The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-12-30

.ESST NJ y or there hap
wheels within wheels, the conse-
quences may be extremely disagreeable.
Perhaps Miss Grace Furnival's feel
irgs may be imagined when she dis
covered that her brother had invited
to Walworth Court not only the rich
man to whom she had just publicly
plighted her troth, but the poor man
to whom for nearly year she had
been secretly engaged.
"You don't mean to say you've asked
Luke Maitlandl" easped Grace, on
hearing the unwelcome tidings.
"And why shouldn't ~" growled
Tom, aggressively; "he's as good a
sort as any fellow | know; there are
only three things against him-he's
poor, he's 'high.shouldered, and he is
much too fond of you.
Indeed and how do you know that
last?"
"Because l met him yesterday and
told him about your engagement to
old Smithson-you should have seen
him, Grace-I thought the poor chap
was going to faint /, What fools
men are
"What brutes brothers are I" re-
fected Grace then, with a caressing
tone she seldom wasted on Tom, ''if
you really think poor Luke is fond of
me, won't you put off his visit, dear ?
1t can hardly be agreeable to him to
be here at the same time as dear Ed.
ward"
"Dear Edward be blowed! !" was
Toms vigorous remark. Luke is
my friend, and I'm not going to in
terfere with him; if he doesn't mind
coming it's not my concern-it's his
lookout"
Grace sighed with an injured martyr
expression and resigned herself to the
inevitable. Tho inevitable was dis
agreeable-it usually is, but she could
see way out of it. She would her
self get rid OF the inconvenient Luke.
Grace looked at her handsome feat
ures in the glass, and a certain wise
old proverb presented itself obtru-
sivelY to her mind.
sit is best to be off with tho old
love before you are on with the new, "
sighed the young lady; then, apos-
trophizing the mirror; "What a fool
I've been to get myself into this mess
I've been very weak notsto break with
poor Luke before"
Grace Furnival was only one-and-
twenty when she engaged herself to
'poor Luke; she had been very fond
then OF the handsome young fellow,
but this fondness had not blinded her
pretty eyes to the main chance, and
she had only promised to marry him
on the condition of absolute secrecy.
Luke was a struggling novelist, and
If his struggles continued to be fruit
less and his novels publishes, Grace
argued, with an acumen that did
credit to her head at least, that it
would be easier for her to accomplish
brilliant marriage if she were not
hampered by public engagement to
such an ineligible as Luke.
Luke Maitland was poor. he had
more heart than head he was credu-
lous, dreamy, absolutely impractical |;
his views of life were absurdly impos.
sible; he prActioed what he preached,
and he preaohed-over the heads of
his fellow-men. How could such q man
ever hope for success or happiness.
Such a man as this was like wax in
the hands of Grace Furnival.
The guests arrived late, and Miss
Furnival's toilet was a protracted one.
When she entered the drawing room
Luke Maitland stopped abruptly in his
conversation. He stood, white and
trembling, his sunken eyes fixed On
the glistening white vision advancing
toward him.
Though Grace might feel unoom-
Portable she was equal to the occasion
$50 pleased to see you, Mr.. Matt.
lapd," sho said. ''Such ages since we
aer was an crdeAl for both Luke
AM Q; even Tom felt uncomfor-
table wnen no saw his friends misera.
BILE face, and wished he had cancelled
his invitation, while m instructive
feeling that something was wrong
hung upon the spirits OF the otGer
guests.
Whom the feast was over the ladiea
rose, Luke Maitland opening the door,
and as Grace passed him he whispered
in her ear, under cover of sudden
quarrel for precedence between the
guests:
81 must see you to-pisht-tell me
where and when"
"At Gin the library" was Grace's
prompt reply, as she stopped TO pick
up her handkerchief.
Luke Maitland waited haH an hour
il tho gloomy, book-lined room before
Grace joined him. She closed the door
carefully behind her, drew a ehoi'
close 10 the fro, shivering and spread
ing out her hands to the cheerful
b.azs. for it was the 18th o. February
and TIC night was Bitterly Geld.