Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1870-10-26
ssIett Storp..
THE UNCONSCIOUS CONFESSION.

Make haste, gentlemen, the railway
omnibus is waiiing!" cried the voice Of
the hall porter at the Royal Hotel" al
Long Beach.
A tall, and handsome young gentle.
man, at the summons, came down the
staircase, two steps at time, and almost
ran over matronly lady, some years his
senior, who was crossing the hall Of the
hotel .-, ..,-,- e.. ....... ,-a. ...r
What going to leave us p said the
lady, in some surprise, and d'more meaning
in her looks than in her words even.
"Yes. it's no use," was the reply.
Thanks for your good wishes, which l
can see in Your looks Mrs. Maxwell.
But l am tired of playing the fool
"Pshaw % said the lady, putting her
arm famlliarly into his, and leading him
into the coffee-room, which, at thai hour,
was deserted. ".Faint heart never won
fair lady, Mr.. Hasting. Listen to me,
The omnibus will wait moment %
Its not question of faint heart" an
swered the gentleman. But Kate won't
have me. See here, Mrs. Maxwell,
she refused me poin. blank last night
"And what if she did | refused Mr..
Maxwell the first time myself. It's a
way some of our sex have. Come, stay,
and try again
"Im proud man." was the reply,
land don't like being trihed with. But
I'd stay if | thought it would do any
good But in won't. She isn't anywhere
about, you see, though l told her
| would go away to-day. And when
told her, she actually laughed. And
vet confound hor, l can't help loving
her. .,. a. .r.. .I.r ..
Mrs. Maxwell would like to have laugh
ed also. But she knew better than to do
it just yet. !. aa-' Ea
'She was. little hysterical or she
wouldn't have laughed" she said. "The
truth is, Herbert. you are a pair of fools.
Your are proud, as you say, and don't
brook refusalsl Kate is, perhaps, bit
of firt. but l sincerely believe she
loves you. All she needs is little more
urging. You must storm the fortress
till it surrenders. Give her no quarter
that is my advice y and now Mrs. Max
well, seeing his face brighten, ventured a
laugh. .i.-.-ri saf .rsr.- 7rt
1t was clear, musical laugh, and it
cheered Herbert still more. He hesitat.
ed. If another five minutes could have
been granted to Mrs. Maxwell, she would
have prevailed. But at this moment a
voice cried, "Here he is. Make haste,
Hastings. We've looked for you every.
where The coachman says he cannot
wait another moment. All, Mrs. Max
well, our holiday is over you see. Good
bye" 'h = -l'o.' o.
That interruption decided Herbert
He shook his head in reply to Mrs. Max.
wells entreating look, wrung her hand
and dashed out of the coffee-room. The
next minute the omnibus dashed away
from the hotel. TgI 5Y4159
1t was a mile to the station and ere il
was reached, Herbert half repented what
he had done. ..r ...-is -r
Perhaps l have been too hasty,''' he
said to himself. "What if Mrs. Maxwell
is right? I've great mind 10 60 back :
he thought. "Hold on, driver" he cried,
aloud. "I've changed my mind. Stop
till l jump out" '-'A'
Before his companions could ask wha,
he meant, he had left the omnibus and
lit a cigar, and was plodding along the
beach on his return to the hotel, carpet.
bag in hand.
= Meantime, where was the offending
Kate I? To do her justice, she was moi
aware how much she loved Herbert Hast.
ing until she had refused him. 1t was moi
altogether coquetry that led her to say
mo. The answer had been given in
the first surprise and embarrassment ol
the proposal. She was frightened tc
find, almost Immediately, how much she
misunderstood herself. She grew more
and more embarrassed in consequence