The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-10-26

JuTeW US together on every possible
occasion. liked the child, too, 'pon
my word l did; did my level best to
please her; even allowed her to ruin a
ripping polo pony trying to teach her to
ride, you know.
"Miss O'Brien," sat last 1 ventured
one evening, "I want to speak to you
most seriously, may II" Such confused
astonishment was never seen on any
young woman's face. What an actress
the little sinner was to be sure.
"Seriouslyl What can you be going
to sayl Why, Mr.. Hallett, you almost
frighten me to death, and she smiled
till her face was a regular bed of dim
Piles.
"Ina," demonstrated, "you know,
you must know how L"
"Here Hallet, old man, sorry to dis
turb you and all that, but Lady Glossop
wants you to give us banjo perform
ance; cut along now, there's a good fell
low" said Briarton over our backs. 1
scowled at him, but he was beautifully
imperturbable, and 1 needs must obey
my hostess's commands; she was angrily
observing "Beauty" take my place.
"Well2" she iuterrogated Grossly.
"Brisrton said you wanted mel" l re-
piled shortly.
She almost stamped, really she did.
"Wanted you'll" cried Blanche. "Why,
jim, you surely knew better than to think
I'd call you away from her Oh dearl
Go back to her at once-no, 1 want him
to sing and Miss O'Brien to play" But,
impatient, she went herself. So for the
present the danger was over. For few
weeks "Beauty" and l ran neck aud
neck. Then Blanche and counseled to.
gether; l had either to go to the wall or
have the girl, and, as told Blanche,
there was no sense in proposing only to
be sent down. Blanche scolded me like
a good 'un. "Think of some plan," she
calmly demanded. ''Have you no brains,
mani" 1 sail "Yes," pensively, "but
what is there to think OIL l have no title
to offer her; they always want title, you
know. Nothing but half dozen platers,
a hunting box, and the far famed hame of
Hallet. Briarton has nearly as much."
"Why, have it; you can invent a
coming title. Coniston must be going
to die Do you understand Telegraph
for him to-day, now! He's to have
hopeless consumption; doctors give him
up and all that. He can be going away
to his place in Italy for this horrible
He must be going to die
soon; then you will be Lord Coniston.
She'll never refuse the future Lord Con-
iston for penniless Arthur Briarton.
Coniston will agree to helping you
out; he's such goodnatured fellow,
you know" l was delighted with the
plan, so was Con when he arrived; we
laughed no end over it in fact, he was
strangely amused at my attempts to Sc.
cure rich wife; admired her Hiber-
nian name, too.
Well, we took that girl IN to see Coo.
They acted the whole business through
like professionals. He gasped like con-
and coughed, and breathlessly
begged her to excuse his not rising from
the midst of the shawls aud blankets
in which he had enyeloped himself on
sofa in a darkened room; aud Blanche
had his eyes done up with some black
till he really did look hol-
Iow-eyed and consumptive. but Con was
so energetic in his acting we had to
remove Ina, as his gasping brought on a
it of genuine choking, with which
same Complaint, to our extreme surprise,
Ina was affected. When we got her
outside the door she said 'it was
because she felt so sad to see
great big man lying there weak and
n, dying, perhaps. And Blanche
md l were touched By her tender little
leart, and then l told her of my grief
md how loved my brother, aud would
mourn his death even though it benefited
nc. Would you believe it, the little sin
ler let me warble on but never gave me |
chance to get right down to business2
Then Con and went to Paris-and
lad, we'll we thoroughly enjoyed our
elves.
Alter week of paradise, returned to
he classic shades of Glossop, aud my
leiress. found Briarton gone north. |
.lso, to my intense discomfort, met many
inquiries after my brothers health, and,
o my delight, much sympathy from Ina.
SO l resolved to propose. l began by
eeking sympathy for my coming be-
eavement. She gaveit freely, etc., etc.
n fact, gave her a preliminary canter
0 warm her to what was expected of her
then told her loved her. "Could
he, could she, be my wife2"
She really was embarrassed-Ill, say
nat much for her. pressed her for an
nswer, rather approving what l con-
dered her maidenly coyness. She fid-
led with her fan; she twisted her hand
erchief into wild, grotesque enough
lapes even to decorate German cake.
he shifted, cleared her throat, aud went
trough awful facial gymnastics; so
ut my arm about her, and brushed my
Iustache across her cheek, just to Sc
er though, you know.
ooh, Jim" she burst out, "didn't
ord Coniston tell you met him at Mrs.
humley's in the fall, and-oh, well
ere engaged, SO there"
didn't quite take in her meaning.
"Whatl" | demanded, but she was
qghing, in a nervons kind of way.
"Ah, really, it was all his fault, you
now" she said between her giggles.
He wouldn't let me tell you after all
lat joke about the consumption; said it
as too good to spoil"
Then comprehendedl All beauti-
Il little cover for Con to slip off to
aris under. Joke, indeed!
It's all serene, though, as the moneys
,Ining into the family, and you may be
ute assured Con will see me through, or