The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-10-30


"We'm ont fer holiday" called
Ann Tod; "my sweethearts are de-
cidin' which wants to ave me most.
Jaw, you little impl" burst forth
Thomas Bullasy, "will ee let me land,
or won't 'ee?"
Won't 'ec,'" gibed Ann Tod.
GEES a bit shy, is that one at the
left" she called up again TO her audi
ence on the quay; Gee don't like
bein' looked at. Will zee be SO good
as to turn yer 'eads while we'm
passin'?"
And the audience opened its mouth
without reserve, and shouted at the
entertainment.
''Pll get 'ome some'ow," declared
Thomas Bullasy, goaded to fury by
the prominence thus thrust upon him.
"Won't zee get out an walk?" Sug-
gested Ann Tod, sweetly.
"Pd like to have the handlin of
your ears" fumed Capel.
can to think put zee in anuther
boat?" deplored Ann Tod.
"Will zee take me back?" roared
Noah Capel.
"Bless yer cart, I'm a-doin' of it all
the time," cooed Ann Tod, "but tbs a
brave way round"
"Aw, you little imp?" cried Thomas
Bullasy again, variety of expression
failing him in his wrath, "I'd like to
have my foot on land; I'd let zee
know"
'Tss, my dear; thought you'd ave
made up yer mind by time us got
'ome," agreed Ann Tod. And then
she grasped her oars again and rowed
out toward the sea; and the lovers
sat inactive in the little boat as it
bobbed over the waves, and sickened
of the sight of water.
1t had been scarce one o'clock when
| Ann Tod left Tredennack beach, it
was nearly seven when she pulled to-
ward the shore once more, and the sun
was growing ruddy, and the waters
touched with fire. On their voyage
they had passed by many habitations,
and great was the wealth of badinage
which had foated out to greet them.
Now, as they drew near land at last, it
was borne in upon the fuming youths
that here also lounged another audi
ence; and the wrath within their
hearts grew fiercer.
Then from the shore there came
fire of fierce upbraidings, and Ann
Tod recognized the voice OF Peter, her
father. At first the words were indis.
tinguishable; but Peter Tod, being
won't to make prayer" at chapel,
could .hurl a word as far as most
men.
''Gurl gurl!" he thundered, as he
shook his fist at Ann Tod's straining
shoulders, ''must second Titus come
upon this earth to teach young whim-
men TO be sober and housekeeping?
Suchlike transgressions should be set
to rights by the rod, an such brazen-
faced iniquity with stripes. There's
that lumberin' great hoss-ferry bin
across that there bit of water fourteen
times fer fifteen blessed humans,
mostly infants, in less than half q
dozen hours"
But Ann Tod only laughed again
quite softly.
AL lnlS DlCSSGl dlbGIuOOu udNb Il
been a wastin' space with that great
Aoatin' cattle shed, till my backs nigh
broken; while you, child of unreason-
ableness-"
''Law, father, am bit weary in
well-doin' myself, confessed Ann Toll
as her boat grounded on the beach,
"fer I've a-bin pulIn' round this old
ark OF yoursfo for nigh pom six hours on
erran' of mercy"
Then she Uttered in the very teeth
of her fathers wrath, while Noah
CapeI and Thomas Bullasy sat glaring
in the little boat as it gently rose and
fell upon the water. Then the novelty
of the scene diverted the onlookers,
and they "haw-hawed" in sympathy.
"What'ye zee bin up to, Ann Tod"
queried a stout tishwife, as she held
her sides and grinned.
"We've bin decidin' of matters"
quota Ann Tod.
"Decidin', av 'ee? You've took yer
time bout it, linus say. An what'ye
zee bin a-decidin' of?
"fhey two young chaps was power.
full disturbed in their minds bout
which was more set on courtin' me;
so us went out on the water to think
1t over quiet.like. Ave zee made up
yer minds, do zee think ?" she called
to the lovers as they bobbed upon the
stream.
"You young vixenl' answered
Thomas Bullasy, goaded into strong
language.
81 pity the chap what goes a-court-
in you," volunteered Noah Capel,
stung to incivility."
"You can tell 'en that yerself, Mis-,
ter Capel, laughed Ann Tod, "fer 'ee's
a-comin all the way from Plymouth
town to take me out come Sunday"
And, blowing resounding kiss from
her trembling fingers, she turned
from the waters edge and abandoned
herself to the reasonable wrath of her
sire.
"AIister Luckey wasn't aware as
you was a-needin' of sea voyage
fer yer 'ealth, called grinning youth
from the shore TO the frowning youths
in the boat; see was wisht to think
as you was forced to leav. a-caulkin'
of the vessel; an zee said as 'ow zee
was Altered you was too fraygile fer
such as zee.
But when the chuckling crowd had
chuckled sufficiently they pulled the
chatting cavaliers to land, and offered
sympathy which mortified. Noah Capel