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

and looked down at her, at her glori-
ous pile of chestnut hair, at her finely
cut features and pretty white hands.
His lips trembled-he could not trust
himself to speak.
"Well," said Grace, glancing up at
him, "what do you want to say to me?
can't stay here long"
Luke steadied his shaking lips with
an effort
81 want to know the truth-I want
to know if you are still the woman l
have worshiped or if you are some
thing else, q different being to what /
Lave ever imagined you"
"Would you mind descending to my
level and common prose, and telling
me exactly what you want to know in
plain English ?" said Grace mockingly.
"In plain English, are you engaged
to Edward Smithson as we'll as to mel
In plain English, are you heartless
jilt?"
Grace looked at him curiously.
81 answer yes to both those ques'
tions. Call me as many hard names as
you like; deserve them"
There was silence for some moments,
A wintry moon was shining fitfully
upon the thick snow outside; the wind
had risen and was growing round the
house like an angry dog. Luke drew
o handkerchief from his pocket and
passed it across his wet forehead. 1t
was white silk handkerchief with
blue border, the initials "Li. M" con-
spicuously embroidered in each cor
ner. Grace's eyes rested on it for a
moment, and a little flush of color
came into her pale cheeks. Luke
saw it and smiled.
"Ah, you recognize 1.-THE hand
kerchief you embroidered for me only
a year agol It has lasted longer than
your love-" He put it carefully back
into his pocket.
"Grace," he said, fixing his dark
eyes on hers with wistful look that
touched her cold heart, "I suppose
you thihk am taking this very easy /;
the blow has paralyzed me-my brain
seems stunned-but If it will be any
consolation to your vanity to know
that you have broken my heart and
rnined my life, that consolation may
be thoroughly your own"
The young mans words were tride
melodramatio; they reminded Grace
of f'speeches out of his own novels, and
she gave light little laugh.
81 hope you will enjoy your honey
moon," he went on; "you needn't be
afraid of my creating disturbances and
opening Mr.. Smithson's eyes-I shall
start tonight on a long journey-on
long journey" he repeated, fixing
his eyes on Grace's with a singular
expression, "but don't be afraid,
you will see me quite soon enough
Il shall often return and
call on your husband; yes. !
shall make point of returning" said
Luke, with laugh. The laugh was
such an uncanny one and the look on
tho young mans face so very strange
and creepy that Grace lost all sense OF
dignity in the terror that seized her
and fairly took to her heels.
She did not feel safe until she had
reached the furthest wing of the ram
bling house and ensconced herself in
tho drawing room near to her brother,
who was playing a game of cards with
the guests.
Suddenly he asked:
"Anybody seen Luke Maitland? Do
you know whore he is, Grace?
"No."
''Perhaps he's in his room. I'll go
and see." Tom returned in a few
minutes. 'No, he's not there. Where
can the fellow be? He can't have gone
for a walk this freezing night. I'll
hunt him out though-the more the
merrier. He may be in the library,
now / think of it--Luke's q regular
bookworm. And of went the ener-
getic youth.
This time he returned almost i'm
mediately, and as he burst into the
room all rose in alarm, for it was plain
to see that something had happened.
Toms face was white-horrified, his
hair was standing erect on his head,
his mouth hung open, his whole frame
shook.
"What is it?" cried Grace, ooh,
what is it?"
I Tom fell into a chair and covered
his face with his hands.
~ - wv umlul no buSPONJ boO
horrible Poor Luke Oh, my God
can't forget his face.
Grace shook him almost fercely.
"Why' can't'you speak plainly, Tom
Is he dead?"
"Dead as a doornail. But somebody
go and fetch doctor. Somebody 60
and cut him down"-a strong shuddeI
shook him-"I-I couldn't stop there
IL can't look at it again"
"And how-how-?" Grace's dry
lips could not frame the question.
"Hanged himself, answered Tom,
looking up with Mortified eyes
changed himself behind the door with
the very embroidered handkerchief ]
saw in his hand at dinner to.day-his
initials in all the corners; expect some
woman gave it him. Did you see his
face, Gould, with the moonlight on it
l shall never forget it,, " gasped Tom
"the head hanging on one shoulder,
the eyes starting ont of the blackened
face, and the mouth twisted up in thai
awful grin"
"Hush," said q friend. quickly
'hold your tongue, man-your sisters
faintingi
Grace FurniVal wes a cold and some
/, what heartleJs woman, but Luke Matt
lands death and the terrible manner
of it was severe shock to her. She