The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-10-21

hOWbiug Whb bO Blcublg iOoNCNs
Will you have the kindness to hand
me over that slip of 2aperf"
Kate did not answer, but rstlooked
at me and then nt the portrait. Then
she closed the album aud looked again
ut me.
There was look in her eyes such as
l had never seen there before. 1t was
of wonder and yet of pity--pity for
me, who considered myself the happi'
est man on earth
But that was the way with Kate. II
she's u woman of resource, she's wo-
man Of surprises as well. With her it
is usually the unexpected that hap
pens.
81 have performed my part of the
bargain, Kate. l have satisfied your
curiosity. Will you now have the
courtesy to perform yours? You have
written a certain name upon a piece
of paper. Will you have the kindness
to hand it to ine?"
81 cannot, Bob-I cannot"
caught distinct tremor in her
voice as che said it.
"How SO? You decline to show me
that paper?"
~ promised to give it to you after
you had shown me the portrait, but
did not say Immediately after. You
shall see it some day; promise you. D."
"a sheer evasion, Kate, and not
like you. However, it is q matter Of
little conse luence."
"Of little consequence, as you say"
"The one important thing is that
have made great discovery oil
through that album. You guess what
it is, Kate?"
"That-that-" she stammered.
"Thnt Miriam Mowbray loves me T.
said triumphantly.
She glanced at me again with that
look l had just before seen in her eyes
half pity, half wonder; then she
said tremulously:
"You-you will speak to her to-
morrow, will you not?"
Eyes. Kate. You are the only one
to whom l have whispered my secret
and-and l know you wish me good
luck in my wooing."
'In that and in all things, Bob?"
The sweet eyes looked straight into
mine, as she held out her hand held
it for moment; then she withdrew il
hastily and escaped from the room.
The next day I visited the Now
brays. The time was opportune. Mr..
Mowbray was out, but Miss Mowbray
was in.
l hurry over that disastrous inter-
view. urged my suit with what elo'
quence could command. My pro
posal was at first t''received with chilling
silence, and then came the crushing
intimation that it was declined.
will do her the justice, however
to say that she let down u fellow a.
gently as the circumstances would per
NIT.
She acknowledged to me that she
loved another, and believe there wert
tears in her eyes-I am certain there
were in her voice-as she mads the
confession. Her father, she candidl,
admitted, was opposed to her lover
and had declined to sanction his ad
vances. He had promised, however
to reconsider his verdict in the even
Of the young fellows prospects i'm
proving in three years. That tim
had nearly elapsed. Until that tim
had elapsed they had given their sacret
word of honor that the secret OF thei
love for each other should not be dis
closed, and they had further promised
that no communication should pas
between them.
I could not but admire a woman VIII
remained thus faithful both to he
father and her lover, even though tha
fidelity proved at the same time tn
death blow to my hopes.
think that stammered out some
thing to that effect as bowed mysel
from the room, and kept asking my
self: "Who is the mysterious lover
And why was she SO absorbed in m
portrait in the album?"
} Life seemed very blank to me whe
stood once more in the street. Wha
should l do now? / scarce knew. On
thing, however, was very certain. BE
, fore did, anything l must first con
/ suit my cl um-mY chum Kate.
turned my stepsto her home. Her
greater disaster awaited me. Kat
/ had left Templeton that morning ON
l visit to an aunt in Durham. 1t wa
, quite uncertain when she would II
= turn, but she would not he back for
month, at least.
1t was not until q day or two ha
passed that l began to realize all ha
/ lost in the sweet compauionship c
t Kate. 1t was not merely her loyalty
a her unfailing brightness and sympathy
Y but not till then did understand til
. gap she had filed in the last thre
2 years in my life.
#. You will say that l was fickle, i'm
S pressionGble. in6rm of purpose, lael
ing resolution and a knowledge of m
( own mind. Well, 1 am content tht
, that charge should be made againl
. me. My simple reply is that you di
t not know Kate. She was one of thoi
who, by their very unselhshness, al
j. never adequately valued until you mi
their voice, their smile, their han,
Most of us pursue our illusions. NJ
/ illusion was Miriam Mowbray. Slow
q 1 began to see that in the backgrour
of that illusion there was a reality
{ Kate Brand.
Barely a month had elapsed whC
/ there came the news that Kate was il
1 should have liked to have gone
!, her and console her, as she so oftC
0 consoled me; but what could 1 do
the circumstances?