The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-09-30

Every lucky. Good-by."
It is scarcely necessary to record
that Mr.. Laurence Gaydon did not re.
turn to London on that day as he had
contemplated doing.
The whole aspect of the country
side had been altered by the appear
ance of this romantic little figure
the girls loneliness and her absolute
confidence in him stirred and awak
ened that better nature which was his
chief charm.
He went again and again to the
wood, and they chatted in their own
unconstrained fashion, as though all
the world held only themselves and
the birds, and there existed no such
ogre as convention.
On one particular occasion she ran
up to him excitedly, almost upsetting
his easel.
"You are not busy this morning
are you? want you TO come to the
house. Uncle and Lady Macbeth have
gone to town for the day, and there
are only the three servants-we shan't
see them. Do come mp, Laurie; /
want to show you everything"
He left his easel, ane they wan.
dered away together in the direction
of the house. 1t was q great, ram
bling oldfashioned place-with
strange old corridors and echoing
rooms. He had memory afterwards
of seeing the white clad figure of the
girl fitting on before him-a strange
presence in that dismal old place. In
one part OF the house he noticed that
she kept close beside him, although it
was broad daylight.
81 hate this place." she whispered,
vehemently. "My room is here, al
though / asked them to put it in the
other wing. It's awful at night; I
simply shut my eyes and race down
the corridor, and rush into the room
and lock thexdoor. hate the place !"
On the impulse of the moment he
put his arm about her and drew her
nearer to him; she smiled at him
gratefully.
81 don't mind so much now,
Laurie" she whispered.
"Dear little Nellie" he replied. 81
think you do believe in me little; /
believe in myself bit, since 1 have
met you. Will you promise me that,
if ever you are in trouble, you will lei
me help You-that you will come to
me first of all ?"
She swung round suddenly and
looked into his earnest gray eyes and
bent forward and kissed him.
You're the dearest boy in oil the
world" she said. az will always trus'
you"
He lay awake for hours that night
in the little room at the inn, thinking
about this fairy princess shut up il
the ogre's castle in the woods.
The next day she did not come Il
the meeting place it was strange how
dark and sombre the woods seemed
Laurence Gaydon tormented himsel
with q thousand doubts and fears, ant
did but little work. He went bacl
late in the afternoon to the inn, hal
in hope that there might be some mes
sage for him there was none.
After dinner, still with that strange
fear upon him, he strolled again il
the direction of the woods in the twi
light, and thence on to the house.
There were lights in various win
: dows, but, although he walked rlgh
round, he saw nothing of the girl.
An average young man would hav
!, felt satisfied that Nellie Meade wa
probably dining with her Lawful
guardians in the security of her owi
} home, and would have called himsel
? fool and gone back to the inn. Blu
Laurence remembered her childis
terror in the house on the previou
t day; he>thought of the loneliness Q
this bright young creature, who ram
Q bled about the woods alone he though
/ of her trust in him.
: He made up his mind at last to Sc
t her, to hear from her own lips that a
S was we'll. With the light of mischit
Q stronger in his eyes than usual b
e swung himself up by the ivy and clan
bered into window.
t SITS a good,thing that Pm small an
light" he muttered, cor that iv
- would have given way. Now to di
cover my princess and defeat the wicl
I ed uncle.
}. He was proceeding cautiously alon
the corridor, in absolute ignorance {
to what part of the house he might |
- in, when he heard the sound of voice
!, near him; at the same moment tt
o door opened opposite to him, lettin
It flood of light down the corrido
u The two persons who emerged fro
e the doorway were SO intent in conve
sation that they did not even glant
J, toward him, and he had time to nois
lessly slip behind curtain.
a He had no doubt, from their al
t pearance, that they were the unc
?. and aunt OF whom Nellie had spokel
The woman was tall, handsome, stroI
" featured and magnifcently dressed
# the man had the most sinister expire
II sion of countenance Gaydon ever T,
8 membered to have seen. His close
h cropped hair set off his heavy, har'
e features and retreating forehead in I'll
n mosSmarked manner; he WAS in evel
= ing dress, and wore brilliant star,
D.; foreign order of some description, su
n pended round his neck. The woml
" wore a cloak, and it was evident tn
d both were about to pay visit. III
S man was the first to speak, in 10
d voice, scarcely above whisper:
"Where is the girl now?"
L. '1n her rooms, expect; am NJ
IS sure. You fully understand the a
Of rangements? Is there no fear of d
" faction %