The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-08-11

RNEIE ~ WnlJe anu preUIlly
STSEIe limned face, her
%.XFss delicate pink
~s-IsN. cheeks, her brisk
N" carriage and her
W breezy tongue did
much to swell the receipts of the es-
tablishment. The proprietor knew
this full well and Fannie was the OBJ
iect of much Difference ON his part.
'ThA Little Irish Beauty" as she
came to be called by the imaginative
youths whose daily rations consisted
either of "corned beef and -" or
''pork and -" from Monday to Sat
urday, had marked more than one
heart for her own. But the very fa-
cility of her conquests seemed to make
her indifferent and that is why Bob
Acton got dyspepsia. From the first
he had been struck with her fresh
face and dainty demeanor. She was
so unlike all the other Mattresses; and,
to do him justice, Bob did not bear
much of moral resemblance to the
other men who sued for a smile from
the "Little Irish Beauty"
IBob never could look any woman
straight in the eyes as gallant men
can, without crimsoning from ear to
ear. When he dared to cast glance
| of votive tenderness toward Fannie,
he did it at a moment of positive Sc
curity from any return, even if she
should be so magnanimous, which he
did not expect.
Finally, one fortunate day, he
spilled his coffee over the the table
cloth and Fannie rushed to his rescue.
Bob was completely upset by his cum.
siness and his evident poignant re.
greet awoke sympathy in Fannie's s
heart, which she expressed in her own
sweet English, just properly tempered
with an aristocratic Dublin brogue.
The leap had been taken and quite
gracefully. Henceforward converse.
ton was a matter of course, but a
course that was sweet and uncommon-
place.
Bob had noticed of late that Fannie
was growing thinner. Her cheeks
were more brilliant, but feverishly so,
and she seemed not quite as sparkling
as of old
When he asked her one day quite
anxiously whether she was not little
ill, she replied quickly that she had
never felt better. Somehow even
Bob's guilelessness could not swallow
this and he began to guess at the cause
of her change.
Bob was an eminently practical bust.
ness man and held fairly paying pc,
sition as salesman in foreign china.
ware house. Nevertheless in the
course of some travelling he had man
aged to devour n certain quantity Of
novels, which, strange to say, he be-
gan to recall at this particular period
He endeavored TO remember what de
scription the heroines received from
their creators at the moment of theil
first real love. One book, which was
fresher than all the others in his mem
ory, pictured the girl as becoming
''pale, ill and distraught looking"
AT the time of reading, Bob had not
lookedup the meaning of "distraught,
which word never in any connection
had come to his acquaintance in the
china business. When he went hom,
that night he pulled down his dust,
Webster and ON one of its yellow
leaves found the Specification of the
word.
''Pale, ill, distraught," " mused Bob
81 wonder if she is in any of them
She's not pale, but too flushed, an,
that's almost as bad She certainl,
did seem to be i'll to-day but, pshaw
that don't prove anything. She ma,
have trouble at home. l know moth
ing about her or her folks. There ar,
a thousand aud one possible reasons
I'm a fool and I'm going to bed"
The next morning the head of hi
firm asked Bob to step into the ofiic
and said to him:
''Mr. Acton, the house has som
very important business to be trans
acted, and in view of its proved reliano
on your ability, the matter will b
given in your charge"
Mr.. Bunker, an affable old gentle
man, was more than gracious to Bob
who did not seem to enthusiastieall
receive his information.
II thank you, sir, for your trust i
me" Bob returned with an effort q
! appearing happy "But may as
will this business call me out oftown?
"Just a few miles, replied his EN-
/ ployer smiling. "Across the ocean
Mr.. Acton, and if L remember rightly
you once requested to make this trip.
For a moment Bob was dumt
= founded; but his business tact 500
J reasserted itself and he rejoined wit
, gratifed smile.
: ''Mr. Runker, the house does N
too much honor-I shall try to earn
in the conduct of the matters you wis
3 to intrust to me. May L ask when
am expected start?'