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


nation. There was a color in her
cheeks and a 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 fiirt with her. He was in
love now, all 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.
owed better walk on Bit" said
Tom. ''We shall come to one pres
entity"
There had been heavy fall OF snow
during the performance, and the pave
ment of the Strand was all slushy and
sloppy.
otis rather unpleasant under foot,
Dolly" said Tom. "You'd better take
my arm"
She did as she was bid, and imme-
diately experienced 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 fiirtations rolled into one.
When they came to Trafalgar Square
Dolly gave little scream OF delight.
"Oh," she cried, show pretty 20
1t was pretty. The whole square
fountains, statues, and all, wherever
the snow could find lodging
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 heecy clouds scudded
rapidly, and full, bright moon stared
down at the glittering panorama. The
square was as light as day.
''Ob, how beautifuli l didn't think
London could look SO loyelyl"
Tom looked at the speaker, and
thought her loyelier than the scene
she admired.
"Yes," 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 cab
on a lovely night like this. wouldn't
miss the walk for the world. 1t isn't
far, really, is it9'
"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 bose. 1.-THE streets are slip<
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, aud her face looked
exquisitely pretty. / 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 short distance IN awk-
ward silence.
dolly, are you angry with me?"
No reply.
"Dolly" humbly-"I'm aw-
fully sorry but you looked so pretty
that / couldn't help it,"
Still a severe silence.
won't you forgive me, DollyT'
The gray eyes we're 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, Dolly2" he
said again.
She found her voice at length.
II wish you wouldn't make me say
things. OF course, forgive you, but
You oughtn't to have done It,
II am really very sorry, Dolly, he
sand, repentantly,
Then the snow came down.
There was no mistake about it,
either; II did oome down, With ven.
geance. The fakes were nearly as
large as a mans hand, aud the sky.
was full Of them.
Dolly said Tom, firmly, oyou,
must take my arm and hold it tightly,
We are going to catch il. :"
She took his arm, and he hurried
her along as fast as he could. 1t was
no use. The snow pelted their faces
SO severely than in less two minutes
they were nearly. numbed with the
cold
''We must shelter somewhere till
the violence of the storm Is spent,
said Tom. He looked about him for
a convenient doorway. Fortunately,
there was one near. He placed Dolly
inside it, so that the snow could not
get to her, and stationed himself at
her side.