The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-10-19

| N-SSHHlaIrtN- AOOAON
GS "Dear, dear," she
NF said; "what a pity
And she's quite pet
of mine, too, dear little thing. She is
very quick with her needle and really In
genious-and the way she puts trim
mings on dress positively reminds one
of Nine. Antoine herself"
"The seaside cottage would be the
place for her," suggested DR.. Midland.
"You are one of the lady patronesses, 1
believe, and"
eyes, but the seaside cottage is full,
said Mrs. Dardanel. ''Not an inch of
room unoccupied. l had note from the
matron yesterday"
"Ah, indeedl' l'' said the doctor, FUN
bling with his watch seals. "Unfortun-
ate-very."
But" cried Mrs. Dardauel, an idea
suddenly occurring to her much beputfed
and befrizzled head, 'there is Mrs. Dag
gett's farm Jew miles further down the
shore. She takes boardeIs for So a week,
and kbeieve it is very nice place. II
you think il advisable l will take a
months board fo- the girl there. really
feel as if the dear little girl belonged to
me-"
IAN excellent plan," said the doctor,
oracularly. ~ have no doubt but that
a month of sea air would make different
person of her."
Helen could hardly believe her own
ears when Mrs. Dardanel beamingly an
nounced her intentions.
"The seas horel" she cried, her pale
face flushed all over; ''the real sea Oh,
Mrs. Dardanel, l have dreamed of 1t all
my lifel And for a long, bright sum.
mer month. Oh, how shall ever thank
you9"
"By getting well and strong as fast as
you can," said Mrs. Dlrda lel, touched
by the girls enthusiasm. "Aud here is
SO bill for you," she added, with
smile. "You may need some trihe of
dress, or there may be drive or a picnic
or an excursion going in which you will
want to participate"
The poor girls first impulse was to re.
turn the money.
"NO, you shall not give 1t back-it is
present from me, and 1 choose that you
keep it,"
Helen Hyde's heart beat high with de- |
light when first she saw the Daggett
farm house, long, low red building,
with an immense stack of chimneys, a |
cluster of outrageous maple trees guard
ing it about with shade, and dooryard |
full of sweet, old-fashioned flowers,
while in sight of the windows the At
lantic flung its curling crests of foam all
along the shining shore. Mrs. Daggett
welcomed her warmly; she had been
Mrs. Dardaners housekeeper once and
knew the value of that lady's patronage.
''l've just one room left, my DEAR"
she said, "under the caves of the
house. It's small, but it's furnished
comfortably and there's a view of
the ocean. Icould have given you better
accommodations if had received Mrs.
Dardanel's letter day earlier. But
four young ladies, teachers in the
lxwood Institute, came yesterday, and
I'm sleeping in the parlor. But we will
make you as snug as possible, and the
very first good-sized room that is vacant
you shall have"
Helen was very happy in her little
nook, from whose easement she could
see the ocean, dotted with white sails.
Mrs. Daggett was a driving, energetic
woman. Farmer Daggett was an honest
man who invariably fell asleep of an even
ing with his char tipped back against
the wall, and every available inch of the
house was filed with summer boarders,
mostly ladies. There were but three
masculine appendages to the house be.
sides its master-an old clergyman whose
parishioners dubbed together every sum
mer to treat him to six weeks vacation,
a literary man of large aspirations and
small income who had come hither for
rest and opportunity to study up the
"skeleton" for his next novel, and old
Mr.. Mifflin.
1t was some time before Helen Hyde
fairly comprehended who old Mr. Mifflin
was. A bent and bowed little man, with
silver hair curling over the collar of his
coat, ruiiled shirt like the pictures of
our Revolutionary forefathers, and blue
eyes that glistened from behind a pair
of silver spectacles, he shufled in aud
out to his meals after an apologetic
and sat all the bright afternoons
under the naples staring at the sea.
"Who is that old gentleman1" she at
last ventured to Mrs. Daggett.
That lady frowned.
"It's old Daddy Mif1in," said she
''and wish it was anybody else"
'Is he a boarderl"
"Well, he is and he isn't" obsourely
answered Mrs. Daggett, who was pick
ing currants for pudding while Helen