The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-07-31

very beginning, three weeks ago"
Now, as TO your father" resumed
the young man, 81 think l understand
him pretty we'll, because my one and
only parent, the governor himself, is
constructed on much the same plan.
Wherever he goes lac is continually in
search of the lost tribes of the Strong
genealogy. The last letter l had from
him in Colorado, where he is spending
the winter, contained the announce.
mont that he had unearthed four or
five new cousins-choice specimens, /
doubt not, that he will expect me to
meet and embrace on my way home.
Perhaps it was wrong" he contin-
ued, after a moment of reflection, "to
play upon that little popularity Of
your fathers, to get into his good
graces, but you must consider the ex-
traordinary provocation, dear. 1t
seemed like my only chance-are you
sorry 1 took it?"
She looked her answer but did not
speak it, and then, avoiding the hand
extended to seize her own, she struck
her horse a light blow and dashed
down the road ahead.
A long, even canter in silence fol-
lowed, and they were well into town
before the conversation began again.
Then, fearful of observation, they
spoke in commonplaces.
They turned into State street, and
stopped at the postoffice, the morn
ing's mail having constituted the chief
cause for the trip to town. Richard
Strong 6ismounted and presently ap-
peared with letter in his hand
''None for you," he said. "This is
for me, from the governor. I'll wager
it has something in it about cousins.
'Let me see" said the girl, hold
ing out her hand. He tore the letter
open and gave it to her. Then he
swung himself into his saddle, and
they started slowly down the street.
Suddenly the girl gave faint cry.
''Papa has been writing to him !"
she exclaimed.
Writing to him? What for?"
"He has asked him to pay us visit
on the score of relationship, and your
father"
"Well?" said the young man, ex-
citedly.
"He says he will start Immediately
-tbe very next day."
'Let me see the date of the letter.
Ye gods 1t has been delayed He
must have got here this morningp
"The train has been in two hours"
she said, glanciug at her watch.
81 must see him Immediately, said
her companion, nervously ~ turning his
horse first one way and then another.
"Who would have dreamed that both
the old boys would take that cousin
ship so seriously?"
beginning that it would make trouble
some time"
'From the very beginning?" re-
peated the young man, pausing in his
excitement long enough to note the
force of this chance admission. $50
you acknowledge, do you"
There's the hotel bus, cried the
girl, hastily changing the subject.
Perhaps the driver can tell us some
thing"
A long empty vehicle was passing
them on its way up the street. Strong
called to the driver and he stopped.
"Did you bring up tall gentle
man this morning, with white mus
tache and goatee and gold eyeglasses?"
"Yes, sir. Your father, don't you
meau?"
The young people exchanged star
tied glances.
"How did you know?"
"He was inquiring for you, sir, rs
soon as ever he got to the hotel; and
when he found you were gone, he
W ent and hired buggy"
"a buggy-what for?"
'He asked the way to Judge Wes-
tons place in the Montecito. He said
the Judge was a near relative of his. "
"a near relative!" groaned the hor-
rified Strong while his companion
turned away her face, although
whether to conceal look of anguish
or laugh will never be known.
The omnibus proceeded on its way.
"We must hurry" said the young
man, spurring his horse to canter.
"The less time they have together be-
fore explanations are made the bet
ter"
"What do you think they will do?"
asked the girl.
81 don't dare TO think. You sec on
everything except this family tree
business our respective parents are as
far apart as civilized humans can be.
Your father, now, is an elder in the
church, while mine has never recov-
cred from the habit of using swear
words acquired during years of SER
vice in the regular army"
Heavens Let us ride faster. Papa
will have slain him before We get
there.
"Really, Catherine, said the young
man, when they had slackened their
pace to climb the hills, sit would not
surprise me if they positively refused
to enter into partnership as fathers
in-law."
"Neyer mind, Richard" said the
girl, smilingly. Father has never
yet refused me anything, when my
happiness was at stake-as it is now. "
Strong shrugged his shoulders.
''Mine has" he answered. ode is
made of flint, the old General and if
he should take it into his head to say
no, il would be awkward in ways /
don't like to mention,
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