The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-08-26

lOI AAOOhths AtuN ~ VI aANhNS
tion she were still willing to sacrifice
her happiness, Will Carter certainly |
had no intention OF yielding to her
weakness.
A fine seaman of whom Pengelly was
proud, for the past year Will had been
on board a yacht cruising in the Medi-
terrranean. But for reasons best
known to herself, Mrs. Tregon had
discountenanced his suit, and, although
he had every confidence in her,
Bertha's silence had inspired misgiv-
ings not easy to Ollay. Once more
free, he had returned at the earliest
date to England, and at Plymouth,
where he landed, had met q friend,
who, among other items of Pengelly
news, inform ed him of her desertion,
adding:
"And she'll be Mrs. Hocken in
fortnight"
Determined to demand full expla-
nation from Bertha herself, Will made
no comment, but his laugh was un-
mirthful. And with rage in his heart
he had hailed passing cab, driven to
the railway station, and taken the
train to Walebridge. Thence he could
walk to the Tregons'.
Rut the house in view, in crossing
the field, Will espied Bertha in the
garden, and, with a muffled Alloy
sped to the tree that sheltered old
Isaac. She had swiftly joined him.
Nevertheless, the shock of his return
was visible in her white face, and her
trembling lips would frame no well
come. Looking at him imploringly,
her blue eyes filled. And longing to
clasp her in his arms, the reassuring
words which, while enlightening him,
had chilled Jim's father, did duty for
the reproaehes he had come primed
with.
But Will had taken Bertha by sur
prise, and between her dread OF him
and terror of her mother, who ruled
the Tregon household with q rod of
iron, he rightly OWNED that she had
caught at the readiest means of escape
which in her direction had presented
itself to her. Yet his faith in her firm
ness was limited; the revival of fond
memories would tend to lessen her
mothers influence. And cunningly
calculating that apparent indifference
would further incline her to be guided
by his counsels later. he devoted q
week to his friends and generally en-
joying himself. His disappointment
treated thus lightly, he succeed In de-
luding everybody, including Bertha,
who shed bitter tears in secret that he
should be so easily consoled for her
loss. The bare sight of James Hocken
almost maddened her; and she had to
hide her aversion to him, and listen
evening after evening to his dull talk.
And in another week she would be his
wife.
The tree beneath which she and Will
had parted had become her favorite
resort. Here she could indulge in the
luxury of "a good cry" unrebuked ;
and, grown desperate with the nearer
approach of the wedding day, sitting
on the gnarled roots one afternoon,
she burst into very passion of grief.
A Acknowledgements above the
wall.
"Ahoy! Whatever's the matter, Miss
Tregon?" he gravely inquired. "Shall
1 fetch Mr.. Hocken to 'ee?"
al hate him 1 hate himl' she
sobbed hysterically.
"That's bad" said Will sympathiz'
ingly. "Whst's he been up to?"
"Up to Isn't he old; isn't he ugly ;
isn't he stupid And-and-I hate
him 1 hate himi" she reiterated.
"And l won't marry him. Mother
may storm, but 1 don't care"
Will vaulted over the wall.
On the day appointed for James
Hocken's uuptials the whole village
hocked betimes to the church. But
neither bridegroom nor bride put in
an appearance, and by and by it wa:
known that Will Garter and Berthe
Tregon were missing, and that there
would be no wedding at Pengelly thai
day.
Weeks and months rolled by, anG
no tidings could be cleaned of the
graceless couple. They had clean van
Ished, leaving no clew to their where
abouts, Mrs. Tregon's tongue sharp
ened to double edged sword, ready
to slay friends and foe alike who al
luded to her daughter. And the duml
misery OF Jim's plain face was pitifu
to see. Old Isaac's heart ached fol
his son. If he had only prepared hin
for the blow
Curiosity was at length appeased.
: An acquaintance of the runaways
visited London, and returned with q
, woful story. She had seen Bertha,
who had con6ded to her that after
being married at a registry office
Will and had decided to go to Ameri
ca, but while looking in at a shop
window he had been robbed of his
savings, and that subsequently they
were reduced to great straits. Then
he had brought her the welcome news
that he had obtained a berth on @
steam launch, and the next morning
he bid her goodby to go aboard, since
. when she had never clapped eyes OF
him. Mrs. Pegg also said that Berthe
had refused to give her her address
But Jim ascertained that she had me-
her at Rotherhithe, and that wa
enough for him.
/ "I'm off to London, he announced,
when he came downstairs after pacing
, the Aoor the live-long night. 81 shal
, niver rest until Carter and me art
face to face.
, "Thee be fule, Jim," his father
who had been disturbed by hi
monotonous tread oyerhead sail