The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-04-22

Qep& Ho stood look
g. S< ing down at her
) y face, his own ex-
tall man about twenty-eight years of
age, with black hair and strong look
ing shaven face. He looked reserved
and self-contained.
Edna shook her head.
NO." she said; nothing I am
afraid"
He drew in his upper lip between
his teeth, and his forehead wrinkled as
he still fingered.
"Well," he said, al am immensely
sorry. L don't want to bother you (;
besides, I suppose it would not do a
scrap of good"
Raising his right hand, he pushed
back his halr. at seems q little diff
iicult to realize just yet. L counted
on different answer"
''That was hardly my fault" she
said, lowering her eyes. They were
dark blue eyes, remarkably dark con-
sidering the fairness of her hair and
skin. Edna was small woman, be-
low the average as regards height, and
girlish in figure, though she had
passed her twenty-frst year.
"Your fault No, it was merely
my own folly. 1t dosn't matter what
one calls it. The name won't alter
the fact. OF course it is play to you. "
"You have no right to say that, DR..
Lester. / assure you, 1 don't find it
the least amusing. 1 am very sorry
not that 1 suppose it will be
quite your death"
"No," he returned. "Men don't
die of that sort of thing. But life will
be wretched. Edna"
He took his hat and went away,
Edna standing by the window watch,
ing him as be dejectedly crossed the
garden and passed through the gate.
way and disappeared. A few minutes
later the door opened and a woman
entered, few years older, and sew.
eral inches taller than herself. This
was Mrs. Sinclair, Edna's sister-in.
law, vile of the Town Clerk of Upper
combe.
"Well?"
Gertrude stopped just within the
door.
ooh, don't look as if you didn't
know all about it'll" cried Edna i'm
patiently.
"You don't mean to look me in the
face and tell me you have refused
Lim?"
81 told you this morning"
"What girl says beforehand goes
for nothing. Edna, what a fool you
arel You know Alfred will be Just
wild about it,"
"Alfred did not think it necessary
to consult me-" was the answer. "Oi
course" Edna added, drawing near
and placing an arm about Gertrude'e
waist, 'of course it would be all the
same if he had, darling"
''Still, it does seem n pity" Ger
trude persisted. "Though he has
only been vearin Uppercombe, every.
body has a good word for him-or
nearly everybody. He has increased
old DIR. Andrews's practice enormous
ly. cdr. Lester is man agood many
girls would"
'Jump att" know. That is
exactly what I feel abouthim. He is
too eligible-isn't that the word?- too
eminently desirable"
"You have always seemed to like
him"
81 do like him, Gerty."
''Ihen, why in the name of good
ness don't you marry him and have
done with it?"
Edna slightly shrugged her should
ers as she turned toward the window
again.
Honestly, don't quite know. ]
don't see why should dissect myself
for your edifieation. He is very nice
"a little too nice. 1 tiled to per-
suade myself-there, you see, Pm
nothing if not candid. Only-I don't
know what it is; somehow, the spirit
didn't move me"
When Edna was following Gertrude
from the dining room that evening AL.
fred Sinclair called her back.
''Permit me to remind you that you
are twenty-five" he said.
''Be accurate, Alf. Twenty-Five and
two months"
"Of course" he continued. 'T need
not tell you we are glad TO give you q
home here as long as you require it.
But ii you ask me-a woman is much
better in place of her own"
''Hhe first that offers itseli?" asked
Edna.
81 didn't think Lester was the first.
Ha is the best Of the bunch, though.
A fellow who is bound to get on"
"Of course, that's everything
"Oh, well. if You can't treat the
matter seriously, l don't see the good
of talking"
Neither do l." Edna answered.
One afternoon Alfred came home
from his Office looking more solemn
han usual, though the dignity OF hi.
position gave him an air of extreme
| iolemnity at the best Of times. Like