The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-10-21
"Indeed. I didn'tl"

Indeed, dldntF
/ might have added, that, next 10 !
seeing Kate, his was the most welcome
face / could have seen.
"Come, Bob" he said, taking me
by the arm in the old familiar way OF
our college days, 81 have much TO say
to you"
He took me TO the room-the ii.
l had my last interview
with Kate. How often l had since
recalled it.
eve are old ohums, Bob" he said,
land l am going to speak to you
frankly. / am far from q spiritualist,
hypnotist, or anything of that kind
but there must be a community OF
spirit between us, for l find that,
though so far separated from each
other, we have been on the same
track"
"The same track" I repeated,
scarcely knowing what to make of
this strange preliminary.
eyes, on the same track. First,
answer me one question are you still
enamored with Miriam Mowbray?"
1 was staggered by tue question.
How should he know that l had been
enamored with Miriam Mowbray? He
was searching me with his eyes as he
spoke. Apparently satisfied with the
scrutiny, he put into my hands letter
to him, dated three months back,
from his sister Kate.
1 can scarcely tell you the astonish-
ment with which read it. was the
beginning of it; was the end of it.
1t set forth the confessions / had
made to her of my love for Miriam
Mowbray; it magniied a thousandfold
the little service had done for Guy
in the past and it ended by an ap-
peal to him to give me fair field in
trying to win Miss Mowbray's hand.
Was there ever such a letter penned
from sister to brother?
"I cannot understand it. am al
together mysti6ed," answered.
"Just so. Let me throw little
light on the situation. You did not
know, because it was secret, but be.
fore left England for South Africa
before, in fact, the illness through
which you helped to nurse mel was the
fortunate lover OF Miriam Mowbray (;
fortunate in one sense, but unfortun-
ate in another, since Mr.. Mowbray
would not at that time acknowledge
me because had not made position
for myself. Now do you see why Kate
wrote to me?"
'I-I understand, stammerel.
"My answer to the letter was"
"Oh, you needn't say, Guy. see
il ALL" clasping him by the hand.
"Your answer to that letter was Let
my old chum go in and win,' but
have lost, and you?"
"Csn say that I have won, old fell
low?"
"Yes, Guy; yes; am not afraid oI
hearing the truth. My illusion i:
quite gone. 1 can only wish you what
your noble sister wished me-good
luck in your wooing. By the bye
would you mind handing me that al
bum at you elbow?"
Guy handed it to me in some sur
prise at my sudden request.
"Thanks, said. "Pardou me ont
moment.
1 quickly turned over the page
again. need not have done so ex
cept to further convince myself that
was an ass.
I saw at once the portrait in whicl
Miriam Mowbray was absorbed on tina
night when was deceived into be
lieving that she loved me. l had pu
the pencil mark on the page at which
the album was open, but l had lef
entirely out of the question the por
trait on the opposite side, which wa
the portrait of Guy Brand.
As old chums we had been placed il
the album facing each other. Kat
had, of course, seen my mistake, bu
rather than wound my feelings or m,
vanity-which was it?-had not hinte
suspicion of the truth.
Love in more senses than one i
blind.
The same day I discovered tina
Kate was returning home. 1 game
permission to be her escort.
How gladly 1 winged my way Il
Durham. l found her scarcely tn
Kate had last seen her. She was pale
more subdued, hut still the Kate
knew so well.
There was less OF the old brightnes
of outlook, perhaps, but she came foI
ward to greet me with that smile whic
before and since has been to me as
life beacon.
said to her in awkward fashion al
that had been framing itself into
speech on the way down. The answe
which I received this time was ia
different from that which 1 receive
to my other petition.
When her head was resting on M,
breast she asked me coyly through
mist of happy tears:
"Would you like to see that-tha
slip of paper from your notebook
Bob?"
"No, dear" said with a smile. A"
think know by this time the nam
you wrote on that paper. Besides,
am above the feminine instinct Of
Of"
"Curiosity," 1 was about to add
but she cut me short with a kiss. =
| CasselPs Magazine.
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Roy atty on a Fire Engine,