The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-12-18

cepted lover, but her tolerated ad- |
mirer, and ne was quite satisfied with |
the role. People said it was because
he was the poorest OF her admirers
that she gave him the unusual privi-
lege. 1t seemed a tride cruel. His
case being hopeless, it appeared as if
she were making the situation all the
more tormenting.
The years rolled cn. Miss Witte
more never mentioned the name of her
recreant lover, but there was no one
who did not believe, who did not know,
in fact, that she still believed in him,
still loved him. She was waiting for
him to come back to her. All women
have faith in the men they love. Hers
was an unusual example of the faith of
perfectly organized woman. In the
meantime she changed but slightly. A
gray hair or so appeared above
her temples and she had oc-
casional lapses into melancholy. Dur
ing these she was usually rather dis
tant to the everfaithful Thornton.
He, naturally, would be thrown into
the depths of dependency on such oc-
casions. But his friends agreed, to a
man land even to womsn), that these
were the most hopeful signs he could
desire. And they instilled this idea
into him to such an extent that he
took advantage of one of these melan-
choly periods and proposed again.
It was for the last time. The result
was quite the usual one, but more de-
cisive. She said, 'I think, you might
spare me a repetition of this" and left
the room. And then Thornton, in his
turn, gave up all hope. After that
Miss Wittemore seemed to interest
herself in but one being-her niece,
Maud.
1t was the night of the garden par
ty. The gathering was interested in
the little romance that was culmina-
ting that evening, mainly because
rumors of a somewhat disagreeable
nature had preceded the arrival of the
count. But every visiting foreigner,
in these fin de steele days, is regarded
in America with more or less suspi-
cion and, by virtue of that fact, he
had found, from pure sympathy, many
admirers and supporters. During his
stay in New York, before his trip to
the country for this garden party, he
had made no better friend than Char.
ley Thornton. The fact that he was
engaged to the niece of Laura Witte-
more may have accounted for this.
Or Thornton may have been careless
aud unsophisticated as usual. At
any rate they were everywhere togeth-
er-which initiated very much in
favor of the count. Still retaining
some of the rights of "friend of the
family" even though he had aban-
! doned all pretensions to the hand of
the hostess, Thornton was at the
counts side when he was presented to
Miss Wittemore. He saw the varying
expressions of surprise, terror and de.
termination in her face. He, perhaps
he alone, heard her gasp almost mar
ticularly, "Raouli" For the first time
in his life he was brilliant enough to
divine the truth, and by cleverly over
turning table loaded with flowers he
turned silence into confusion, sus-
pense into laughter, and climax into
anti-climsx. 1t was feat very far re-
moved from the heroic; but it was
successful. Miss Wittemore, leaning
upon thesarm of the imperturbable
Count Kanolky. was enabled to escape
from the laughing throng, while Maud
Buchanan helped the supposedly un-
fortunate Thornton to rescue the
| flowers.
Miss Wittemore and the count
strolled away to a remote corner of
the lawn. They had the appearance of
being old friends-or old enemies.
$780," she said, opening the conver.
sation when they had reached seat
under an old shade tree, $50 you have
dared, Raoul, to come even to my
house and under an assumed name, as
the fiance of my nieceP"
eyes," he laughed, with a shrug of
his little, half stopping shoulders, 81
have dared. 1t is but little trick in
the game. 1t is nothing. You see it
was very convenient to leave France
| Just when did. l needed money and
| thought it would be as well to take it
from Americans as from others. And
1 could not ask a better opportunity
! than being introduced as the fance of
your niece"
"You do not mean," gasped Miss
Wittemore, anxiously, ''to marry
Maud?"
"Well, not now," he answered. 81
| did intend to, until discovered that
you were a feature in the game.
Then it became too complicated mat
ter to bother with. All 1 want, you
understand, is money"
''You have sunk so low as thst?"
''Oh," he replied with disagreea.
BILE laugh, 81 have sunk much lower
than that. In fact 1 am improving
my situation daily. As you see, am
the fiance of a beautiful and rich
young girl L will release her. But
you must help me in return. want
money. have obtained notes from
one of your set You understand. /
must not be interfered with, or every
thing shall beknown."
''You dare to threaten me, then,
with the exposure of your own in
famy?"
"Certainly. That is a card that
ever fails to win with women. Not
knowing that you were the Miss Witte-
more of whom Maud spoke so often, ]
did not suppose it would be necessary
to use it. But it is a card I always
carry, where l laugh-up my sleeve.
And it will serve my purpose now
Wn, ru,,,IJ ao.n b.