The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-05-02

scape. red glow of sunset yet fingered; !;
while the black pines and cedars
quivered in the wind.
II wish," added Jessie. 'sthat I
had asked that man below which was
he right turning to take. But was
afraid of him; he looked SO cross"
She was tall, slim slip of thing,
with blue, wistful eyes, hair of the
real Scotch gold, AMI red lips, that
trembled partly with cold, partly with
certain vague terror at the position
in which she found herself.
In her hand she carried a heavy
bag, for Jessie had no money TO pay
omnibus hire, or to engage a sleigh at
the railway station.
Suppose" she said to herself.
''this lonely road should lead no.
where, except into the woods? Sup
pose it should conduct me straight
into a gypsy camp? For it seems
mvTS aid more desolate the farther 1
go. Suppose / should be frozen to
death, all alone here. with no helping
hand to seve ine?"
stake car-. child" cried a loud,
clear voice. ''Do you want to be run
over?"
1t was no gypsy, nor yet a black
brown tramp, simply a plump, COM
Portable woman. driving herself in a
trim little red cutter. She eyed Jes-
sic curiously through her spectacles.
Jessie returned the gaze with interest.
'Pleas.', madam" said Jessie, 'can
you tell me il 1 am near Bucknor Hall p
''Bless me. said the woman, ''don't
you know? Bucknor Hall was burned
down last night, and the old lady was
suffocated in the smoke. Friends of
Yours?"
Jessie put hei bag down in the
snowy road; she trembled violently.
'No-not exactly friends" she said
'But 1 was engaged to go there as
companion and reader, and-and-.
Oh, what shall do now?"
The old lady looked meditatively at
the lash of her whip.
"Come from New York;" said she,
after pause.
''Yes-from the Wilberforce Protec-
tive Agency. And spent all my money
for the ticket here.
zone or two bright round tears de
tached themselves from the long lashes
and rolled slowly down her cheeks.
Mrs. Parkhurst, who prided herself
on her knowledge of physiognomy,
made up her mind on the spot.
Zone thing is very certain, said
she. ''Mrs. Bucknor will never re-
quire companion ana reader now.
And if you're puzzled what to do next,
you had better jump in and go with
me-"
''Where?" said Jessie.
''Home," said Mrs. Parkhurst.
Now, Jessie Morton herself was not
bad Judge of the human face divine,
and in the indescribable solitude OF
this moment, she caught at tho well
come idea of shelter and company.
She got into the red cutter, drew the
buffalo robe around her shiverinS form,
and nestled close to Mrs Parkhurst,
before she ventr fed to ask, timidly:
'Whei is-nome?"
Mrs. Parkhurst shook the reins. The
pony darted merrily over the smooth
road into the purpling dusk.
'Gt's the Bassett Military Institute, >
said she, with very visible pride
"I'm housekeeper there"
"Whatl"
sob, take rel' scolded Mrs Park
surst. 'Y'.u should held on tight
when we turn those sharp curves. Yer
hnE very nearly fallen out. Yes, the
Bassett Institute. And fine place i
is was 'hinllng-if your references
turn out what they should be-w'
might make room for you there. W.
need q smart young woman in the linen
Foom. suppose you can do something
else besides companiopiLg and reading
-eh?"
"Oh. veal"