The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-01-29


Clinton. That be had asked her to
marry him, even before the break with
Miss Lanston, was certain, but whether
she had said yes or no, nobody was
able to say.
Her manner to him was the same as
before-a brilliant coquetry that be-
longedto her alone-and nobody dared
question her.
When early in the week it became
known that Francis Greyford was COM
ing down from Bar Harbor to Squirrel
Island, apparently for no better rea-
son than that Miss Morrys was there,
those interested made sure that at last
they would be able to solve this rid
die.
Then, the day before Mr.. Greyfold
came, Clinton went of to New York.
There was a whisper that he went to
buy Greta the hnndsomest diamond
ring al Tiffany's, but those things are
rarely to be believed. and the hotel
realized with a dull throb of disap-
pointment that now, perhaps, the rid
die could not be solved.
There were, of course, several girls
ready to tell Greyford about Clinton,
but he did not seem to mind much,
and only this morning he had been
heard to ask her to so rowing, in spite
OF the stormy sea, because he liked to
be with her where nobody else dared
so.
She had laughed at him caressingly
and looked out at the windswept ocean
thoughtfully before she answeIe ed !:
"Yes, let us go; 1t will be an expert
ence that will forever after prevent
surface acquaintance between us.
He gave her quick glance. "Do
you want it prevented?"
"Y-es. Surface acquaintance with
a man cannot be anything but com
monplace, and l do not like a man who
is that"
"Will you tell me, Miss Greta, what
kind of man do you really like best ?"
Greyford's handsome eyes were very
earnest. Greta pondered a moment |;
then, with little laugh, she brought
her eyes back from the stormy sea to
the man at her side.
az would rather not" she answered.
"Why?"
because there is q possible chance
that you are that kind of man, and
that would be an embarrassing ad-
mission for me to make"
If she was really betrothed to Gin
ton, Greyford thought, she would
hardly say q thing like that.
Greyford spent the half hour she
was getting ready anxiously watching
the water. He was afraid he had been
unwise in asking her to go out, but
when she came downstairs ready to go
she was such a charming picture he
forgot his anxiety. A slim figure,
gowned in sage green, with broad
collar and girdle of white, she held a
green hat, with white clovers on it, in
her hand and let the brisk breeze stir
her bright hair into a hundred little
Tinglets around her face.
As they strolled down the sandy
road to the beach Greta touch0d again
on the theme they had been discuss.
ing.
"'There are, after ALL" she said,
"few men who are net common
place"
"No man is always commonplace, "
he replied, gravely. "Ihere are times
in the life of even the most ordinary
man when he is unusual. Those things
depend too much on environment to
generalize about them"
She gave him a surprised glance,
which he did not notice, for they we're
close to the beach now and his eyes
were on the sea.
"Would you think me very COM
monplace if were to tell you that it
will be most unwise for us to row
round the island to-day?"
eyes, 1 should" she answered,
tersely.
He frowned impatiently.
81 should not have asked you to go.
Look at that sky and wind it is going
to storm frightfully in about half an
hour"
'I shall like that, " said Greta. reck-
lessly. "When l said 1 would go
told you it was for the sake of the ex-
perience.
'You will not like it when it turns
over the boat"
"Ah, can swim, quite we'll, too,
and think how exciting it will be out
in the midst of that angry water |"
81 do not like the responsibility, "
be observed.