The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-12-16
A +" Business
Appointment
BY W. Lomax

II was . O'Clock a. night on Decem'
bel 23. the day before Christmas Eve
wnen Frank Maitland stepped out OF
the train at his native town and car
ried lis shabby bag to the cloakroom
His movements were all marked
With sort OF grim and desperate de-
termination. He was like a man
VINO had made up his mind after pro-
longed recitation to a given course
OF action.
He marched with quick step and
lowered head through the familiar
streets which he had not seen for five
,;cars. not daring to glance around
him lest some one whom he had
known IN the old days should recog'
ni2e and accost him.
- the nearer he got to the house
the more vehemently he was assailed
with doubts.
How could he tell the story of his
.snam' to his fathers honored friend
How could he ask for pauper relief
IN IN, house where he had once been
the favor!te guest?
Bet there was one gleam OF conso'
Iatio" in all those dark and harass-
Ing thoughts. AT all events he would
oe spared meeting with Alice even
II he succeeded In obtaining access
to her father. She was certain to be
married. to Lave been married long
ago, and have left the old home.
How could she fail to be married ?
Sucl beauty and gracious simplicity
an CHAIRMAN heiress, too-must
have mai a score OF eligible suitors
to choose from.
So struggling onward with bent
head, like man battling his way in
the teeth of a storm. he eventually
reached the house.
'Is NJ Seymour at home? Could
see him for a moment? My name
is Frank Maitland. lm-l'm very
sorry to trouble YOU"
Mr. Seymour is dead. He died
three months ago, sir"
'De,d!"
But the housekeeper was speaking
to somebody in the dim-lit hall and
Frank heard her reply to her unseen
ques1orer.
"Yas. miss-Mr. Frank Maitland,
miss"
Franks Is that really you,
Frapk?"
"Ye- -es."
One of those white hands was
stretched out TO him, and he took ii
in his own with feeling of awe that
she should be willing to shake hands
with him.
won't you come in. Frank"
Then he 70 md himself in the libra
ry seated before a blazing fire, with
All, sitting opposite him
They were together and alone af-
ter tive years. 81,
A long silence had fallen between
than He had blurted out:
I've been in prison convicted en-
a charge of forging a check, and SEN
ten" ID five years penal servitude,
and am now out on ticket-of-leave."
He had not dared to look at her,
and she had not spoken.
You didn't knesy my shameful
story Alice?" he ventured at last.
oh, yes. did; father anI-I both
knew it. and often talked it over to-
gether. We couldn't forget old
friends as easily as all that" an
swe Alice repro o2chfully.
But your father could have had
no doubts about my being guilty OF
the crimt for which was condemned,
Alice?r
Yes, he had, Frank?"
But pleaded guilty?"
Yes know; but father said that
was inst the sort or thing you might
be expected tc do He said No,
Franz, | don't think | can tell you
wha: father said exactly He"
Alice. do, please" he interrupted.
"Well, perhaps | night What
be said, WAS She paused, ral-
: red, and began again: What he
said was that to take the guilt upon
yoLrsol. to screen woman was just
the scrt of quixotic thing that a chiv-
alrous young fool like Frank Matt
land might have been expected to
d."
He had been hoping against hope
that might be spared the necessity
of broaching the-real object of mis-
visit. But there II was she had
challenged him and he was forced 10
respond SIS
,."You see, Alice" he said with des-
perate courage. nobody cares to
have ticket-of-leave man about the
place Ye' had a forlorn kind Of
hope that your father. would be diff
ferenCfrom other people and might
hav lent me helping hand to make
a fresh start somewhere Bat now"
Il wonder if could help YOU in
a w" she pondered aloud
But you don't want secretary,
Alic,
Most certainly not, she replied
with a sharp decision
"Then ! don't understand
Men neger understand, Frank;
but 1t does happen that have all ap-
pointmeEt in my gift which | am
willing to place at your disposal" "
"Alice!" he exclaimed. How
lucky!"
What is it, Alice?"
III stand to Alice Seymour, who
has never ceased to love you. who
has though, of you every day for the
last five weary years, who has lived