The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-01-15

miles, dul nau per5ecuJeu pI6Uby
Ma1ge since her new birth, and had
done their innocent father to death,
and I had hated them for it, though 1
said nothing.
But at last, one bright morning,
walking up the road to look at the
desolate dwelling where 1 had come to
love Gideon Lees children, / saw q
change in it. The windows we're
open a man was at work in the gar
den. Three figures in travelling cos.
tune had just entered the broad
porch, and a carriage stood at the
gate.
I knew Gideon's tall figure at q
glance; but who was this---superb,
glowing, beautiful, with look of tri-
umph on her face---who came toward
me? And who was that old man, with
the strange, sarcastic smile, that 1
fancied / had seen before?
As advanced, / knew that it was
Madge-- -Madge, grown to be a mag
nifCant woman---Madge, who kissed
me MS Of yore, and who left me in a
moment alone with Gideon, and drew
the stranger away with her.
And Gideon held my hand, and 1
could only say, "It has been very
long," and try to hide my tearsl
eft has been long for me, Agnes I"
he said. And then there was pause.
He broke it by saying:
''You are Miss Agnes Grey, and the
world honors you. 1 am the son of
the man who was hung. Even now,
loving you as / do---as 1 have all this
weary while---that stands between us,
a barrier you could not cross. Is it
not so? Were all else am not. and
so worthy of you, / should still be
Gideon Lee, and an outcast branded
with Gains brand, and you could
neither love nor wed me !"
Gould say, II love you?" It was
not in maidenhood to do that. 1t
was impossible. trembled; ! falt-
ered. cit is an unjust brand My
eyes never see it ~
He showered kisses on my hands,
but he spoke again. "Do you dare
to do it, Agnes.--to love an outcast,
to bring upon yourself contempt and
hate; to relinquish wealth for the
humble life of simple farmer? Is
your love strong enough for this?
Will you never repent?"
"Never |" l said.
"When your gold is gone, your
land another's, your friends turned
to enemies and your name---your
very name, Agnes, that of the man
who was hung?" he asked slowly.
"Think! can you bear that igno-
miny?"
And 1 took my hands from his and
laid them on his shoulders and said
But no matter what said. have
forgotten the words that told him that
l loved him too we'll to doubt my
courage to bear anything for his
sake.
But suddenly, as he knelt there,
looking up into my eyes, I saw look
in his face that l could not under
stand--a look that made nee cry out +;
and 1 saw the others draw near, and
saw Madge clasp her brothers hand,
and the old man held out both of his
to me.
ave have been parted five years.
said Gideon. 'In that time L have
been searching for something that 1
believed must be hidden in the wide
world. have found it,"
"What is it," cried.
"Could any earthly thing but one
embolden me to speak as have spoken
to you?" said Gideon. "Do you
think that would ever have offered
any woman a name that would have
made her an ontcast? That which 1
sought, that which 1 found, was a
living proof of my fathers innocence.
Look do you not know this man ?"
And turned my eyes upon the old
man, who had taken my hand in his,
and l knew that looked upon my
Uncle Matthew.
The whole town knowns the story
now. He has told them how, yielding
to his wandering impulses. he left, as
he had done once before, the home
and friends of his early manhood, and,
far from all news of Christian lands,
dwelt in the Arabs tent upon the
desert, and wandered with him over
the burning sands, loving the life too
well to leave it, and never hearing of
Gideon Lees unjust condemnation, or
of his terrible fate, until his son stood
Lefore him.
They speak of Gideon Lees children
now as of those of martyr, and the
ban is lifted from the name that
have taken for my own.