The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-12-08

WHICH hlWuyS suggests 10 my nllnu bne
idea of unpleasant things in bottles,
unless it is that Joe's hair is so thick
and unruly. dare say he would be
glad if he ever could make it wear this
meek and unctuous aspect. But Joe's
well, Joe's hair looks as if he played
football. never cared much for foot
ball myself, except as fad 1t is so
dangerous it makes me feel faint to
watch it. And wouldn't let Joe play;
that is, if 1 had anything to say about
him, which, of course, haven't. Still,
it would be some satisfaction to know
that if he did play he could kill all the
other fellows instead of letting them
kill him. Mr.. Finch couldn't kill any
body. Not that am selecting a hus-
band for his murderous capabilities,
but it would be satisfaction to know
that if footpad attacked him he could
defend himself. L believe if 1 said
Burglars" to Mr.. Finch he would
crawl under the table. But then Mr..
Finch could hire an army to patrol the
streets in front ofhis house--our house,
l mean, for shall be in it--aud Joe is
SO poor that he would have TO do his
own patroling. He will have to pro-
tect his wife with his own right arm,
and work for her with his own strong
hands. We won't have to do anything
So plebeian, or so beautiful.
There, what did 1 say? L was
right If 1 were in love L couldn't
reason. The idea of my ever coming
to the point of thinking work beauti-
full, when l hate to work--alone, l
mean! It doesn't seem so hard when
1 think of working, or rather, doing
things for Joe. Whenever see him
l want to do something for him. He
is fighting against SO many odds, and
he is so big and brave about it, and
never complains and never seems dis
couraged And he is working alone,
and with nothing in prospect to work
for, except to win. Poor Joel He
will never have money. He can't keep
it. He will never be successful, but
people will know him and talk about
him, even if he loses, because he is
making such brave fight
lam not brave. like success and
ease and luxury. Everything that 1
like and must have takes money Lots
of money-and nobody has so much as
L shall need except Mr.. Finch.
How Joe will despise me when he
hears of It'll 1 shall not see him. /
shall avoid him until L have got so
used to my luxury that L find /
couldn't do without it, Then, some
day, quite unexpectedly, l shall meet
him and he will look at me, and by
that time 1 will not care.
How will he look at me? Will ii be
scornful or contemptuous look, such
as most men would give, because /
have had the bad taste to prefer some
one else? No; he never puts himself
first. 1t will not be that Will it be
look of aversion, as if he could not
bear to see me? No; he cares too much
for me for that. Why do conjure up
such impossibilities when l know just
how he will lean forward and look into
my eyes with all love and-yes, pity in
his own-pity because he will know
what 1 am suffering aud what a price
l have paid for my empty glory? How
| great will my liveries and my jewels
and my gorgeousness seem beside that
look, which, if meet it, will drag the
soul out of me and let Joe into my
secret as plainly as if l had reached
out my arms to him in vain appeal.
Oh, why do think of such things
1t is because it is Sunday. / hate
Sundays! 1 hate the way the wind
howls at those windows. / hate the
falling of the leaves aud the bare
branches and the dying of all green
things that go with summer and life
always think of Joe on Sundays.
wonder why Sunday nights always
bring to woman thoughts of the man
she loves and can't marry-won' t
marry, L meau-no, can't marry! 1t
isn't that won't marry Joe. l can't
marry him. can't bring myself to
it. Sunday is the hardest day of the
week to me. That is why L always
plan to make it so full that / can't
think. If Mr.. Finch had kept his en-
gagement tonight 1 should have ac-
cepted him. He didn't know that, or
he would have come. He said he was
too ill to come. 1 hate man who is
always falling ill. He sent this ring
instead. 1t was not very refined OF
him, but then Mr.. Finch's ways are
not always those which mark the caste
of We're de We're. If keep it, we are
engaged. If send it back why
but 1 shall not send it back. That
middle stone is a pigeon blood ruby.
Dear Joel The only present he ever
gave me was this penny-cut in two
that wear. No, forgot. / took it
off long ago and hid it where could
not find it easily. 1 wonder what
did with i'll Here it is. When he
went away wanted to give it back to
him, but he said, "No, keep it; If you
ever change your mind and want me
to come back, just send me your hall
and I'll know, and I'll come if it's
across the world"
How easy it would be to slip it into
this enyelope-so-and write Joe's
name across the back of it-so-and
put stamp on it-sol / wonder if two
cents would carry it! Yes, think il
would; half penny is very light
very light. How easy it would be to
send it! How hard to live up to it af.
terward! But would it be so hard-ii
it were with Joe? Didn't Joe's face
always light up the darkest days, and
didn't Joe's presence cheer me when ]
was the most alone, if he but pre-
sented himself in the doorway aud