The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-03-06

star. Kate had lost her husband and
only child of contagious fever during
the winter, and / was alone during
the absence Of my hege lord upon q
business trip to Germany; SO we we're
desirous of avoiding the crowds at
gay watering places, and spending a
summer in seclusion and comfort.
Star Point, Kate wrote me in June,
after she had been there three weeks,
was almost solitude, where we could
sew, read, write and chat without fear
of intrusive visitors, and where sea air
could be enjoyed without the necessity
of ten or dozen changes OF dress in
one day. So one July morning found
us sauntering along the little strip Of
beach between two high rocks, talking
quietly. As we stood looking out upon
the water, calm and sunny, rolling in
with curling waves, there passed us
the prettiest trio have ever seen.
The central figure was an immense
dog, black and shining, with long
curling hair. Upon each side of him
was golden-haired boy, OF three
years old, dressed only in close-fit-
ting suit of scarlet flannel, which left
the round white arms and legs bare.
The little chubby feet pattered by the
side of the great dog, the little hands
holding fast to his shaggy black sides,
till with a merry shout the boys
plunged into the water, and swan out
from shore. They were buoyant as
little ducks, sporting in the waves,
aud evidently at home there, but the
great dog watched them constantly,
ready to catch either, if the curling
golden hair should sink for moment.
''pid you ever see anything SO
pretty2" 1 cried.
81 knew you would say so," Kate
answered. 81 have seen them every
morning. They live in the cottage
you see beyond that great rock, with a
young mother as pretty as themselves,
and an old man, who presume is their
grandfather.
But the occupants of the cottage
were nearer than Kate supposed, for
as she ceased speaking, a suppressed
chuckle behind us made us both look
round with a start, to face the pretty
young mother and the venerable old
man, who said respectfully:
''Beg pardon, ladies, for laughing,
but" and broad grin spread over his
whole face, ''those are my boys. This
is my wife, Margie."
Margie blushed and dropped cour-
tesy.
''John is SO proud of the boys" she
said, as if apologizing for her hus-
bands tone.
''Well he may be. F" l said ''they are
beautiful children. Are you not afraid
when they are in the water?"
ooh, no (; Rover goes with them al
ways, and they were taught to swim as
soon as to walk"
''rhe ladies are wondering, Margie,
how you are my wife, and not my
daughter, said the old man. ''You
can tell them while go down to the
nets. I'll bring the lads in, if the
ladies will rest after their walk.
MaTeie half bashfully led the way to
the cottage, and gave us each a seat in
the neat sitting-room. When we were
near the house we saw that it was a
pleasant sized dwelling, made by
throwing two little cottages into one,
and the furniture and appointments
proved that the occupants we're in
easy circumstances. With true coun-
try. hospitality, Margie offered us fruit,
cake and milk, and Kate, while eating,
delicately led the conversation back
to the point where John had left it.
"Well, said Margie, blushing
prettily, 'John seems always TO think
that it looks oddfor me to be his wife,
when am but twenty-four and he has
turned seventy; but nobody that
knows him can wonder at it. You see,
my father lived in the half of this cot
tage, when it was two houses, and
John Martin, that is my husband,
lived in the other half. was but
bit of a girl when my mother died,
and 1 used To go with father and
Uncle John, as l called him then,
everywhere. They were both fisher
men, as all the men are around here,
and both made enough money to live
on in comfort. But twice a week we
took fish to market at M, where the
train stops, four miles inland"
Kate nodded to signify that she
knew the locality mentioned, hom
which point we had been driven in a
cab hired at the sowp. to Star Point.
''You may have noticed" >" said Mar
gle. "a large brick house on the right