The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-03-27


smoked harder than ever as he stared
into the fire, as if seeking from the
red embers counsel and advice.
"Where is that dictionary" said
no.
Goodness only knowsl" despair.
ingly sighed Mrs. Wildwood.
"Try and think !" eagerly urged
her husband.
perhaps Mrs. Grubb would know"
said Mrs. Wildwood, "She packed
all the things that were left, and
locked up the house."
"Write to her." said Mr.. Wildwood,
eagerly. ooh, no-that would only
be uselessly nrousing suspicion Go
there yourself, Sarah Ask her to
come here and make visit"
"Whatl Mrs Grubbi'
eyes, Mrs. Grubb."
'But, Matthew, she IS such dread
ful old borel' pleaded Mrs. Well
wood.
"Never mind that" said Wildwood,
impatiently, finging his cigar stump
into the red-hot Goals. "Only think
of the fortune that may possibly re-
ward our efforts Sarah, we must get
hold of that dictionary"
So Mrs. Wildwood went to Mrs.
George Grubb, and courteously in
uited that lady to make her a visit.
Mrs. Grubb accepted promptly.
She had always wanted to visit the
city, and here at last was golden op-
portunity. She brought her little
nephew and her two tall girls with
| her.
'I know You didn't specially invite
'em, Sarah Ann," said she, "but the
dears will so enjoy the museums and
the park and the Brooklyn Bridge,
and all that sort of thing and they
won't be no more trouble than three
kittens. There never were such good
children |"
The three young Grubbs were some
thing worse than pestilence. Mrs.
Grubb was nearly as bad. And, at
the end of week, Mrs. Wildwood felt
herself fully qualified to enter n luna
tic asylum.
But on the last day, while George
was smearing himself with bread and
butter and honey in the kitchen, and
the two Misses Grubb were pounding
desperately away on the piano, in imi-
tation of the hand-organ man outside,
Mrs. Wildwood ventured to put the
fateful question which had SO long
trembled on her lips.
''The old ditchneryl" said Mrs.
Grubb, who was not over particular
regarding her pronunciation. 'La,
mel What would any one want O.
that old trash ?"
swell, nothing much" hesitated
Mrs. Wildwood. ''But Mr.. Wildwood
is rather bibliopole-"
ga which?" said Mrs. Grubb,
with one hand back of her ear.
"a collector of old books" ex.
planned her hostess.
"Humphl'' said Mrs. Grubb,
scratching her head with a knitting
needle. 'Tf 1 was going to have
books at all, I'd far and away rather
have new ones"
"Tastes differ" said Mrs. Well
wood, with a psng, as one of the piano
chords snapped resoundingly and
Master Georges voice was heard be-
low in loud alteration with the cook.
"But where's the old dictionary"
"Lesbia Field has got it, +" said Mrs.
Grubb. ''Mrs. Walkers grandniece
don't you know?-Leopold Fields
girl. She's factory haud, up to Poke
Hollow-a dreadful likely girl2 Soon
to be married to Zeke Hamersley."
fsAra uAY. oF NJ
Wildwood.
"About widdin'? Oh, yes Zeke's
folks, they set a deal of store by
Lesbia."
"No, no." interrupted Mrs. Well
wood--"about the dictionary"
"Sartin sure" said Mrs. Grubb. al
see Lesbia pick it off the floor herself,
when / was a-packin' the wooden
blankets that Mrs. Seeder bought at |
auction. Says she, Il amt goin' to
hev the ditchnery that Aunt Hammer
thought such deal of sold for old
says she. 'Pll keep it myself,
JUS to put me in mind of Aunt Han
ner and Uncle Samuel And she
wrapped it in "a bit of old calico-I
remember the very palm.leaf pattern
on it-and took it away, under her
arm. What is it, George, darling?
The hired girl won't give you no more
honeyp Never mind Wrs. Well
woodll give you some damson pre-
serves, know"
AS soon as Mrs. Grubb departed-a
period of time which Mrs. Wildwood
began to fear would never arrive-she
packed little travelling satchel to go
10 "Poke Hollow" and see Lesbia
Field, a relation with whom she had
hitherto very little acquaintance.
Lesbia was at home-a blooming
ass, with cheeks as pink as roses, and
sparkling black eyes-and she was
evidently much puzzled to account
'or this unexpected notice on the
part of her city relation.
But Mrs. Wildwood, while making
herself as agreeable as possible, kept
ler eyes vigilantly on the alert, and
vas rewarded at last.
For there, on the top shelf of lit
lie, glass fronted corner. cupboard,
vas the old dictionary itself, bulging
caves, missing cover, and all.
ooh, that darling oldrelic of antiq-
lityl" cried she, nervously feeling
If the twenty-dollar bill in her pocket
With which Mr.. Wildwood had in
rusted her the last thing. "Aunt
iannah's dictionary Oh, Lesbia,
must have that !"
"Well isn't il funnyP" said Iesbia-