The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-05-17

"Why did they discharge you9"
"Oh, don't knowl Old Foxall has
been grumbling this long timel" sighed
Mary. "Aud to-day, just because 1
happened to spell a word wrong But
| don't carel wouldn't work another
day for him, not il he'd pay me thou
sand dollarsl I'd rather starvei And,
for all l can see, Pm going to starve,
too. You're going to turn me out"
"No, am not" said Miss Milly,
melted by the utter childishness of the
girls despair. "You can stay here un-
til you get another situation. Only don't
fret"
Mary lifted her big hazel eyes In a
sudden revulsion of joy to Miss Milly's
face.
'Will you be SO good9" she cried.
"Oh, thought you were so old, you
wouldn't sympathize with a girl like
mel"
Miss MillY WINGED. 1t was nonsense
to notice a trife like that, but she felt
now that she liked Mary Redwyn less
than ever.
"And now," added the Titianesque
beauty, ''I'll look out for another place
at once. wonder if old Mellen don't
want Il stenographer9"
Again Miss Milly froze.
"You mean the professor2"
swell, he is old, isn't he2" giggled
Mary. "He writes lot, know, and
he's very polite when he meets me on the
stairs. Would you ask him for me, Miss
Milly7"
Ths elder lady drew herself up.
81 never have exchanged word with
him since he has been in the house."
said she. "My sister and do not
mingle with our dodgers. Hannah acts
as our agent" ~
Mary laughed.
"You're so queerl" said she. elbow
ever, it don't matter; I'd as soon ask
him myself. wonder what salary he
would pay3"
The tears were dried on her carmine
cheeks now, her eyes sparkled, and her
enchanting lips were wreathed in smiles.
MISS Milly eyed her curiously. Yes,
that was the face, those were the melting
glances, that could not but fascinate any
man alivei
Did the professor really care for this
beautiful, soulless Undine-the pro-
fessor, who had been Millicent's beau
ideal, her chevalier sans peur ct sans re-
proche, when he and she were young,
on the shores of Lake PontchartrainG
Yes, this was Miss MillY's secret-the
one romance of her almost forgotten
youth.
Professor Mellen had been studying at
Heidelberg when her stepfather, Doctor
Maurande, had died and left herself and
Martha poor. They had counted their
small possessions, considered every side
of the question, and finally decided on
coming North to invest their little all in
a lodging house.
They had dropped the name of their
mothers second husband and became
the Misses Duluth again in the new life
which they faced so boldly.
And when, by one of those strange
condolences which happen as often in
real life as in novels, Professor Mellen
engaged the first floor suit of rooms at
10 Murray Place, because it was suffi-
ciently near to the Astor Library to ena.
BILE him to prosecute his literary work to
good advantage, he never knew who his
real landlady was.
Milly he never saw. Martha wore
spectacles, and looked ten years older
than her actual age.
81 don't carei" said Miss Milly to
herself. "Let Mary Redwyn have him
if she can win himl"
That very evening, however, Miss
Redwyn came home from the advertising
bureau, where she had been to register
her name, with severe headache and
high fever.
'I'm glad now we didn't let her CO."
said Miss Milly. "The child has no one
belonging to her."
"Who is to take care OF her1" asked
Miss Duluth, wringing her hands.
'I WILL" Miss Milly answered.
This was in the early spring. The
June roses were in blossom when Miss
Milly herself, having been also i'll, first
sat up in her big cushioned chair and
viewed herself in looking-glass
"How funny look" said she, "with
my face so white and all my hair cut
OIL Oh, must have been very sick /"
"You almost died, said Miss Redwyn.
"And was so glad when l got we'll
enough to take care of you, because l
knew you had risked your life for
me-"
"And the lodgers2"
Miss Milly reused herself once more
to active interest in the affairs of the
outside world.
They've all gone" said Miss Duluth.
"Of course you couldn't expect them to
stay in house where typhoid fever was
raging"
Except Professor Mellen," said Miss
Redwyn, with a toss of the red gold
rings which were beginning to grow out
where they had cut away her splendid
coils and waves of hair. "He's a per-
feet herol Not afraid of anythingi
Look, Miss AIilly, he sent these roses"
Miss MIilly glanced up at her sister.
"Yes," said Martha. answering the
look, "he has discovered who we were.
l never saw man so astonished as he
was"
"And, oh" cried Miss Redwyn, 'Ive
such a secret to tell you'll I'm en-