The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-04-17

l opened my eyes suddenly at the
sound of a voice.
Mother told me you wished to sea
me, it said rs chilly as if it had been
left out over night in the frost.
"Oh, K-," began, as / stood up
before her. 81 beg your pardon" ]
continued, 'your mother was quite
right, I did wish to see you"
II can scarcely understand why
she went on, 'after what occurrel /
last night. Still, you may be able to
explain and am willing to listen, al
least for few minutes, as / have an
engagement, she added, with the
taintest kind of smile.
1t was such a mlserably mean lit le
smile, l thought, that it was ashamed
to show itself openly.
'Oh, don't let me detain you," ]
tried to say with biting sarcasm, but
l only bit my tongue in saying it.
81 shall not" she replied. "When
l am ready to go will let you know.
Pray, be seated" and she waved me
to my chair again, taking one of our
"our, think of that--big chairs and
nestling down in 1t SO cozily that /
wanted to throw book at her.
really wanted to throw myself at
her, but / had never dared do that,
and this was scarcely an appropriate
time to begin.
81 presume" said, "your engage
ment is with that Mr.. Kilmer and my
presence here is an intrusion"
4. L -
trouble the night before, and Kilmer
was such a good fellow generally, that
l couldn't help but wish that he had
died several years before with the
cholera or some of the other epidem-
les which visit our shores and carry
away so many excellent people.
"Oh, no, :" she sail, "no intrusion
at all. At least, not yet. He was
here this morning and told me he
would not be around again until
O'Clock"
She looked up at the pretty brass
clock had given her. Both its tiny
hands were clasping the figure three.
Three-quarters of an hour, and
whole lifetime thereafter
Isn't it enough that you should
have killed me" 1 said, without be-
ing SO eager to cut me up"
81 was merely defending friend"
she retorted
"And you claim Kilmer as
friend?"
II certainly do. Isn't he a friend
of yours?"
''Not at all. If he were, he would
not have interfered with my happiness
as he has DONE"
81 beg your pardon" she said. '1
didn't know he had"
"Didn't l tell you last night he was
n seoundrel, intent only upon separat-
ing us?" 1 asked hotly.
"And didn't tell you that 1 would
permit no friend of mine to be called
a scoundrel by anyone without resent
ing it to the utmost?" she replied.
"But did call him that" 1 in
sisted.
"Yes, and what good did it do
you?" she said, stepping to the mantel
and holding out the empty frame in
which my picture had formerly been
the attraction.
ellis will take the place of the
former occupant?" said, scornfully.
"His or another's," she responded,
and actually giggled.
A giggle from a girl is dreadful
enough under any circumstances, but
at this time it was positively CALLING
"Great Scott !" | exclaimed, stag
gering to my feet, sam l then a two
fold dupe? Are the returns all in?
Have the back counties been heard
from, Miss Miltby?" and l buried my
face in my hands.
l could hear the cl ick of the frame
as she set 1t back on the mantel and
mild sort of dull tn I'D as she dropped
into the big chair.
''Mr. Kilmer is, at least, enough of
a gentleman, scoundrel though you
say he is, she said, mot to talk to
lady as you do"
"Oh, Xii beg your pardon, Miss
Miltby," 1 apologized, al hope you
will forget that l spoke so rudely. In
deed. did not mean it. T"
al don't see what reason you have
for objecting to Mr.. Kilmer paying me
any attention he secs fit to pay" she
told me for answer. 81 have known
him for long time and he is held in
the highest esteem by everyone except
you"
But have known you quite as
long as he has" oontended.
(Which is hardly a reason for act.
ing as you are now acting" she said.
docs he love you?" asked, and I
could feel a thousand throbs in my
head at once.
81 presume not, ," she replied, smil-
ing. eff he does, he has been too
modest to say so.
"Do you love himP"
"That is my own affair."" she an
swered, freezingly.
threw my hand quickly to my
side, for, as 1 live, thought that in
stant that my heart would certainly |
break loose and drop down. l think
if could have stepped on scale that
moment with it in my bosom, l would
have weighed a ton.
''It is not altogether yours, l said
with gasp.
"No?" and the interrogation point
ran up into her eyebrows and arched
them sharply like a spear-point, it
seemed to me.
"No, and 1 want you to so under