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

She seemed to make q tremendous ef-
fort to collect herself, and then re-
sumed: "rrhe house connected in some
way with the mans thoughts is good
sized one, painted dark red, with
creepers round the lower windows and
climbing up the balcony. It is in
square, near one end, and at the other
there is church with a tall spire."
"That's itl'' cried Nettie, wild with
excitement, "that's st. Gregory's,
Maccles6eld Square Go on, go on !"
''Thefe is large figure 50 painted
Id gilt on the brown doors and on the
balcony see d large white bird with a
yellow crest on stand"
''Oh - cried Nettie in captures,
''that's quite enough-the old coeka.
too settles 1T. l can't tell you how
grateful ami" And in proof she
gave the woman 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 scoldings 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
dressod and waiting in the drawing
room half an hour before any body else,
listening eagerly for the front door
bell, and blushing every time she
heard footsteps on the stairs. When
Captain Tassling arrived, everybody
was electrified to see the quiet, demure
Nettie rush forward all smiles, and
present him with q beautiful carna-
ton, 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 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. as he
drove back to barracks, "Inever made
a greater mistake than in thinking the
little Blake girl quiet, bread.and'
butter sort of creature. BY Jove,
what eyes she can make, and how che
did go oni And what would my Lily
have said, wonder, if she had seer
us !"
Meanwhile Nettie was having hei
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 besming with satisfaction,
and at the same time her thought!
seemed far away, for she repeatedly,
in a fit of abstraction, brushed her
young mistress's face, which was mos
painful.
"Barker, what are you thinking
Off" demonstrated 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:
"Oh, Miss Nettie, I'm SO excited
hardly know what I'm doing I'm go
ing to be married. And his name
Tommy Green, and heis so good look
ing, miss-but stop, I'll show you hi
photo" She pulled an envelope ou
of her apron pocket, and took from i
photograph of handsome man il
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 il
the handwriting she had SO tenderly
studied as that of Captain Tassling.
"Tell me, Barker" she calculated
"who is this man you're going Il
marry?" And she snatched up tn
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, great,
/ relieved, she directs his letters fol
him. Can't your soldier write, then !?
Scan my soldier write !" exclaime,
Barker Indignantly. "Why he's mos
highly educated, miss, far above tn
common run of soldier servants; an
as to writing, he does it SO we'll tina
, sometimes when the Captains busy h
, gets Tommy TO answer letters for him
, like private secretary. Not impoI
! tant letters, of course, miss; but
| mean, for instance, he'll sometime
h. toss him an invitation and say 'Jus
except this for me Green, or perhap
D he is to refuse it, as the case may be
miss and then, You see"
) eyes, yes, Barker good night. In
: very tired" said Nettie, somewha
2 abruptly, "and I wish you ever.
{ happiness.
. ''Fhank you, Miss Nettie I was jus
going to tell you 1t was Tommy q
y answered Mrs. Blake's last not
I inviting the Captain"
g 'Good night, Barker" repeate
y Nettie, with sharpness that sent til
maid away in great hurry, wonderin
what was wrong.
Nettie did not mention Capital
+; Tasting when she could possibly ayoi
/ it. When an invitation to his weddin
> with Miss Lillian Bankford came
+ Nettie did not go but the rest oath
| family did, and said it was a yer
pretty wedding indeed.-Black an