The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-04-26

at wasn't my fault, tothami" she
said. 'I always liked the child, though
she wasn't no more like our folks than
corn flower is Ike a squash blossom.
But she and Ellen couldn't somehow
agree. Ellen always wanted Martin to
marry Miss Brownlee, and she up one
day and accused Dora of settin' her cap
for Martin, and Dora couldn't stand that (;
and when they appealed to me, I'm
afraid didn't take Dora's part quite so
strong as might hev done"
IL knowed a woman's tongue was at
the bottom Of it ALL" said the squire,
with some bitterness. "Poor Dorai"
That night the whole Sedgick fam
il lwere aroused by light blaze in the
rtiooryard the old fashioned we'll sweep
burning up. -Grandsir, in his flannel
dressing gownSd knotted stick, his
leonine head well outlined in the scarlet
glow, looking more Druid-like than
ever.
"You done it O. purpose" said be,
feebly shaking the stick at the assembled
family, who were trembling in the door
way. "You know you did. First Dora,
aud then the old we'll sweep. The only
things l keered for in this world-sud
now they're both gone, an l may as
well lie down and diep'
"I didn't mean any harmp hysteri-
cally sobbed poor Ellen. al was light
ing taper to seal q letter-Marian
Brownlee always uses the w-fashioned
colored wax to seal her letters-and it
burned up too quick, and l flung it out
OF the window, but l never dreamed it
would fall among the dead leaves around
the old we'll curb and set it on firel /
didn't mean any harmp
"Don't fret, father" said the squire.
Gwen build it up ag'in-me aud Mar
tin-jnst exactly like it was before"
The old man shook his head.
at won't be the same" moaned he.
''it won't be the same Nothin's the
same in this worldw
And he took to his bed from that
day.
Poor Ellen hung down her head like
dropping lily. In neither case had she
intended any actual harm, but in both
instances she felt acu ely responsible.
Martin was making preparations to go
out West. Grandsir seemed to have lost
all interest in the surrounding world.
Her mother went about with swollen
eyes and pale face, and Squire Sed-
gick sat by the hour on the front porch,
looking as il ne had lost his last friend.
One violet-scented April afternoon,
however, Martin came home from the
city, whittier he had been to purchase
some absolute necessity for his travels,
with fiat parcel under his arm.
"Look, motherl" he said. SITS some.
thing for grandsir. don't know but
what I've been extravagant, but declare
to goodness l couldn't help it. The
minute set eyes on it, thought of the
dear old man lyin' up stairs in his bed.
It's PICTURE" he added, as Ellen came
hurrying to his side-''an oil painting
with flne gilt frame. Elk ,ctly like our
old well sweep that was burned down,
with the red barn in the distance, and
the sun settiu' behind the woods, Just as
I've seen it go down times without end.
You don't know how queer felt when
4 L
in and paid twenty dollars for it. I'd
do without them campin' blankets and
the fur robe, mother; but l wanted
grandsir TO have that picture"
They hung it up on the wall opposite
the head of his bead, aud when the old
man walked from nap, just as the sun
set beans shone over the mute canvas, he
looked at it with a smile.
''It's our old well" said he, not evinc-
ing the least surprise. "Just like was
a-lookin' out of the window at it. I've
got the we'll sweep back ag'in now, and
p'raps Dorall come next. Who knowsi"
And for the first time in a week, he
got up and dressed himself, aud deigned
to give sort of conditional approval to
the repairs going on in the burned dis
trict.
at looks too new now," said he, ad-
justing his "far-away" spectacles. "But
p'raps in year or two it'll be moro
weather-b beaten an nat'ral-like. l can
allays look at the picter, though, when |
want to see the old we'll sweep"
Ellen pulled her brothers sleeve as he
stood intently regarding the bright little
oil painting on grandsir's wall.
"Martin," said she, "nobody ever
could have painted that picture by guess.
1t is our old we'll sweep, and there's the
very butternut tree and the broken
shingles on the barn roof. Aud don't
you remember, Martin, how fond she
used to be of painting9'
He turned suddenly around with an ir-
radiated face.
"Why didn't think of it beforei" he
cried.
Mr.. Solomon Feldman, sitting behind
mis- desk rail in the darkest corner of the
lark little art store, was startled from an
sbstruse financial calculation by the ques-
Lioning CLEAN of pair Of dark eyes close
beside him.
'Is it sold7" soft voice timidly asked !
-"niy Odd Well Swept see it is
gone from the window. Oh, is it posi-
BILE that can be so lucky as to have sold !
that picturel"
Dora Sedgick was very plainly dressed.
Her shoes and gloves were unmistably |
lhabby; there was certain pallor in her |
skin and sharpness in her features which |
told of battle with the world, in which |
she had not as yet gained the advantage. |
But at that moment her face seemed |
transfgured with exultant joy.
BIr. Feidman referred to his books.