The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-12-15
hat had sent him back to the city SO

It luuilN, bu6 sun buO06 upon Uub
world again-weakly, to be sure, but
still with enough strength to dry up
some of the puddIes on the front steps,
though it failed to bring into Sara's
eyes the light that formerly lurked
there. Like the little girl, Sara had
discovered that her doll was stuffed
with sawdust, and with the egoism of
pessimist she imagined it was the
only one ever fashioned in that wise.
On the first bright day Mr.. Matt
land came home early to take his wife
for a drive, and Sara, declining to
join them, welcomed an opportunity
TO be miserable by herself. She wan
dered about the house listlessly for a
time, and then, sitting at her piano,
she walled out all the sentimental bal
lads in her collection, until she came
to one that Alan had spoiled for her
by his theatrical rendition of it in his
times of hilarity. She started it, but,
remembering his emotional stagger as
he sang 81 go where honor calls me,
she gave it up, and, bringing both
hands down on the keys with bang,
cried ooh, dearl" in a mournful,
homesick wall that betokened the
nearness of tears. Then, hearing a
slight noise behind her, she abruptly
wheeled about on the piano stool and
faced Alan Slocum, with the quick
color flaming i'll her cheeks.
81 beg your pardon" he said, and
Sara fancied he was trying not to
laugh. "The maid evidently thought
you saw me"
Sara rose. my father is not at
home," she said distantly. ''Is there
anything can do for youP"
"At what time will Mr.. Maitland re-
turn?" Alan asked, looking at his
watch.
Possibly not for two hours" Sara
replied recklessly. "Will you come
in and waltz"
Alan raised his eyebrows. "I think
not" he said, quietly. ''It is half
past five now. 1 will leave the lease
with you, if you will be kind enough
to give it to your father when he re-
turns"
Certainly, as soon as he comes in.
Sara took the formidable-looking docu-
ment and bowed him out with a cold
"Good evening, Mr.. Jarvis" that
froze poor Alan's boyish spirits.
Whatever he had intended to say was
left unsaid, and he strobe away with
swinging step and his head held high
in the air If he had looked around
and seen the miserable face watching
him from behind the curtain, he would
have come back; but he didn't
There were many errands to be done
in town that week, so Sara undertook
them one bright morning, in fren-
zied desire to be doing something
rather than to be longer in lonely idle
ness. The express had gone when
she reached the station, so she leisurely
mounted the ''local" stairs and strolled
along the platform, looking into the
cars for one where she could be undis-
turbed for the next hour. The car
next the smoker held gay party of
young people intent on an excursion,
and their laughter so Jared on Sara's
loneliness that she quickened her
steps to the second car. Here the
prospect was pleasant, with the excep-
tion of three children racing up and
down the aisle, so Sara passed on to
the last car, which she virtually had
to herself. Across the aisle was a
benevolent-looking old gentleman,
and in a side seat a man was so busily
reading a newspaper that she could
see nothing of him save eight fingers
and two long legs.
The train started up by the time
Sara had read over her shopping list
and calculated her expenses, so she
put the list in her purse again, and
looked up to find that the young man
had folded up his paper and was look
ing at her with the familiar, quizzical
smile of Alan Slocum. She looked
out of the window, but the quick color
famed into her cheeks, and she
wished she had not come. Her atten-
ton was apparently riveted on the
scene before her, but she was fully
aware that Alan had come across to
take the seat facing her, before he
spoke.
"Good morning." he said genially.
''The sun is a pleasant sight again,
isn't it?"
Sara was proud of her presence of
mind as she turned toward him with a
chilly "You have the advantage of
me, sir. -
Alan cooked his head on one side.
"Yes," he said, no whit discon-
certed, Sin being able to sit opposite
You"
The benevolent old gentleman half
rose, and Sara, in panic, discovered
that he was intending to champion her
cause.
"Why, you're Mr.. Jarvis, to be
sure" she said rather hastily. "The
ceiling of the back room leaks"
The old gentleman sat down again.
Would you like to have me come
and look at it?" Alan asked soberly
SIT does worlds of good to have the
agent come and look at a leak for a
half hour or so every day"
Sara bit her lip aud said nothing.
"Or perhaps you'd rather I'd hire
substitute" said Alan, "and stand
across the street until he comes back
without the leak?"
"Send sensible mar 10 mend the
roof, " said Sara sharply" and it's all
I'll ask-of you"
81 have tibbed, hyperbolized, and
everlastingly perjured myself to get