The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-10-30

there in the sun on tho bench at the
edge of the cliff garden, and ate their
pasties in wide-eyed silence, looking
away across the water, with brains in
active and mastication slow. And in
such manner, indeed, might they have
sat until the dinner hour was over had
not movement on the beach below
caught Noah Capel's eye and enticed
his mind towards mundane matters.
This having occurred, he stared for
many moments at the cause of his
awakening; then he chuckled heavily
once or twice, and, arranging the cor
ner of his pasty in the side of his
cheek, made way for speech.
'That's Peter Tod's maid down
poddling about them boats" he vol
unteered in foodmuflied tones.
"Aw," drawled Thomas Bullasy, sis
'er 'ome agen?"
'1ss, an fine handful, too. Peter
won't get her to chapel more'n 'er's a
mind to, I'm thinkin'."
'rhere was always a sight of divil-
ment in that there gurl," quoth
Thomas Bullasy slowly, "but 'er's got
purity face"
Together the youths looked down
upon the girl in question and truly
Ann Tod was good TO look upon, either
because, or in spite of, the devilment
which lay in her eye. Her face was
short and round her eyes were gold
en- brown, and but lazily opened; her
cheeks were warmed by the sun, and
her nose freckled by that same power
her head was mop of dark brown
curls, and her blue frock well became
her very shapely form.
As she passed slowly inland, under
the shadow of the cliff, and ont of
their sight, the youths shifted trifle
on their bench and looked at one an
other.
"'Tis a brave-lookin' maid, sure
enough" decided Thomas Bullasy
again; "I've mind to do a bit OF
courtin' in that quarter
"Aw," grinned Noah CapeI, "you'm
too late, my dear soul, I'm a-goin' to
do bit that way myself"
Then Thomas Bullasy opened his
big ox-eyes in wonderment. "Why,
law me, how longs the maid been
'ome?"
"Cemed last night"
''You began yer courtin' pretty
slippy then"
"Well, 'aven' begun yet, as you
might say; but I'd a-made up my
mind"
"Aw, we'll then," declared Thomas
Bullasy, "I'm so good q chap as you
let the best man win."
But Noah Capel seemed not wholly
pleased with Encouragement. "You'd
never a-seen her if adm appointed
her out" he grumbled.
ut was Thomas Bullasy who chuck
led now. "But I ave a-seen her,
'aven't II Eff you con cut me out, do
it,"
81 don't see no 'cashun to grizzle
like a great. .bufllehead even if you are
goint keepin' compEny with a giglet
like Ann Tod" declared Noah Capel,
with some warmth.
Thomas Bullasy's grin died slowly
from the corners of his mouth.
"Well," he said at last, "I don't
want no ballywragging bout the mat.
ter us'll toss fer the maid, an SETTLE
it fair"
Noah Capel still looked glum, but
after some slow thought he decided
that the chance was worth the taking,
so he took it; and Thomas Bullasy,
drawing penny from his far corner
OF his fustian pocket, heayed it in the
air.
There were full five minutes spent
in a vain seeking for the coin; then
the gamblers slowly rose again, their
faces toward the sea then they sat
down suddenly, with fallen jaws and
then they strove to smile. Just be-
low them, on ledge of the cliff, sat
Ann Tod, her elbows on her knees and
her chin in her hands; and how long
she had been sitting there was a ques-
tion uneomfortably uncertain IN the