The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-03-25

called that afternoon had remarked
maliciously that Mr.. Ward and Mrs.
Brown seemed to be very good friends.
Dorothy smiled with white lips, and
tried TO say pleasantly, eyes, Mrs.
Brown is charming, don't you think
SOP I am sure that if l were a man ]
should fall in love with her."
The neighbor rose to go, and by
way of parting shot replied, "That
seems to be Mr.. Wards idea. Lovely
day, isn't it? Come over when you
can"
Dorothy was too stunned to reply.
She thought seriously of telling Jack,
but wisely decided not to. These sub-
urban towns were always gossipy.
Jack would think she didn't trust him.
And now he was at Mrs. Browns
again
The pain was almost binding. She
went TO the window and looked out
The rising moon shone ftfully upon
the white signs of sorrow in the little
churchyard far to the left
She threw shawl over her head
and went out. In feverish haste she
walked over to the little Goods Acre, "
where the Child of Silence was buried.
She found the spot and sat down. A
thought of Mrs. Browning's ran
through her mind:
Thank God, bless God, all ye who suffer not
More grief than ye can weep for
then some way the tears came; @
blessed rush Of relief.
"Oh, baby dear" she sobbed, press
ing her lips to the cold turf above
him, 81 wish l was down there beside
you, as still and as dreamless as you.
You don't know what it means-you
never would have iknown. I'd rather
be a stone than q woman with heart.
Do you think if could buy death
that wouldn't take it and come down
there beside you? 1t hurt me to lose
you, but it wasn't the worst. You
would have loved me. Oh, my Child
of Silencel Come back, come back 1"
How long she stayed there she never
knew, but the heart pain grew easier
after a while.
She pressed her lips to the turf
again. "Good night, baby dear. Good
night. I'll come again. You haven't
lost your mother, even if she has lost
you'll"
Fred Bennett passed by the unfre-
quented spot, returning from an err
rand 20 that part of town, and he
heard the last words. He drew back
into the shadow. The slight black
figure app cared on the sidewalk few
feet ahead of him, and puzzled him
not II little. He followed cautiously
and finally decided to overtake her. AS
she heard his step behind her che
looked around timidly.
"Mrs. Wardl"
His tone betrayed surprise, and he
saw that her eyes were wet and her
white, drawn face was tear stained
She shuddered. A new trouble faced
her. How long had he been following
her?
He saw her distress and told his lie
bravelY. 81 just came around the cor
ner here"
Her relieved look was worth the sac
rifice of his conscientious scruples, he
said to himself afterward.
81 may walk home with you, may I
not9"
Certainly"
She took his offered arm and tried
to chat pleasantly with her old friend.
Soon they reached the gate. She
dropped his arm and said goodnight
unsteadily. Bennett could bear it no
longer, and he took both her hands in
his own.
"Mrs. Ward, you are in trouble.
Tell me; perhaps can help you."
She was silent. "Dorothy, you will
let me call you so, will you not9 You
know how much cared for you, in a
boys impulsive fashion, in the old
days when we were at school; you
know that 1 am your friend now-as
true friend as a man can be to wo-
man. Tell me, Dorothy, and let me
help you'll"
There was q rustic OF silk on the
pavement, and her caller of the after
noon swept by without speaking. AL
ready Dorothy knew the story which
would be put in circulation on the
morrow. Benefits clasp frightened on
her cold fingers. "Tell, me, Dorothy,
and let me help you!" he said again.
The impulse to tell him grew
stronger, and she controlled it with
difficulty. "lt is nothing, Mr.. Ben
nett, II have q headache. "
81 see, and you came out for q
breath of fresh air. Pardon me. 1
am sure you will be better in the morn
ing. Good night, and God bless you
Dorothy"
He walked away rapidly, and she
fingered on the porch till she conld no
longer hear his footsteps. She left
lamp in the hall and went up to bed.
"Jack won't be home till late" she
said to herself, "and he will want the
light"
SO the tired head dropped on its pill
low, aud she stared sleeplessly at the
ceiling.
Meanwhile Bennett was ON his way
to Mrs. Browns cottage. His mind
was made up, and he would speak to
Jack. He had heard a great deal OF
idle gossip, and it would probably cost
him Jacks friendship, but he would at
least have the satisfaction of knowing
that he had tried to do something for
Dorothy.
lie rang the bell, AMI Mrs. Brown
herself answered it. "Good evening,
Mrs. Brown. No, thank you, l won't