The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-06-06

or 80. DE went energet1cally to work,
preparing a portion of the land for
the precious grain; and aside from
the discomforts which could not
be helped, all went well with him; for
he had sufficient money to buy the
necessary machinery, serviceable
pair of horses and a few COWS, besides
laying aside a small sum for rainy
day.
But all was not well with Lizzie. As
soon as they were settled and she and
her mother had, with womanly in
genuity, given pleasant and home
like appearance to the interior of the
rude cabin, she had written a long
letter to Will, and intrusting it to her
fathers care, watched him drive off
to the little town of Melton, q dozen
miles distant, where was located the
nearest postoffice. She hoped for a
letter in return, but was disappointed.
81 shall be sure to receive one next
week." she thought, and sang about
her work, as she helped her mother
inside the house, or planted the flower
seeds and roots brought from the old
home, which, later, made beautiful
the outside of the homely cabin.
Another disappointment awaited
her, but she thought, "Perhaps my
letter did not reach Will. He may
not have our correct address; 1 will
write again"
The next time her father went to
Melton she walked to meet him on his
return her heart bounded with Joy as
he handed her thick white envelope,
but sank like lead when she looked at
the superscription. 1t was from a
girl friend, q very dear one, but Lizzie
felt no desire to read it then.
"Oh, father Is that all? You
must surely have another one"
"Only some papers, puss.
His voice was little husky, and he
did not look at her.
"How foolish I ami" she said to
herself, when the first keenness of the
disappointment was over. ga dozen
things might have happened to delay
the letter. How wish we could go
to the postoffice every day"
"Hope deferred maketh the heart
SICK" Lizzie waited week after week,
but no letter came from Will.
81 will write just once MORE" she
said, "only few lines, that 1 may be
sure that am not the one to blame.
She gave up all hope when, in early
autumn, a letter from girl friend
contained the information that "Will
Chester was flirting awfully with a
cousin then visiting his fathers, and
some thought it would be a match. "
Lizzie was too proud and also too
sensible to let this disappointment
spoil her life. She hid her grief from
her watchful father and mother, and
if her pillow was wet during many a
wakeful night, she was busy and
cheerful each day.
Summer and autumn passed. The
harvest was gathered, necessarily small,
for only little land had been pre-
pared. 'It would be very different
next summer" said Mr.. Barton. Then
came the Dakota winter. Oh, that
terrible first winter to the Barton
family Not having any idea of how
severe the cold would really be, they
did not make suitable preparation for
it, and endured many hardships.
Winter came, and Lizzie was again
installed as teacher in the small
school-house, her father driving her
there in the morning and coming for
her at night.
One cold afternoon in January he
was not there as usual when the school
was dismissed, and Lizzie, wondering
what had happened to detain him,
hurried her little flock home, as it was
beginning to storm. She waited for
half an hour, hoping her father would
come, for she had felt i'll all day, and
was scarcely able TO walk long mile
in the face of the storm.
Mr.. Barton was in the grip of his
old enemy, inAammatory rheumatism,
and was almost unable to move. Mrs.
Barton was not alarmed on her daugh-
ter's account, thinking she could easily
walk home when tired of waiting.
81 must CO." thought Lizzie.
"Father would be here by this time il
something had not happened to detain
him."
She left the schoolhouse and began
the long walk. Presently her steps
slackened; faint feeling stole over
her; she strove against it, struggled
on a few steps, then sank down in the
fast drifting snow.
That day, when the Eastern train
steamed into the little town of Mel
ton, it left one passenger on the plat
form of the small depot, good-look-
ing, broad-shouldered young fellow,
whose name was William Chester. He
had been amazed at not hearing from
Lizzie at first, and had written again
and again, thinking there must be
some mistake. Finally he heard a
rumor of her intended marriage. He
had been deeply hurt, but resolved
that no one should know it. Yet he
could not tear her image from his
heart.
When he started on his present trip
he said sternly to himself that he
should make no effort to see her. Yet
he watched for Melton, and when the
town was reached, could not resist the
impulse to leave the train.
81 may as we'll find out the truth
now am here" he said; "and, aft er
all, it is only neighborly to look them
up, even if Lizzie is married"
He went over to the large store
which contained the postoffice, hop
ing to find some means of conveyance