The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-06-20

linen on the laSJ Gay OF mhy, WHICH
was unusually warm for the season,
in spite of his daughters ooaxing and
scolding, he insisted on dragging his
bed and bedding up there. A single
chair and his Testament completed
the furnishing.
From that time on, not only did ho
spend his days in the tree chamber,
but he actually slept there at night
Nothing but a smart shower could
drive him into the house.
What seemed strange, no harm came
to him from the exposure. He did
not get the terrible colds and rheu
matism that Belinda had feared; on
the contrary, he seemed to grow
stronger and happier every day. And
she found she could accomplish twice
as much work. 1t was true, as Abner
had said, che was out of her way;"
still, she did not feel quite easy about
| him.
1t seemed dreadful thing to have
her old father sleeping out there alone
in the darkness of the night So she
anxiously hoped that he would not
think of going this year.
But few days after the recorded
conversation, Belinda came home from
an errand to a neighbor's house, to
find that the "May moving" had taken
place. Abner, who had been a wit
ness to the proceeding, only said,
carelessly:
'Let him be, he's all right; nothing
happened to him last year. P"
What finally recouciled Belinda
more than anything else was remark
her father made in his rambling way,
which gave her new insight into his
feeling.
"Belindy, darter," he said, "don't
hender me-. Everything is free out
of-doors, free and welcome.
She knew then that he realized how
grudgingly he was housed and fed.
His withdrawal from the house seemed
but a natural instinct, the protest of
his self-respect. After that she could
not oppose him farther. She allowed
him the most perfect freedom to come
and go as he liked.
"God III take care of him, as H9
does of the birds and the rest of His
creatures" she said to herself, trust
fully.
One day Abner came in very much
elated.
"Belindy" he exclaimed, "what
should you say to an offer of four
thousand dollars for the old place
What kind of an offer is that, hey?"
and he rubbed his hands in great sat
isfaction.
81 should say it was bouncing
good offer, and you'd better take it, u
said his wife.
He went on excitedly to tell her the
particulars.
"And now, Abner," she said pres
, emily, in her coaxing way, 81 do hope
you'll try and feel little more pa
, tient with grandpa. just think OF
all that money coming to us through
him /"
, "The best of it is" continued
Abner, who just now could think Of
nothing but the money, "the best o.
, it is, Belindy, it's going to be paid
down! So all I've got to do is tC
, clap it into the bank, and let it stay
till after the crops are in. Ther
, we'll begin the new house right away
have it all done and ready to move
, into by springl"
r "And when we get into the new
, house, we're going to have Mary and
the baby come home to live with us,
. amt we? You know you've prom
ised," reminded his wife, bent on tax
ing all possible advantage OF her un
: usual opportunity.
! Mary, their only daughter, ha(
married poor man, and was now {
= widow, supporting herself and chil(
by working in the factory in a distan
town. To have her child and grand
J child at home with her had long beer
the wish of the mothers heart; but
| her husband had always put her off.
"Wait till we get into the new
/ house." he had always said. ether
there'll be more room" But she hat
s feared that he never really meant t.
= consent. Now, to her astonishmen
n and delight, he answered good
naturedly;
s eyes, yes; let 'em comel"
i Ills ROOu luCh hGtlnSu W huN
e warmed his heart, and made him 70
n once fatherly and benevolent.
/ The next day the man who ha(
( bought the Pinney farm paid to Abne
the price in full-four thousan
T dollars; more money than eithe
Abner or his wife had ever seen be
o fore.
= In the midst of their joyful excite
e ment, they were both suddenly strue
o with an anxious fear. Since Abne
4 could not take the money to the ban
I till the next day, where should the
It put it for safe-keeping through tn
p night?
n After much deliberation they dc
o cided to hide it in little cupboar
over the mantel in the parlor, IN
o accordingly, while Belinda tiptoed
d the window and made sure no one wa
IS nigh to see, Abner wrapped the none
" carefully in large bandanna handkel
W chief, and put it in a dark corner G
le the cupboard.
5. Several times Abner left his wor
IS and stole into the parlor to make sur
1t that the money was safe, and as ofte
a. questioned nervously as to whetht
4 4 they had chosen the best hiding
nIace INIT finally he concluded to |,