The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-05-13

~ ~ ierred her allegi-
= ance to me, and
did so then, l believe, because of my
superior helplessness.
To say that my interests were as
dear to her as to myself would DO to
understate grievouslY the case. Jane
was ever o fighter; and the pitched
battles which went on all day and
every day between her and the
tradespeople, the laundress, the sweep,
and every one who supplied the wants
of my small household, served but to
increase her zest for battle.
thought for long that Jane would
never leave me. She is comely
woman, with hard, bright red cheeks,
black hair, black eyes, and vigorous
manner. But far back in her girl
hood, away in her native green island,
Jane had had tragedy. The man she
was to have married had been pitched
from load of hay on the very eve of
their wedding, aud had been killed
on the spot. Tho memory had gone
30 deep with her that she never spoke
about it; but if any one rallied her
carelessly, as people will, about her
maiden condition and the stern front
she presented to insinuating bakers
and butchers boys, James black eyes
would cloud over, an inexplicable
change take place in tho unwinking
brightness of her visage, and she
would leave the room without word.
We Ind long consecrated Jane to
her vestalhood, when one day, to my
horror, she announced that she had
accepted the least likely of her ad-
mirers.
The fellow was ugly, shambling, i'll
built and ill-mannered. How he had
ever begun his siege Of Jane / have
not yet fathomed. He seemed to me
incapable of really caring for wo-
man, or of making any woman care for
him. believe myself that 1t was
James ballled maternal instruction
had only to see her with a child to up.
preciate her as one of Natures moth.
ers-which suggested to her tender
ness for this oaf. He had been doing
job of some kind about the house,
and had somehow managed to convey
to Jane his attachment for her-how,
l do not know; he was bovine without
the pathos of the beast, and could
better imagine one OF the red-and-
white bullocks out in the pastures
there launching into sentiment than
James lover.
Jane, could see, was prepared for
opposition. She had evidently no
illusions about Fry's personal charms,
but had doggedly made up her mind
to stand by him against all corners.
She stood the other side of my study
table after she had given me her sur
prising news, with a spark in each of
her black eyes which l knew meant
temper and obstinacy.
"But Fryl" said, after a silence
of dismay. "Why Fry of all men?"
"Why not Fry, ma'am?' said Jane,
doggedly. "There's nothing against
the boys character.
"Oh, certainly not" said, feebly.
"Of course it's your own affair, Jane;
but must say I don't think him good
enough for you. Are you determined
to marry him, Jane|'
''Qite, M"
"Why, Jane, surely you're happy
with us. I'm not selfish about it,
Jane. 1 shouldn't mind giving you
up to a man worthy of you but don't,
don't throw yourself away on Fry"
My appeal was answered by a fierce
sob from Jane.
"Happy2 I'm as happy as the days
long. It's tearin' at my heart strings
to leave You. But lie has no one else.
lie loves the ground walk on. Who
else 'ud put up with his clumsy ways
But I'll do it, L will, an never let him
know he's not as good as another
man."
BY this time n great freshet of tears
was pouring down James comely face.
took her two hard hands between my
own and pressed them.
81 honor you, Jane" l said, "but
your feeling is a mistaken one all the
same. There are plenty of his own
sort in the world for Fry to marry.
1t is not right that you should be sac
rificed to him. There will be other
men, as there have been other men,
who will want to marry you. You
will have to compare them with the
man you have chosen, and how would
it be if some day you came across a
man you could really have loved?
Marriage for pity is serious mis-
take, Jane"
Jane sobbed more fercely than
ever. When she had controlled her
utterance somewhat, she broke out
"No, ma'am. There'l never bo an-
other man. Denis Farrell is many
year in his grave, but his face is as
fresh before me us if l saw him yes.
derday. He has put me from the
others always, an always will. 'Tis
different with Fry. I'll be giving
him nothing o Deuis's, I'll just take
care o. the creature, an make the