The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-06-27
AT first Neelr laughed a merry.

| looked at the green lace OF her lover,
she became indignant, and finally re-
fused to say word either in defense
or explanation while he was present.
So the engagement was ended, and the
love that was to spread out over q
whole lifetime proved futile at its first
trial
Neely went about with her head in
the air and wretched depression at her
heart. Bruce contemplated all the
different forms of suicide, and had
about decided on paris green as being
the best for his purpose, when a new
source of interest was discovered.
Archie Dean was dancing attendance
on Myrtle Blair, Neely's dearest
friend. Bruce received several mys-
terious hints that there was a mistake
somewhere, and from being green he
turned to a blue of the deepest dye,
and finally sought counsel of Mrs.
Hollingwood, Neely's mother, who
had been his warm friend through it
all, but was prevented from speaking
by a solemn promise extracted from
her by her daughter.
"Go and ask Neely herself about the
note-I'm sure it never meant any
thing" urged Mrs. Hollingwood.
But Bruce was not ready for such a
sacrifice of his pride yet. He waited
another while, and then he did just
what he ought to have done in the
first place if he hadn't been as green
as Christmas goose. He went to
Neely and said:
"Take me back on probation, and
will prove myself worthy of your con-
fidence. l know that jealousy is cruel
as the grave. ="
Neely met him half way, after the
fashion of her sex.
"And will explain all about that
note," she said, after they had kissed
and made up. "You see, we were
playing"
"Hush," said Bruce, in a peremp-
tory manner that somehow Neely
liked, "not word about that miser-
able note nor our quarrel over it, un-
til the anniversary of our wedding
day. Then, if have not once been
jealous, you may tell me the whole
story, whatever it is.
To this his sweetheart willingly
agreed, and in the happiness of recon-
ciliation the green cloud almost en-
tirely disappeared from their horizon.
Archie Dean was the best man at
the wedding and at the same time the
announcement was made of his en-
gagement to Myrtle Blair.
The year passed, as years do, with.
| - ,vI,u.1-o11 g.
anniversary of the wedding day came
around. Neely suggested that the
same company of friends be invited
that had participated in her birthday
celebration when Bruce had discov-
cred such flaw in his happiness. At
the same time they could make it re-
ception for the lately-wedded pair,
Archie and Myrtle. AS all these had
heard of the quarrel without knowing
of the exact circumstances, and had
congratulated them on their making
up at the time, they had no hesitancy
in laying the whole matter before
them. Besides, all these young peo-
pie had beea their friends and chums
since infancy.
When all had assembled, Bruce
made little speech, after the fashion
of the surprised host who has received
a crayon portrait of himself and says
in quivering voice: 81 now rise to
offer few febble remarks" He said
that rihes-er-light as air are to
the-er-iealous combinations strong
as holy writ" Here there was ap-
plause that would have done the orig
inal authors soul good to hear. He
continued that he was one not easily
jealous, but being wrought-interrup-
tions of laughter, after which he
dropped the language of hyperbole
and said honestly that he had made a
great fool of himself -applause-but
he wished now to say that he had era
dicated by hard work every trace of
jealousy from his nature. Then he sat
down and Neely arose.
''Let us have game of anagrams,
Just rs we did last year at my birthday
party. This time will give you the
transpositions, and you can form out
of them the original words"
She passed around a number of slips
of paper, on each of which some
sentence or phrase was written. When
she handed Archie Dean his slip, he
said:
"Why, 1 had this before, but 1
can't remember for my life what it
means.
"Read it aloud, commanded Neely,
while Myrtle and Bruce looked on
much interested.
Here goes" said Archie Gilt
or-elope. It's Greek to me-"
81 think it is to Bruce" said Neely
laughing, sit is the transposition of a
hower-a beautiful sweet-scented bios
som the color Of"
Jealousy" whispered Bruce in her
ear.
''No, goosey, it is not green. 1t is
a gem and a chronological instrument
also. The phrase you have there,
Archie, and which Bruce construed
into an invitation to an elopement, is
what you made out of it yourself" "
81 remember" shouted Bruce, "the
original word was heliotrope."
Exactly" laughed Neely, Sand
now let us have a game.
II should say that the game was
up, remarked Bruce, and at that mo-
ment the last vestige of the green