The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-11-04

town."
"'Deed I'll do JUS 'zOckly as you
say, Miss S'bylla."
After the child had gone Sibylla sat
for o while with her hands clasped
above her head. The sleeves falling
back showed her two perfectly mould
ed arms. Then she took book from
the table, and, opening 1t, stared at it
absently for few minutes.
"Come here, Lefty" she said, clos
ing the book and holding out hand
toward where her sister sat quietly
sewing at the other side of the room.
She drew Lefty close to her and laid
her head against the younger girls
arm. 'I want you to kiss me, }" she
murmured.
Lefty flushed with pleasure, and
taking the beautiful head between her
hands kissed Sibylla's mouth.
II am not going to marry Julien,
Lefty. / have just broken the en-
gagement.
Chrissy trotted along the three-mile
stretch of road between the Ashley
homestead and the town, Sibylla's let
ter tucked in her bosom. Anon she
skipped and laughed at the intoxicat-
ing thought OF the beautiful gray coat
at home. She drew in great breaths
of the sweet early summer air, and
trumpeted shrilly in imitation of the
elephant she had seen at the circus.
Her heart was filed with the very Joy
of living, and she knew nothing of the
heavy tidings she bore in the bosom
of her pink frock.
She longed to chase butterflies
through wood, like that lovely little
girl "a the story Miss Lefty had read
to her. She looked to left and right,
but saw no butterflies. A little way
ahead were two COWS grazing by the
roadside. Cows we're not butterflies,
but Chrissy must chase something,
and the cows we're at hand.
Hi, yil" she cried shrilly, and ran
down the dusty road, and every few
steps leaping high in the air. "Hoo,
hoo |" she roared, like lion. 1t was
great fun. The placid animals lum-
hered heavily along before her but
not fast enough for Chrissy. She had
taken Sibylla's letter from her bosom
for greater security when she began
to run, and now held it in her hand.
sWoo, wool it's wild beasts after
you - she shouted. One big, dun-col-
ored COW rebelled at further chase,
and turning out tried to climb the
hank by the road. 'i5hool" cried
Chrissy, in hot pursuit, waving her
hands.
The desperate animal turned and
made. down the bank directly toward
the girl. $50 way, go 'way!" she
hcwled, and Sibylla's letter fell to the
roadside on a choice spot of moisl
earth, just where, second letter, a
| heavy bovine hoof pressed it into the
mud.
Chrissy instantly forgot her own ter
ror, and the shrek, ending in sob OF
rage, which she uttered. was more
dreadinspiring than any OF her previ-
GUS limitations of wild animals.
"Oh, you harv'ble beast-yo' great
foot on my beautiful letter Look at
it, all cove'd wi nasty mud can't
nevah, neVah take it like that, an 1
was so happy jes' nowl" She burst
into passion of tears. "What will
I dol might ies' as we'll run away
from home. nevah can face Miss
S'bylla."
She trudged slowly homeward, still
sobbing miserablY and taking q poor
consolation in the thought that "p'raps
Miss S'bylla'd write it over ag'in-
she Writes SO quick n so beautiful"
Scmes black clouds we're gathering
in the west and there was muttering
of distant thunder, but Chrissy feared
only Sibylla's frown. She heard a
sound of horses hoofs behind her, and
looking around beheld sight which
made her heart leap for Joy. Captain
Julien Booth was riding slowly up the
road toward the Ashley house.
"Now Miss S'bylla kin tell him he'-
self, thought the child, can he won't
need the lettah. But she'll ok me fo'
it. :" she thought the next instant. "Pd
better run home an 'fess it all; kin
get there befo' Cap'n Booth if l run
! fas'."
Then the prospect OF Immediately
facing Sibylla with her dread oonfes-
sion overpowered the girl. "'Tain't
no use" she muttered, as. she dropped
back into a walk 81 might ies' as well
die"
CaDtaip Julien Booth had risen at