The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-11-11

III
n NES$ (> summer cottages as
XsSMa ~ attractive as her
Ny mother had made
" this one. The sight
OF q young man coming across the
tennis court caused her TO sit up sud.
denly. BY the time he had vaulted
ovor the net, and crossed the lawn,
the quick color had faded from her
cheeks, and she nodded gaily 10 him
as he waved his hat.
"Where on earth did you hail
from?" she asked, astonished, as he
came within hailing distance.
"From the Etruria, in New York,
Monday" he answered eagerly. GLOW
are you, and what are you doing with
yourself just nowP"
"I'm pretty well. Sit down on
that camp stool and let me look at
you, Tom Bradley" she said, as she
shook hands. 81 suppose you are
more conceited than ever after a year
abroad"
"Couldn't be possibly" the young
man replied calmly. "If this camp
stool goes down with me, and get
stains on these duck trousers, I'll sue
you for damages.
"Your mother must be glad to have
you back again, said Nan. "I should
be il l were she"
"Thanks, so kind of you," mur,
INJURED Tom. "Mother and father
have taken the Bartlett cottage for the
summer, so came right out here to
join them. thought mother'd eat me
up the day got here.
81 suppose you've come back with
a trunk full of photographs to enlight-
en- us poor benighted heathen with, u
sighed Nan, who had ascribed another
reason to his sudden appearance on
the scene "such as Westminster Alb.
hey, the Poets Corner, Parliament
| buildings, and oil the cathedrals.
I've had friends travelling in Europe,
before. Did you climb the Matter
hornP Or slide down Mount Blanc
Or ride in house boat?"
"Please be sensible, Nan, said Tom,
flushing. 81 won't tell you a word
about Europe if you don't want me to.
thought you'd like to hear all about
my trip"
"Perhaps l might, Tom, if Europe
hadn't been done brown by all my
friends, long ago and each one thinks
he has done such a wonderful thinG
that he must exhibit his knowledg,
and his photographs to his ignoran
acquaintances. / am so tired OF 1T
never want to go, myself"
''You were very good to write Il
me, if you felt that way about it
Man," said Tom humbly; Though
to be sure, you didn't write yer!
often"
"Oh, wrote to you because yol
were such an old friend of the family
and mother enjoyed your description
Of scenery so-and all that you know.
"Why, if i had known that, >" Ton
replied, 81 would have written to he
instead. OF all sad words of tongu
or pen the saddest are these"
"Please, ma'am," piped up shril
voice behind Tom, "will you look
here for a minute?"
Tom turned around suddenly an
spied a very tiny girl standing in tn
tall grass, holding very big yello'
cat in her arms. She was thin an
bony, and the cat was fat and heavy
so her task was by no means an cas-
one.
"'Seuse me, Miss Man," the chill
said, noticing Tom for the first time
81 didn't know you was engaged"
"We aren't yet, but hope to b
soon." observed Tom calmly. "Wh
is this fair damsel, Nan?"
"She's a little girl in my Sunday
school class" said Nan, frowning q
him. "What is it, Milly, my dear ?
"Please, Miss Nan, you was a telliI
your class on Sunday of how fond 20
was of pets" began the girl, "and m
said for me TO bring you over our ca
to see il you wouldn't keep it for L
while we goes to the city for a week.
80 be sure will, cried Nan, gail
ering the cat into the hammock wit
her. "Isn't he big one, thought"
"He's got collar on, too, said til
girl, pointing proudly to the leather
band about the animals neck. 50
says 'Munger's Cat on it-that's orr
you know. He's got two names, hin
self Jim calls him Tom, which
don't think is very pretty, so 1 ca
him Jenny"
"He's nice and fat" said Tom s,
berly. "He must get lots to eat. >"
"Sure he does, cried Milly enthI
siastically. "He eats like a houl
atire, he does.
"Pve heard fire called 'devourip
element somewhere before, said To
meditatively. "What does he eat
"Oh, everything, " said Milly prou,
ly, sand lots of it. He has fits som
times"
"Dear mel" cried Nan, 81 hoT
not"
"If your real good to him he'll on