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


that made Mrs. Parker SO fascinating.
And yet she mad an instructive avoid.
ance of any uncouth or rude speech or
act. As Clarence once told his mother,
she was thoroughly gentlemanly. She
told Mrs. Parker once, in a sudden
ht OF fshamefacedness for her ignorance
OF womanly duties, that she never knew
a lady. Her father was not willing to
have her associate with the neighbors'
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 were sent to the orphan asylum.
'Am livery dreadfully" she asked, in
perfect sincerity.
You are not at all dreadful2 But /
think it would please your father if
you learned some womnnly accom-
plishments."
81 could make him more comfort
ablel never knew what dreadfully
rude home we have till came here.
Our piano is in the kitchen, and papa's
books are everywhere. don't suppose
young ladies here have a rifle, 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, l never owned either
one or the other. But If you will teach
me, Cousin Clara, 1 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 a
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 TO 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 ont 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, 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 exultel in her heart to see how
Myra was just as surely bowling her
free, frank nature to the yoke of love,
softening her manner, toning down
her joyous ringing voice, training her
hands to womanly work.
Autumnal winds were scattering the
crimson leaves when John Delano
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 to
come back to her free life, and she
grew pale at his loving caress.
"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.
sit will be we'll with her when l am
gone" he said, half sadly; and when
Clarence came to him to win his con-
sent to wed MYra he received him
and gladly.
"It Will be lonely in the old home,"
he said, and Myra, clinging to him,
besought him to go back no more to
the solitary life OF the past.
ave need you here" she pleaded;
and Mrs. Parker endorsed the petition.
After the wedding of the young
folks and their homecoming to tho
new house Mrs. Parker insisted upon
their occupying, Cousin John fell into
the habit of spending his evenings
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
center of all love for each, and, talk
ing often of their mutual loss and
gain, drew their sore, lonely hearts
into close communion, until Myra,
in upon her husband one
announced:
"Claire, have been to see your
mother, and father was there, and
guess?"
"Well, 1 guess that after this who
ever goes to see my mother will he
very likely to find your father there"
"You knew"
"Not a word! Is it settled2"
"Yes. They insist upon a quiet
in church, and we can cease
to fret any longer about either one or
the other missing you or me-"
1t was quite true The power of
love that had so softened and improved
Myra, so ennobled Clarence, had
drawn the bitterness of their early
from the hearts of John
Delano and Clara Parker, and shed
benign light over two happy homes. -
New York Ledger.