Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-01-20

property in the neighborhood, who
had recently married her coachman.
ssPoor, unfortunate woman!' ex-
claimed Geraldine. "How bitterly
she will regret it.
"Why should she?" inquired Jack.
ssBecause happiness is impossible
with such an ill-assorted match. y
''How do you know they are ill
assorted?"
ssWhy! the man is only a common
coachman.
ssBut you must remember that she
has married the man, not the coach
man; and if they are fond of one
another, why should they not be
happy"
''It is impossible" exclaimed Geral-
dine. ''How can shea lady of birth
and education-have anything in COM
mon with fellow like that-a newer
of wood and drawer of water?"
s'Don't be too hard upon us, said
Jack, half seriously. Remember that
Homer was a slave, Burns plowman,
and your favorite, Pope, only the son
of linen draper"
"Ah! but genius levels all things"
replied Geraldine, with a smile.
s.There is something else which
levels all things,' observed the young
boatman.
s.What is that?"
sLove," answered Jack. "That
glorious feeling which is the true
philosophers stone, which glids the
road of life, no matter how rough 1T
may be; makes dry crust with the
object of ones affection more accept
able than feast without her; and
which sweeps away all distinctions OF
rank, as the running water washes
away the dull earth and leaves the
grains of gold exposed.
elbow eloquent you are this after
noonr' remarked Geraldine, but her
voice was tremulous, and it was evil
dent that her playful sarcasm was but
assumed ''What novel have you
been reading?"
''Perhaps / am eloquent" replied
Jack. ''It has been said that all men
deeply in earnest are so, and this is
question that affects me to the bottom
of my soul! In days of old women
married men because they loved them,
irrespective of their banking accounts
or pedigrees. If man was honest,
brave and honorable, he was con-
sidered a match for any ladye faire, ;
and why should it not be SOP"
Chimes have altered" faltered
Geraldine, her usually pale face a rosy
red; ''and we have altered with
them"
'Not so" responded Jack. ''The
times have changed, grant you, and,
in many respects, for the worse; but
men and women are still the same.
Indeed, so sure am I that this is the
case, that + am about to stake my
whole future happiness upon it. [
love you truly and devotedly. 1 have
never loved before, and 1 shall never
love again. Will you be mine? Will
you trust yourself and your future
happiness to mel!
so! this is unkind and ungener-
ous," cried Geraldine, her eyes filing
with tears. ''You should not-you
ought not to-talk to me like this. -
"Why not? Out of the fulness of
| the heart the mouth speaketh, ;"
answered the young man, and, leaning
forward, he possessed himself OF one
| of her hands. ''Put on one side all
| disparities of rank or fortune, and ask
yourself the question: Do l love
him?' Geraldine, dear Geraldine, do
not let the cruel laws of society come
between us and ruin the happiness of
two lovers. Speak, darling, and tell
me you love me.
''Can you not see,' cried the poor
girl, commencing to weep bitterly, sit
is unkind of you to press me further?"
81 want to hear it from your own
dear lips" persisted Jack. 81 only
want you to say, L love you, Jack, and
will be your wife I"
"Oh, cannot"
''Do you love me?"
eyes, but-oh, look, there is my
aunt!'' exclaimed Geraldine. "Please
put me on shore at once"
Jack looked around and discovered
an old lady watching them intently
from the towing path, and, turning the
boats head, he sculled in to the bank,
saving, as he assisted Geraldine to
|. nd:
81 shall call upon you in the morn.
ing.
He did so, and was informed by the
servant that the family had gone away
early that day, and had left no address,
as they were going to travel on the
contine ent.
1t was the middle of the London
season, and Lady Althorpe's rooms
were crowded with the youth, beauty
and elite of the aristocracy. Bustline
up to Geraldine, the energetic little
hostess exclaimed
Don't move away for minute
dear, want to introduce Lord JOIN
Jasper to you. A most eligible parti
my dear. So handsome, as rich as
Croesus, and so delightfully."- eccentric
Sets up as woman-hater, you know
but if he resists you, my dear, why
shall give him up altogether