, coming in breezily, big and broad
shouldered and bright-eyed and cheerful.
"Too bad On your lungsl Have you
tried a capsicum plastera 1 can get you
one in five minutes il you want me to. +"
'It's in my head" said George dis
mally. But he smiled his pleasure at
Tom Danforth's appearance, and wrung
the young mans hand and took his coat
and hat. "I'm glad you came glad to
see you'll Stay to lunch, won't youl
Have this foot-rest, Constance is home
up stairs" ," he said, in breath. "tJust
watt" he ended, eagerly. I'll go
get her."
But he came back sulkily.
"She went out with Kate, it seems, :"
he explained in an injured manner. 81
didn't know it. They're always gadding
about. Have some maraschino or some
thing?"
"Cordial at this hour Of the day2"
Tom protested, looking the soul of reas-
suring good nature and betraying no ex.
citement at the fact of Constance's
absence.
nc even IOOh up u newspaper.
''He doesn't care," George mused,
gloomily. "May be he isn't in love with
her after all. ;"
And he sat and eyed his stalwart
friend, and thought what husband he
would have made for Constance, and
how blind and contrary and exasperating
they all were and how helpless he him
self was to arrange matters as they ought
to be arranged.
He fell into unhappy silence.
"Has the cashier of the Freeseborough
Bank really gone off with the funds2'
said Tom, with his handsome nose in the
paper. "There's rumor to that effect.
Stewards his name. He's rich enough
anyhow. He ought to be"
The bell again
1t was Mrs. Parftt, looking pretty and
pink checked after the fresh air, and as
blithe as though gong to the Carpen-
ters' reception in her old beaded wrap
were not going to be a horrid necessity.
"Oh, you, Tom2" she cried, cordially.
''I am so glad Poor George is so
wretched with that cold, and you can
cheer him upl"
81 don't neel cheering up" said
George, huddling his shawl closer.
"Where is Constaucel"
"Conny7" said Mrs. Paritt, brightly.
"Oh, we met Hugh DIdley in his cart,
and he took Conny along with him.
What stylish turnout he has"
Mrs. ParaEtt unpinned her bonnet.
"He did, did he2"
Her husband twitched in his chair so
violently that his elbow knocked the
ginger-tea cup to the floor.
Tom picked it up.
~ wonder if that scamp has taken
the money, if it will burst the bank2" he
said. "It's a shemel"
"What bank2" Mrs. Parfitt ques-
toned.
And an animated discussion ensued.
Mrs. Parfitt knew the defaulting cash.
ier's daughter; Tom Danforth had known
his brother. George, who knew more
about him than either of them, contri.
buted nothing to the conversation.
He leaned back and shut his eyes,
three distinct vertical lines showing be.
tween them. He confessed to himself
that he was entirely out of temper; but
he had-certainly he had-ample cause
for being so-ample distracting cause.
He began to think about gorg up and
going to bed as a temporary escape fIom
his Affections.
''And Pm sorry enough for Sally
Stewart-There's Connyp said Mrs.
Parfitt. "Said she shouldn't be gone
long"
Constance came sweeping in. Her
stylish long dress trailed after her with
fine effect. Her light coat was open, ,aud
showed the white silk vest of her dress.
Her little hat set back prettily on her
fair hair which was blown into
many straying teudrils.
George thought, with mental groan,
that she had never looked so lovely.
"Oh, Tom, you" Constance cried,
quite as Mrs. Parfitt had done.
And then, not at all as Mrs. Parftt
had done, she gave him both her hands
and-it was no hallucination, it was
fact-and let him kiss her.
She turned upon her cousin with her
blue eyes sweetly dewy.
"Do you like it, Georgel" she said.
"Are you glade know you like Tom.
Aren't you pleasedl We'd have told
you before, but we've only been engaged
a week, and nobody but Kate has known
it so far"
"And l thought l wouldn't blurt it
out, said Tom, standing, flushed and
beaming. 81 thought I'd let Conny tell
Won vou know -