The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-03-01

~ toms, and the gas
~ jets seemed to thrill
and shiver in the wind. And the vel.
come Of Mrs. Berry, her cousins house.
keeper, was a dead match for the weather
and the wind.
81 ana expected, I supposed" said
Ninettc, wondering why the woman did
not open the door a little wider.
"Whst name2" cautiously inquired
Mrs. Berry.
"Miss Beauvoir, from Atlanta,
Georgia."
al have heard nothing of it." said
Mrs. Berry, without opening the door
a fraction OF ar inch farther.
''Mr. Trebleton is at home, I supposed"
"No, Miss, he's not" still frigidly.
al will conn in" said Ninette, trying
to swallow the suffocating sensation u
her throat. 'I will wait for him. 1t Is
so cold, and III am half frozen"
Mrs. Berry hesitated a moment, then
opened the door, ~ungraciously enough.
"Well," she said, 81 suppose you can
wait ia the study until he comes"
She showed Ninette into the red.cur.
tanned, coy little room, lined with
books, lighted by the soft ring Of flame
that streamed from a shaded g%as-jet,
warmed with the glow of a coral-red fire
upon the hearth. And here, surrepti-
tiously turning the keys in the secretary
drawers and writing-table and taking
them out, Mrs. Berry left her.
s'There are the paper-weight," said
Mrs. Berry to herself, ''and the ivory
paper. cutters and the inkstand with the
stag's head in bronze; but / don't be-
lieve she'd take theml"
While Ninette, left alone, crouched
down in the low chair before the fire
and burst into tears.
s'Is all the North as cruel, as hard. as
frozen cold as this9' she asked herself,
with a convulsive shudder. ooh, it
would have been better to have died of
starvation in my own sunny, golden
SOUTH II a stray dog, there, had crept
in out Of the storm at night, they would,
at least, have given him a bone aud a
kind word. But for me there is no such
welcomed
When Mr.. rrebleton came ia at nine
o'clock, he found Ninette still looking
at the fire through eyes that swan like
tears.
81 am Ninette Beauvoir, your cousins
child" said she, rising with varying
color.
"Happy to make your acquaintance, l
am sure" said Mr.. Trebleton, apparently
so busy in removing his gloves that he
never noticed her offered hand. "What
can | do for you, Miss Beauvoirf"
Ninetse looked at him with large,
grave eyes.
"Papa said, before he died." she
faltered, ''that you would give me a
home with your daughters. 1 have no
longer a home Of my own. Papa's ill
ness was expensive aud took all our
means"
"Quite out of the question; quite out
Of the question, (" said Mr.. Trebieton.
hurriedly, as he took up a poker and
began beating the topmost humps of coal
on the fire. "Perhaps you are not aware
Miss Beauvolr, that l have a large aud
expensive family of my own, and /
couldn't think Of undertaking any adj
ditional expenses"
Ninette listened, apparently incredu-
lous of her own senses.
"But what am I to dot" she asked.
"What do other girls do who are
thrown ON their own resources2' rather
CURLY demanded Mr.. Trebleton, secretly
wishing that the interview was over.
~ don't know" said Ninette, simply.
al am only an ignorant Southern girl.
No one every told me. l supposed, Of
course, that I could come and live with
you'll"
"Humphl" said Mr.. Trebleton.
s'They teach; they take in sewing; they
60 into stores, shops, factories. They
strive for independence"
"Cousin Trebleton," said Ninette,
with a quivering lip, "if l could see
your wife-your daughters-they are
women like me they"
al am very sorry" SAID Mr.. Trebleton,
s%tonily, shut they are out of town.
There, there; don't cry. If there's any
thing / hate, it is to see Il woman make a
scene. OF course, you can stay here to-
night. My housekeeper, Mrs. Berry,
win take care Of you. In the morning