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

IsSXhfN Il bNNh bO hbDOA bOo
EyEtSrl tt$SSA in it? Why should
gS,Al.--SSS::uSk1 she have been SO
El1s: t,S-:N startled on detect
E;S2:S{las:S.:s,, -. g ing my presence in
g ~ x<se- ~ the library?
And then O de.
liehtful, blissful feeling shot through
me. l staggered for n moment like
one Observation-Disclosures with my
own happiness. / said to myself a
few minutes since that if could but
detect the portrait on which Miriam's
attention had been fixed would be
master of her secret.
Was that SOP had found the por.
trait. Had it really made me the
master of her secret?
paused as put to myself the ques.
tiop, and drew deep breath. Then
strove TO answer it with other ques-
tions. The master of her secret Was
that secret love and was it love for
mep
Yes, l felt sure OF it. What other
answer could there beP She had loved
me oil along. She had "let conceal
ment, like worm in the bud, feed on
her damask cheek" l was in the
seventh heaven of delight. Mine,
after all, would be the privilege of
breathing that potent word which
would start my GAlatea into life.
I descended to the drawing room
and found that not only had the argu-
ment ended, but that irascible old
Mowbray had eparted-and, OF
course, Miriam had departed with
him.
"The old bear! |" / exclaimed.
'sThat's the or imal he is, and not an
artichoke. He would be libel on the
vegetable kingdom By Jove, Miriam
must have lively time of it, one way
or the other. must change all that
by and by"
was already beginning to regard
her as my wife, and was mentally en-
gagged in the prospective duty of clip
ping my fAther.in.law's wings, when O
hand was softly thrust into my arm,
and, waking from my dream, I saw
the bright eyes of Kate looking up
into mine. They were usually dancing
with mlschievous light, but they
were serious now.
"Well, Bob," she asked, show did
you get on9 Have you said anything
to MiriamP You have given me tho
right TO ask you, you know"
ITO tell the truth, Kate, 1 have
scarcely spoken two words to her."
"Oh, then was not guilty when l
came upon you in the library of inter.
rupting an avowal. felt very un-
comfortable at that time, for Miriam
looked awfully conscious and still
moro awfully scarlet, and you looked
well, 1 don't know how you looked,
Bob. 1t was sort of expression
shall say?"
"Please, Kate"
"Well, it was the sort of expression
you would expect to find on the face
of q man who had Just picked up O
parcel and wasn't quite sure what was
inside"
laughed.
'Your keen eyes don't miss much,
Kate. You have guessed somewhere
near the truth. When you came upon
mo in the library had made q dis
,eoyerY, but it WAS only partial dis
coverY, had found out that Miriam
Mowbray was greatly interested in {
portrait. could net al the time make
out whose it was. have since OK
tended my knowledge"
"WellP" she asked eagerly.
"Now, Kate" ] said, teasing her
''thnt's where the curiosity OF woman
comes in. You are as bad as the res
of your sex, declare. OF course yol
are burning with curiosity to know
whose portrait it was-confess now =
"Indeed, sir, am not. keep my
curiosity for better things. My wo
mans wit is not so sluggish that it ha
not already guessed your mystery"
"HO ha I laughed. "You thinl
so, I'll forgive you if you have. Here
1 will tear this sheet from my pocket
book. Oblige me by writing upon
the name of the person"
"In whose portrait Miriam was in
terested9"
"Precisely."
She took the paper and pencil
handed to her and wrote upon it
name.
0ne gave me Dack tne pencli, Du
not the slip of paper.
, "Am I not to hold the paper?"
, asked.
"You shall see it," she answered
folding it tightly up, "atter you hay
: shown me the portrait"
8 "Yery well, Miss Distrustful,
{ said.
at was Miss Curiosity just now
. You are partial, Bob, to calling pee
L pie hard names. You are as bad q
o tho rest of your sex, 1 declare" SD
O said, psrtly turning the tables upo
Z me for my language of q moment or S
!, since. "But, come, take me to sc
d this wonderful portrait.
l. 1 took her TO the library, opene
8 the album, and turned again to IN
n portrait.
: "There, Miss Pert, said, pointin
= to it triumphantly with my hngcl
"there is the portrait il which Mi