The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-04-07

she was thoroughly gentlemanly. She
told Mrs. Parker once, in q sudden
fit OF fshamefacedness for her ignorance
of womanly duties, that she never knew
lady. Her father was not willing to
have her associate with the neighbore'
wives or their daughters, aud their
only servant was an old sailor, who
cooked for them. All sewing was done
in town, and sent out to them, and
when the garments needed mending,
they we're sent to the orphan asylum.
Gam livery dreadfully" she asked, in
perfect sincerity.
you are not at all dreadfulp But
think it would please your father if
you learned some womanly accom-
plishments.
81 could make him more comfort
ablei never knew what q dreadfully
rudc home we have till came here.
Our piano is in the kitchen, aud paps's
books are everywhere. don't suppose
young gladies here have a rife, revolver,
riding-habit and hat, whip and fishing
rod in their own rooms, but have all
of these. AS for work-boxes and
crochet-needles, never owned either
one or the other. But If you will teach
me, Cousin Clara, will learn to sew
and cook. and make home pleasant.
And Cousin Clara, won from the
first by the bright, beautiful girl, will
ingly taught her all she wished to
learn. 1t was only in brief snatches
she could learn. Sewing worried her
cooking smothered her; housekeeping
accounts bothered her. Yet gradually
she was toning down.
Only the spirit OF mischief pos.
sessed her when Clarence was near.
Knowing all his fastidious tastes, all
his indolent, dilettante ways, she de-
lighted to jar upon the one, and shake
him out of the other. She reused
new ambition In his mind by keenly
pointed sarcasms at his effeminate pur.
suits. She challenged him to races,
shooting matches, pedestrian trips,
and fairly drove him about by the
laughing lash of her witty tongue.
1t was curious to note how they
came by degrees 10 level, the one
shaking off unmanly Incidence, the
other softening masculine traits, while
the little winged god of love hid.
laughing, unsupported by either.
Mrs. Parker found him out first
Loving Clarence above all else on
earth, her mother instinct taught her
quickly the reason of the change in him,
the influence that was giving him an
erect carriage, a new light of energy
in his great dark eyes, an added inter-
est in the affairs OF his own fortune,
seeking for channels where it might
flow to benefit others as well as him
self. And reading the secret Clarence
as yet did not himself suspect, Mrs
Parker exultei in her heart to see how
Myra was just as surely bowling hel
free, frank nature to the yoke of love,
softening her manner, toning down
her joyous ringing voice, training hel
hands to womanly work.
Autumnal winds were scattering the
crimson leaves when John Delanc
came to New York for the first time in
ten years, and was the guest of Mrs.
Parker in her city home, to which the
family had just returned. He came
for Myra, thinking of her happiness tc
come back to her free life, and she
grew pale at his loving caTess.
"What ails the child?" he asked,
turning to his cousin as Myra left the
room. "She was never so quiet as that
in her life before"
"You will know soon, John. No,
you may know nowl" said Mrs.
Parker, pointing, as she spoke, across
the hall to the library, where Clarence
had risen as Myra entered. Just one
long look into the two faces satisfied
the father.
"It will be we'll with her when am
gone" he said, half sadly; and when
Clarence came to him to win his con-
sent to wed Myra he received him
cordially and gladly.
SIT Will be lonely in the old home, u
he said, and Myra, clinging to him,
besought him to go back no more to
,, the solitary life of the past.
"We need you here" she pleaded
and Mrs. Parker endorsed the petition.
After the wedding of the young
: folks and their homecoming to the
new house Mrs. Parker insisted upon
their occupying, Cousin John fell into
the habit of spending his evenings
J., with CLARA. They were so lonely,
these middle-aged people, each de-
prived of companion of years. They
missed the "child" who had been the
T. center of all love for each, and, talk
y ing often of their mutual loss an(
Z gain, drew their sore, lonely hearts
= into close communion, until Myra,
. walking in upon her husband one
morning, announced:
. "Claire, have been to see you
= mother, and father was there, and
! guessP
a a "Well, 1 guess that after this who
- ever goes to see my mother will b'
very likely to find your father there.
"You knew"
= "Not word Is it settled2"
Eyes. They insist upon a quie
3 wedding in church, and we can ceas'
: to fret any longer about either one ol
the other missing you or me-"
1t was quite true. The power o
. love that had so softened and improve
= Myra, so ennobled Clarence, ha
s drawn the bitterness of their earl
, widowhood from the hearts of job
Delano and Clara Parker, and she'
= benign light over two happy homes. =
:, New York Ledger.
N ------AAn---------
y Cost Of New French Artillery.