The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-03-14


son Tanners tiresome-"
''Dan'e 'el !" interrupted his mother,
severely.
"Well, mother, I'm tired of it all.
1 believe I'll go over to Railway and
see Bill Brewster. He's going on n
voyage next week-bound for the West
Indies-and wants me join him. But |
1 haven't made up my mind yet about
the army-recruiting business that the
boys are 80 crazy about. Ben Howells |
says he'll enlist if 1 will. "
ooh, Daniel !" said his mother, tears
starting to her eyes.
Dan was very fond of his mother,
and it went to his heart to see her in
tears.
81 don't say that I'll go mother, so
long as you oppose it. But 1 wish you'd
consent"
''Do let him go, motherl" said
Maria, sharply. 'It will likely do him
good"
1t was late that evening when Dan,
who had spent the day at Radway,
came home to supper. He noticed that
the parlor windows were lighted; but
that was always the case on Sunday,
when Maria's beaux were calling on
her.
As he stepped into the kitchen entry
he was greeted with savory odor of
pies and cake, and saw that the table
was nicely set with the best moss rose
bud tea set. Maria, who had heard
his steD came to meet him.
ooh, Dan, 1 wanted to tell you
We've got company arrived-mother's
cousin Lydia and her daughter Dora.
They've been visiting Uncle Erasmus,
in Huttonville and to-day he's brought
them over to spend some days with us.
1 hope they'll stay longer, for they're
such pleasant peoplel Step up stairs
and brush yourself up, for supperll
be ready in minute.
"Bother [ won't go in to supper.
They needn't know that I'm here"
"Now, Dan, wouldn't be doing
anything more to vex mother. She's
worried enough about you already /;
and I've left her in the parlor with
Cousin Lydia to talk over old times /;
and Dora's helping me to get supper.
She's the incest girl u
Maria disappeared; and Dan, as he
stood hesitating, had view into the
neat kitchen.
There he saw n slender and very
pretty girl, with dark eyes and hair,
arranging the cups and saucers, and he
noticed how daintilY she handled them,
and how light and graceful her mo-
tions were And also her sweet voice,
as she laughingly replied to some re-
mark of Maria 1t struck him that
he had never before seen the kitchen
look so bright and cheerful.
He stole up stairs, and carefully
brushed his hair and put on a more
becoming tie. Then he came down
and was introduced to Dora.
She stepped forward with smile
and gave him her hand, and as DaI
met the clear, frank eyes, it seemed tC
him that a sort of sunshine stole into
his heart, partially dispelling its gloom
, And as he sat and looked at an(
listened to her, his face gradually soft
ened and assumed a cheerfulness which
) it had not worn for many day.
He did not go out after supper, al
) though he had half promised Bel
: Howells to have talk with him abou
{ that enlisting business. And next da,
he hung around the house on SOM
= pretense or other, getting littl'
1 glimpses of and brief chats with Dora
e Maria saw it, but prudently sal
nothing-only managing to throV
a them together as much as possible.
'Dan," she said, next day, pre-
tending to be in great hurry, "cal
I YOU spare time to help Dora shel
a those peas? I'm so busy, and tn
o peas must be on the fire in ten min
utes to be in time for dinner.
= SO Dan sat down, and while shell
ing the peas, watched Dora's deft fin
1 gers as they split the crisp pods anc
n dropped the little, shining green ball
into the bowl.
81 guess you're not used to wor
}, much, he said, noticing how whit
J, the hands were.
e "Aint -" she said, laughingly
"Just ask mother about that. 1 d
r most of the work at home-help
|. cook and clean, and 1 sew, and fin
,s time TO play on the piano,
e ''Do you?" said Dan, who was yer
fond of music. 81 wish that Mar
1t had a piano, but she never cared
learn to play.
l. "You will make q nice wife fc
somebody, Dora, with all those accon
(. plishments, Maria said.
l. Dan glanced up, with a sudde
5, twinge of jealousy. He wondered
it she were engaged; nor did he feel ell
d tirely at his ease until he had learne
At from Cousin Lydia herself tha
a though Dora had plenty of beaux, sh
had never shown preference for an
any one in particular.
d. "Cousin Dan," said Dora, as tn
& two sat on the front porch in the tw
1t light, "they tell me that you al
n thinking of going to sea or enlistin
in for soldier?"
e, "Well, +" he answered, little sheer
is ishly, 81 hadn't made up my min
about it, "
ia "'Twould be a pity to leave yor
st mother, wouldn't it? She would mi
ID you so !"
IS He felt half mortified that he shsul
r appear TO her 80 heartless.
Of al don't know that L was really
ID earnest about going. | felt someho
/ 4 - IL -.