The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-03-30


like this, he said-then he asked who
took care of the garden, and told him
1 was your gardner, aud how much we
both loved the flowers. 1 showed him
the tree planted when l was baby, and
then the rosebud for my tenth birthday
and he said that he should think we'd
hate to leave it all-then Explained you
wanted the plants; but he said oh, no
they were part of the property"
"Turner straight through and
through" declared the old lady.
"Grasping all they can get. will have
the plants, though; guess Ezra's will
had nothing to say to them"
"I could scarcely be civil after that, I"
pursued Sarah, her face flushing in the
dusk / changed the subject, and asked
him how nearly he was related to the
Turner'S; but he said it was very distant.
He told me where he lived as boy. 1t
seems his father had paper in some
country village-Saul-I think he called
| it, and he was very visionary, unprac-
tical, enthusiastic kind of man. guess
he didn't provide much for the family.
Anyway Mr.. Morrison says he started out
young in life to carve his own future,
and he has been quite successful-only
he intends to be thoroughly so, he says,
if possible"
"By way of my garden. Humph"
''He says he enjoys obstacles. He likes
something to conquer. l told him had
no fancy for battle6elds; he said skir-
mish was as good as success to him. Oh,
Aunt, by the way, do l look like the
Turners"
"Well, some," said the old lady, re-
luctantly. Sarah crossed the room and
in the faint light regarded her face at
tentively in the long, narrow mirror. 1t
was a thin, clear-cut face, rather shadowy
as to what might or might not be its
owners strong or weak points; the face
of girl to whom events or emergencies
were unknown. Life had written al
most nothing upon it that gave it charm,
and The eyes were pretty hazel with
black lashes and delicate brows.
"The Hatfield Turner'S" pursued the
old lady, as Sarah sat down again.
"You do look some like them. Why's"
"Oh, MI. Morrison said had Turner
look" the girl answered. "He tried to
make out we are cousins"
"Well you are-twice removed. His
mothers your cousin, think"
~ must ask him. He'll be back in
the morning, he says"
Well, declare to gracious the man
means to force me out of this bed, be-
lieve. Sarah, you must speak up and
not let him impose upon YOU"
very unusual sounds foated up to the
old lady from the parlor where Mr..
Morrison was again 'interviewing" Sarah.
Some one was playing on the old piano !;
then a mans voice, clear fine tenor,
could be heard. The song was one the
old lady remembered in her youth
"Phyllis is my only love"-and her
withered cheek flushed with pleasure.
"Sarah," she said, directly her niece ap-
peared, "did you ask that young man
to sing2 ] want you should inquire if
he knows another piece like that"
Sarai's eyes were very soft and
bright.
"Aurt," she said eagerly, "would it
look bold if sang q duet with Mr..
MorisonY He's coming back this after
noon"
"What'll you sing9 You don't know
what you're talking about, Sarah"
'Does he think the pianos his7" de-
man1ed the old lady with sudden re-
turn of severity. Sarah looked miser-
able.
"He says it is Aunt" she admitted.
There was an ominous silence; then
Mrs. Thorpe closed her eyes again.
"Well, it was Ezra's," she admitted.
1t was with mingled feelings that she
listened that afternoon to the singing
from below. Love of music compelled
her to enjoy keenly the way in which
Sarah and the audacious Mr.. Morrison
sang 81 would that my love" and "Oh,
vert thou in the cauld blast" While
resentment against what she felt an un-
Just will, depriving her aud her niece of
her cherished home, made her consider
everything done or said by Mr.. Morrison
Objectionable, yet somehow she found
herself looking forward eagerly to her
niece's next report of their unbidden
guest.
"He is going to be married soon,
Aunt Polly" Sarah related. "Perhaps
that is why he is in such hurry about
the house. He's been telling me about
the young lady"
"Well, upon my soul. Seems to me
he's very free with his condolences. Mar
riedl What'd he say about herl"
"Oh, 1 don't know exactly" said
Sarah; she said she was the kind of girl
I'd get along quickly with; it seems, ever
so long ago he made up his miud never
to marry any one but her."
"Well, and were there any of those
obstacles he talks about2" shifted the ola
lady.
"Oh, yes. But he says there's quite a
touch of romance in the whole affair.
He's very-well, masterful sort of per-
son, Aunt. 1 can quite understand
what he means when he says he enjoys
ovei coming difficulties. He isn't the
sort of person any one could triAe with
easily"
81 guess l will when l get around.
What with the garden and the piano
and the dear knows what all-I'll be
grateful if he leaves us the clothes to
our backs. What else'd you talk
about2"
"Oh, a great many things. Books
some. He's fond of German-and, oh,
| meant to tell you, he's coming to-