The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-01-11

kept his daughter
as he fdgeted with
u E his paper and
Y k% stirred his hot
[ M coffee.is just as his
fSymS,cz patience was al an
-sSsaSssSS end the door opened
s-%1 and admitted tall,
~. v handsome girl, with
bright blue eyes and a determined
mouth. She held big bunch of Gle
mats in her hands.
"Where have you been, Mona?" in
quired her father.
Down at the river; / found the
stone wall near the boathouse ablaze
with these blossoms. / am sorry to
be late, dear"
"ThesSouthern mail is in," OBJ
served the General, nodding toward a
small pile of letters at her plate,
She flushed slightly as she laid the
ciematis on the sideboard, aud took her
seat at the table. A conscious smile
crossed her fathers face as she broke
the seal of the first letter. He turned
to thepaper in bis hands, and his eyes
cauRhf this heading: GA Romance in
Real Life" He glanced at the ar
ticle casually, and then the smile died
away sshis hands frightened on the
paper and his face grew hard and
stern while he read the following
paragraph:
with the invalided officers return
ing this week is young Colonel Law
renee, who was severely hurt in the
charge at San Juan. Among the
nurses who went to look after the sick
was a handsome young woman whom
the Colonel formerly admired. Fam
lily misfortunes had forced her to
adopt nursing as profession. Their
friendship was renewed, and when
the Colonel came home he was en-
gagged to his old love. Colonel Law
renee is to. be married very shortly.
Report says~dsat he had entangled
himself Nth anotheS lady, who viii
now ma that she must-look else
"nere !or consolation.
AS 4e laid down the paper the Gen
'rai glanced at his daughter. She
Sitting with dazed expression
IN aer face, gazing at letter she held.
,Tainer, what does this mean?" she
holding out the letter. He
from her, and this Is what he
ga.
'24 West Flfty--strest,
sNEw York, September 12, 1898.
Dear Mona-You may have seen in the
,apers an account OF my being wounded;
made light oft in my last letter, fearing
o alarm you, but the truth Is / am a wreck,
IS the papers have accurately stated. Jam
nvalided and crippled. and IL 1t had not
'ecn for devoted nursing should not be
lere to-day. Under the circumstances |
10 not lsAbjustlfled In holding you to your
Notwithstanding the pain 1t
auses me to do this want to release you
ntirely. and leave you free to marry some
mo who is not so shattered as myself; but
,elieve me, dearest, that whatever my fu-
ure life, you will always be shrlned deep
n my heart OF hearts. Your faithful friend,
"HENRY LAWRENCE"
"What does it mean?" almost shout
ID the old General. ''It means that
'our lover is scoundrel, Mona; read
his" and he thrust into her hands
he newspaper containing the "Ro-
nance in Real Life"
'Be brave, child; be brave" said
Ter father, as he watched her anx-
ously.
After a moments silence, the girl
urned pale face toward her father;
4 will be brave, but leave me to my
elf for while, and crushing the let
er in her hand, she hastily left the
DOM.
1t was a terrible blow to the Gen
raj; he had always liked Colonel Law
ence, and consented to the engage
nent jnst before the young man was
'rdered to Cuba. Pacing the rooms
he gave vent to his feel
ngs. "The scoundrell l should like
o horsewhip him myself for a whelp |
# cur if he were not wounded. What |
re his hurts to the stab he has given.
when Gilbert hears this"
md then the General remembered that
lis son was coming home that week.
t was a satisfaction to have q man
Iround to whom he could give vent to
lis outraged feelings.
As though in answer to his thoughts,
he butler at that moment brought in
! telegram. eyes, Gilbert was COM
ng, and, fortunately, a day earlier
han expected, bringing friend with
lin for the ball. Just as we'll to dis
ract her attention, thought her father,
IS Mona joined him with her hat on
nd letter in her hand.
81 have written few lines to say
hat his views. upon the subject of our
Engagement entirely coincide with
nine"
''My brave GIRL"
Don't say word more, now, father; |
can't bear it.
colbert is coming tomorrow at 5 |
With an old college friend, who, it !
Gems, has just turned up in New |
FORK"
81 am glad," said Mona, quietly, /
nd then calling to her dogs, she |
walked quickly away.
Gilbert Higgerson was good-heart- [