The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-10-07


fill the shelves of well-stocked pan
try; the younger people termingled
freely; games started; q girl with an
unframed, linnetlike voice seated her
self at the atshmatic melodeon and
sang from the Gospel Hymns The
Harlow's "tin wedding surprise" was
O social success.
Lou Harlow, bustling about among
the guests, was more bhsily hostess
like than Mrs. Harlow herself. "Sarell
never mistrusted until the last min.
ute," she was telling everyone.
"When we suggested her fixing more'n
usual for the evening, she said she
Just knew something was up"
eyes, it was q real surprise until
them" corroborated Sarell Harlow,
her usually quiet face very animated.
"I didn't suppose anyone would re.
member that Will and had been mar
ried ten years to-day. It's real pleas.
ant to have ones friends so remember.
ing"
Mrs. Greer, taking inventory of the
tin things on the table, smiled benig
! nantly upon the speaker. She had
found but one dipper among the pile,
and naturally felt the prestige of be.
ing the only person who had given an
unduplicated article. Mrs. Dodgson,
the local merchants wife. began talk
ing at her elbow.
"How nice Lou Harlow looks to-
night. That lace at her throat is very
becoming. 1 hear something about
her and your 'Rastus. How's that ?"
Mrs. Green drew herself up stffly.
"Folks can hear q good DEAL" she
said.
'Rastus looks rather young to
think of marrying. And Lou-why,
she's-let me see." Mrs. Dodgson
screwed her face into arithmetical
Fuckers. "She three years older n
'Rastusl remember she was born
the same year as my Ameret.
ooh we'll, it's the fashion nowadays
for men to marry older'n themselves, !"
Mrs. Green answered, with bland
ness born of remembrance that Mrs.
Dodgson's own son had welded q
woman ten years his senior-a widow
with an overgrown daughter just en-
tering her teens and that the affair
was very displeasing to his people.
But her neighbor's friendly inquisi-
tiveness set her into new train of
thought. What if Lou Harlow had
been the one whom 'Rastus had fan
cied? Before her rose vision OF
heavy bread, cake smelling of saler-
atus, careless housekeeping-which
she knew to- be the rule at the Harlow
II homestead she thought of what il
would be to live day after day with
Louis giggling laugh, her persistent
chatter and good natured oiiicious
ness Looking across the room al
one who but few hours ago she had
characterized as 'that hitterin' little
Holland girl, "she noted with a stirring
of pride akin to what she felt in 'Ras
tus the trimness of the black gowned
, figure, the quiet manner, the delicate
contour of face whose prettiness die
not conceal decision aud capability,
'Rastus was talking with her now. hit
attitude marked by that new dignity
which his mother had noticed of late
Something in the turn of his head re
minded her of his father when he ha(
come courting out Pemigewasset way
where she had lived as q girl.
When came homeward movement
among the guests Mrs. Green paused
talking in the open door on her way
/ out. Her quick eyes had recognized
two young figures at the gate, and she
, turned her back upon them, barring
the progress of Mr.. and Mrs. English
"I have enjoyed it all so much
haven't you, Mis- English? othinl
q surprise tin weddin' the best way o
| rememberin' the anniversary--it don
make so much work for the folks o
the house. Seems to me it's q pretty
long while since you and your hus
baad have been up to tea with me
Now, why can't you be q mite NOR
neighborly and come soon2 Sa.
Wednesday. Nothin' to hinder? Well
I'm real glad. Aud you are to bring
your niece. Not'havin' any girl of my
own like to see bright face lik,
hers round once in while. 1 guess
'Rastus must have got the horse un
, hitched by this time. Goodnight.
'Rastus was patting Nell's nose as b
. stood by her when his mother cam
l out. Retta Holland was still at tn
1 gate waiting for her aunt and uncle
' and Mrs. Green smiled at her as sh,
{ passed. Mother and son drove alon
p. the bush-fringed lane at Il ploddinl
b. gait for old Nell seemed in an indol
: ent mood, 'Rastus 10th to urge her on
p The moonlight lay white and beautl
s full over everything.
2 "Pve asked Mr.. and Mrs. English t
tea next Wednesday, said Mrs. Green
. She cleared her throat at the eager il
, terest on 'Rastus's face, and added wha
Q she knew would establish perfect NJ
e derstanding between herself and hin
e And I've asked the niece, too"
! "Have you?" In 'Rastus's voic
was thrill of such gladness as come
o when one is twenty-three and in loy
Q for the first time. "Have you?"
IS How much the boy looked like h
G father in spite of having her eyes an
I chini Mrs. Green felt sudden al
b embracing motherliness that let I'll
/ girl of his love into the depths of be
!. heart. But she only SAID, in a matte
of fact way;
d 'I should think 'twould he re-
lonesome for the Englishes bein'
/. their house is where there amt nev,
; any passin'. should hate to live
IS far from folks. 1 wouldn't for an
|, thing"
It 'Rastus turned and looked bat
IN q