The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-12-13

Martha would surely cherish her home,
in spite of its limitations, if the room
where she slept could be made q lit
tie less unlike that city boudoir.
Now Evelina Dodd had an energetic
mind and active hands. The follow
ing noon she gently broached the sub
ject Of her meditations to her Uncle
Ephraim and his wife.
81 might kind of chirk il up, and
give it a sort Of stylish look" she re-
marked, blushing.
Ephreim Dood pondered some time
before he answered,
" 'Tain't that / don't think sce'll
like us the way we are as we'll as
ever, he said, awkwardly. "But it's
in case che shouldn't; in that case It
might be wiser to fix things up little
fancier, an if you're mind to do. it
Eveleny, I'll help you"
Mrs. DOdd had strong faith in
Martha, yet possibilities loomed dis
ngreeably as she thought of her hus-
bands words, and she secretly worried
in the midst of the sewing and plan
ming which began almost Immediately.
II shouldn't care bout the house or
ourselves" she confided to Ephraim,
$50 much as would if Marthy hap
pened to get to settin' herself up above
Eveleny. couldn't bear to see Eve
leny's feelin's hurt"
Mr.. Dodd kept his thoughts to him
self as he joined in the efforts which
we're gradually Transforming one of
the old-fashioned sleeping-rooms above
stairs.
Remarkable changes, indeed, were
being made. 10 was well that Evelins
possessed no knowledge of the havoc
worked by her loving zeal. For the
massive old-fashioned furniture of
Martha 'sroom could not be adapted well
to modern taste in decoration. The
plain mahogany bedstead was out of
keeping with fantastic spider shaped
object which Ephraim Dodd msnufac-
tured in the woodshed, and awkwardly
fastened into place above the bed. He
stood on step-ladder to do this, while
Evelina and her aunt held the hammer
and nails, crying, ooh, do be careful -
or, "Ephraim Dodd, you'll certainly
break your neck -
The poor room, with its furniture of
another era, really looked abused, but
Martha Dodd's relatives glowed with
satisfaction over their efforts. They
we're obliged to make their purchases
at country store whose supplies were
not abundant, yet in the end they felt
that their labors were repaid.
After the canopy's frame had been
draped with blue denim and white
mosquito netting, Mrs Dodd and Eve
lima stood and admired it from afar.
They believed that Martha would be
pleased.
Martha Dodd came back to Lumber
ton in midsummer, time which al
ways found the place full of verdant
beauty. She was carried to tn e
farm in a shining buggy, recently pur-
chased. Her Aunt Susan and EYelina
stood smiling in the yard, and show
cred greetings upon her, before Eph-
rain could help her out of the car
riage. Afterward, they sent her up
stairs alone, in order to surprise her
more completely.
Martha closed the door and dremained
in the room for some time. She sat
down on a sofa, and stared about her
in bewildered manner. When she
descended to the expectant group IL
the sitting-room her cheeks were
flushed and she was smiling.
"Whoever thought to do it?" she
asked "who spoke of it first?"
'Eveliny," Ephraim answered, red
with pleasure.
"Ah, twas lovely of you ALL, Mar
tina said, and she went over to Evelina
and put her arms around her.
"How did you manage it?" she
questioned again. "Who made the
canopy?"
"Uncle Ephraim, replied the de-
lighted child; and every one laughed
as Martha embraced her uncle affec
tionately. He tried to get away, but
she caught him and clung to him.
Her face was radiant.
"You've been so kind !" she cried
''but, uncle, you needn't have done it.
! liked it the way it was. Didn't you
know l liked it?"
A fortnight later Martha's friend,
Dorothy Rumble, accompanied by her
two sisters, accepted invitations to
spend fortnight at Miss Dodd's home.
On the day of their arrival county
fair was being held in the next town,
and Mrs. Dodd watched some neigh
bors' vehicles fly past the door with a
good deal of interest.
eff 'twa'n't for company comm,
she said to the girls, 81 might have
gone myself. amt been to a fair for
three years.
To her surprise Martha seized the
stray idea almost eagerly. The girl
talked to her uncle 50 earnestly about
the matter that he resolved to take his
wife and Evelina to the gaily decorated
grounds and stay the entire day. Thus
the house ohanced 80 be comparatively
still when four girls e,.tered merrily
aud rushed up the stairs to Martha
Dodd's "boudoir. "
"Why, what in the world !" Bertha
Rnndle exclaimed wonderingly, as
soon as she had surveyed the room.
Two old people and gnl trundling
over the turnpike road we're two far
away to hear the peals of laughter that
suddenly rang through the house.
go Martha DCdd, said one of the
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