The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-09-02


iized one, painted dark red, with
,reepers round the lower windows and
up the balcony. 1t is in
square, near one end, and at the other
there is o church with tall spire."
"That's it'll" cried Nettie, wild with
excitement, "that's st. Gregory's,
Square Go on, go ont"
"There is large figure so painted
In gilt ON the brown doors and on the
balcony 1 see large white bird with
yellow crest on stand"
"Ohl" cried Nettie in taptures,
''that's quite enough-the old coeka
too settles 1T. 1 can't tell you how
grateful am !" And in proof she
gave the woman q sovereign; then
hurried back to her cab and drove the
whole way home, where she arrived
late for lunch. But she was in such
state of bliss that none of the ques-
tionings or seedlings naturally show
cred upon her had the slightest effect,
and this sudden abnormal elevation OF
spirits completely mystihed the mem
bers of her family, who made futile
efforts TO divine its cause.
On the day of the dinner party she was
more exuberant than ever and she was
dressed and waiting in the drawing
room halfan hour before any body else,
listening eagerly for the front door
bell, and blushing every time she
heard footsteps on the stairs. When
Captain Tassliny arrived, everybody
was electrified to see the quiet, demure
Nettie rush forward all smiles, and
present him with a beautiful carna.
tion, accompanied by tender look,
meant to speak volumes, that puzzled
the good Captain not little. Her
behavior toward him throughout the
evening was altogether extraordinary,
and any one who did not know her
would have classed her as q hardened
hirt. This was Captain Hastings
conclusion after q time, and, though
it did not agree with his first impress
sions, he could give no other inter
probation to her forward demeanor to-
ward himself.
"Well," thought the Captain, rs he
drove back to barracks, "Inever made
u greater mistake than in thinking tho
little Blake girl quiet, bread.and-
butter sort OF creature. By Jove,
what eyes she can make, and how che
did go onl And what would my Lily
have said, wonder, if she had seen
usl"
Meanwhile Nettie was having her
hair brushed out, feeling jubilant in-
deed, despite the severe lecture her
mother had given her. Somehow,
the happiness in her face seemed to be
reflected in her maids, for Barker was
positively beaming with satisfactioni
and at the same time her thoughts
seemed far away, for she repeatedly,
in a fit of abstraction, brushed her
young mistress's face, which was most
painful.
"Barker, what are you thinking
OFF" demonstrate Nettie, after the
third face brushing. For answer,
Barker threw down the brush, and an
nounced with tears of joy in her eyes
and happy giggle in her voice:
ooh, Miss Nettie, I'm SO excited ]
hardly know what I'm doingl I'm go.
ing TO be married And his names
Tommy Green, and heis so good look.
ing, miss-but stop, I'll show you his
photo" She pulled an envelope out
of her apron pocket, and took from il
a photograph of a handsome man in
uniform, which she laid triumphantly
before her mistress on the dressing
table.
But Nettie did not look at the pho
tograph; her eyes were fixed on the
address of the envelope, which was in
the handwriting she had SO tenderly
studied as that of Captain Tassling.
"Tell me, Barker" she CALCULATED,
"who is this man you're going to
marry?" And she snatched up the
portrait hastily.
"Lor', miss" answered Barker
"he's the servant of that Captain
Tassling who was here this evening,
and the Captain thinks no end of him.
and"
"Oh, / see," said Nettie, greatly
relieved, she directs his letters for
him. Can't your soldier write, then p
Scan my soldier write !" exclaimed
Barker Indignantly. "Why he's mos
highly educated, miss, far above the
common run of soldier servants; ant
as to writing, he does it so we'll tha
sometimes when the Captains busy h
gets Tommy TO answer letters for him
like private secretary. Not impor
tant letters, of course, miss; but
mean, for instance, he'll sometimes
toss him an invitation and say Jus
except this for me Green, or perhap
he is to refuse it, as the case may be
miss; and then, you see"
''Yes, yes, Barker; good night. I'm
very tired" said Nettie, somewha
abruptly, "and 1 wish you every
happiness. "
"rhank you, Miss Nettie was jus
going to tell you 1t was Tommy a
answered Mrs. Blake's last not
inviting the Captain"
"Good night, Barker" repeate
Nettie, with a sharpness that sent tn
maid away in great hurry, wondering
what was wrong.
Nottie did not mention Captain
Tassling when she could possibly aYoi
it. When an invitation to his wedding
with Miss Lillian Bankiord came
Nettie did not go but the rest okth
family did, and said it was a yer
pretty wedding indeed. Black an
White.
A New Umbrella.