The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-02-06

kind But do you think auntie will
allow me?"
''I'll ask her." said naughty Tom.
1t was really very wrong of him, for
Dolly's parents would have been scan
dalized at the idea of their daughter
being seen in theatre. However,
they were not there TO see it. IT never
occurred to Dolly that il could be
wrong for her to go after Tom had
proposed it, and so, as Toms parents
raised no objections, they started in
due course. The only condition inn
posed on them land the sequel proved
it sound one) was to wrap up well,
which they did.
How Dolly enjoyed the performance
1T is unnecessary to relate in detail.
She did enjoy it immensely; and she
frequently turned to Tom and thanked
him so earnestly for his kindness in
having brought her that Tom began
to feel the ecstasy that follows virtu-
Gus conduct. Her enjoyment robbed
her, for the first time, of her shyness
Her face glowed with an unusual ami
nation. There was a color in her
checks and sparkle in her eyes that
had not been there before. When a
shy maiden does wake up to anima-
tion she is ten times more dangerous
ly attractive than her vivacious sis
ters, who sparkle all day long. Tom
thought his cousins face more
seductively sweet than he had imag.
ined it could be. He warmed toward
her. He no longer wanted to draw
her out, to firt with her. He was in
love now, oil the way.
They made no haste out of the the
atre, with the result that, when they
reached the street, there was not an
available hanson.
"We'd better walk on bit" said
Tom. "We shall come to one pres
emily"
There had been u heavy fall of snow
during the performance, and the pave
ment of the Strand was all slushy and
sloppy.
"It's rather unpleasant under foot,
Dolly" said Tom. "You'd better take
my arm.
She did as she was bid, and imme-
diately experienced Il curious sense of
being owned. 1t seemed to her that
she belonged to her cousin. While.
as for Tom, the soft touch of those
small, gloved fingers on his coat sleeve
gave him more pleasure than all his
previous firtations rolled into one.
When they came to Trafalgar Square
Dolly gave little scream of delight.
ooh, she cried, chow pretty |"
It was pretty. The whole square
fountains, statues, and all, wherever
the snow could find lodging--lay
draped in white. The portions that
were free from snow looked doubly
black by contrast. 1t was study in
white, with Just little black to help
it out. Overhead fieecy clouds soudded
rapidly, and full, bright moon stared
down at the glittering panorama. The
square was as light as day.
"Oh, how beautiful! l didn't think
London could look SO lovely 70
Tom looked at the speaker, and
thought her lovelier than the scene
she admired.
''Yes," d" he said, with his eyes on her
face, cit is beautiful, very beautiful
indeed"
"Oh," said Dolly, "let us walk
home. We don't want to take a cab
on lovely night like this. l wouldn't
miss the walk for the world. 1t ism t
far, really, is it?"
"About mile, said Tom.
"Only mile. Oh, that is nothing.
Let us walk Shall we?"
Decidedly, if you wish it. You'd
better take my arm again" for in her
rapturous admiration she had slipped
her hand loose. ''the streets are slipS
perry"
They walked on for three or four
minutes. Suddenly Dolly's foot
slipped. Tom, with remarkable pres
ence of mind, prevented her from fall
ing by putting his arm round her
waist. That was new experience for
Dolly, 1t had never happened before,
and she was overcome by the strange
ness of it. She didn't say anything,
but she blushed, and her face looked
exquisitely pretty. l don't think Tom
was to be blamed very much for bend
ing down and kissing it. He should
not have done it. of course; it was
wrong; but the temptation was CON
siderable. Dolly released herself in
dignantly, pushing him from her
They walked u short distance IN awk-
ward silence.
dolly, are you angry with me?"
No reply.
"Dolly"-very humbly-'Tm aw-
fully sorry; but you looked so pretty
that 1 couldn't help it,"
Still severe silence.
"Won't you forgive me, Dolly?"
The gray eyes were fixed ON the
ground, and the pretty lips were
pressed firmly together, He caught
her fingers. She tried to pull them
away, but it was useless.
"Won't you forgive me, Dolly?" he
said again.
She found her voice at length.
81 wish you wouldn't make me say
things. OF course, l forgive you, but
you oughtn't to have done 1t. !"
4 am really very sorry, Dolly" he
sand, repentantly.
Then the snow came down.
There was no mistake about it,
either it did come down, with ven.
geance. The flakes were nearly as
large as mans hand, and the sky
was full of them
Dolly said Tom, firmly, "you
must take nv arm and hold il TIGHTLY