The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-11-16

heeT no nnOTS hudu MS pap uO5Ss heb 0ul
enjoy what they got frum me by disbon-
esty, II they kin, but they'll never hev
my friendship"
Daniel Hopkins got up and went out
and few minutes later rode away TO
town to make another effort to raise the
interest money and save his home.
Miss watched him as he rode off
down the long lane and her eyes filed
with tears.
"Poor pap" she said, "it's hard to
have to give up your home after all
these years an become homeless wan
derer. l don't blame you fer feelin'
bitter an unfergivin'. But l do wish
you'd be fair toward Paul"
Then laying her arms on the window
easement she pillowed her head ON them
aud gave way to her grief.
"M'liss," spoke soft voice behind
her.
"Paul," she cried, ard in an instant
she was in his arms, and for one brief
minute all her troubles and sorrows dis
appeared. Then recollecting herself she
drew away from him, aud holding up
her hand to stop him from approaching,
she said:
"Paul, we must forget the past, an
never be TO each other again what we
have been"
"Do you wish 1t so, M'liss1"
She looked down at the floor but did
not reply.
"Iknow what you mean," Paul went
on, "for l heard what your father said"
M'liss looked up quickly and blush
of shame spread over her face.
81 head what you said, Miss, and
it's nothin' to be ashamed Of, Pm sure.
You don't know what JOY it was to me
to hear you say you loved me-"
"But we must DeTsr think of such er
thing ergin, PaUi. Pap forbids it."
al know he Ierbids it, bat he has no
grounds fer it."
''No, he has nothin' justly ergin you,
it's true, but you know the ole trouble.
The young man frowned and paced
the floor for minute. Stopping near
M'liss he said:
~ thought enough trouble and sor-
row he'd come out O. that ole misunder-
standing without our lives being weighed
down with it. / wish the whole farm
would be sunk out Of sight an all recol-
lectious OF it be blotted out forever"
$50 do !, Paul, but as it can't be so,
there's no use er wishin'. All we kin do
is ter submit an bid goodbye to our
happiness"
''l do not blame yer pap" Paul con-
tinued, "ier he is in the right, an ort
to have the land, as I've told pap many
a time. But he has his way O. lookin'
ut it an thinks he's right, an nothin' l
kin say or do is goin' ter change him.
I'd be friend to yer pap OF he'd let me,
an though l couldn't make his wrongs
right, could let i'm hev money ernuff
ter pay up on the mortgage, but dasn't
offer it to him."
''No, he'd go out doors fer the bal.
ance OF his days before he'd accept of
it,"
Then a long silence followed, in which
both appeared to be intently thinking.
Paul was the first to speak.
"M'liss, I'm goin' away" he said.
"Wnere tot" aud M'liss's trembling
voice betrayed her anxiety.
~ dunno, yit, but Pm goin' some
whe;e. ] can't stan to stay here an see
you an never hev the privilege of speak
in one word no more then If you wus er
stranger. sm goin' away to git my
own start in life, an sometime we'll be
happy yit. That ole troubles got to die
ont sooner or later, an when it does we
kin be happy. Will you wait fer me till
then, M'lissl"
"Paul, I'll never marry no other man. I"
A little later Paul went away and
Miss was left to live through the long
est and darkest day of her existence.
1t was late in the afternoon when
Daniel Hopkins returned from town, and
M'liss knew by the disappointed, worried
look in his face, that his mission had
been unsuccessful. She asked him no
questions, feeling that it would only
augment his sorrow.
After supper he sat down before the
fire and smoked his pipe in silence while
Miss cleaned away the table, and
brought her work-box and took up her
sewing.
An hour probably passed aud then
there came the sound of footsteps out
side, and a moment later the door
opened and Smith entered. Daniels face
darkened and the little remaining cour-
age he had brought back with him from
town disappeared.
Smith was very cordial and greeted
his poor neighbors with an unwonted
friendiiness at which hoth Daniel and
Miss were greatly surprised. They
taxed of the weather, of the crops and
OF various items OF local news, and
finally Daniel said;
"Pm sorry, Smith, but so far I've not
been able to raise that interest money.
I've put in the whole day in town, but
nobody don't seem willin' to let me hey
it,"
"Then I've done better than you, I"
Smith replied, as a smile stole over his
face, "fer got it 'thout goin' anywhere
to try fer it. There's the notes, all of
'em, paid up principal an interust."
Daniel took the notes into his hand
and looked at them lntently for a whole
minute. Then rubbing his eyes he looked
at Smith, but the latter said nothing
"What does this mean2' Daniel asked
at last.
at simply means that the mortgage
is paid off. But as to who done it
an not at liberty to say, any more than
thet it was friend of yourn.
Miss had an idea who that friend
was, but Daniel was far from suspecting