Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-11-15

pressed her hand, and looked as much
love into her eyes as he dared to, and
whispered
Ill write to you
So this is the parting" murmured
Miriam; "will the meeting ever come
again?'
The days passed on and brought at
last letter from Castlen to Miriam. She
opened the missive with a Auttering
heart, for the first lines che was certain
would contain the sentence he had not
finished.
She read the letter and put it down
with sigh it did not contain what she
thought it would. Afterward che found
consolation in remembering that she had
once Lear him say that be would never
commit himself on paper.
She replied to the letter in the same
tone in which it had been written After
this. letters passed between them at inter.
walls Of few weeks. Letters which
nearly drove Miriam mad with the quiet
reserve and dignity.
Her father noticed her growing alb
straction of manner. and her face grow
ing paler ever day, guessed the cause
and decided that change for her would
do her good SO he ordered her to spend
a few months in Albany. at friends
house. Miriam obeyed listlessly. In
two weeks che was welcomed by her
aunt. As the season passed on and she
became. in measure, herself once more,
che attracted many an admirer to her
eide.
Foremost among these was Mr.. Hor.
ace Ballard. He was not handsome, but
he possessed tall well-proPortioned fig
ure; a high. broad forehead. shaded by
waves Of dark hair .; finn proud lip
and dark eyes. in which a dreamy lighl
was mingled with dauntless spirit
He was a man calculated to win a
woman's love. yet now in his first trial
be .e,.med likely to fail lie made q
favorable impression on her, and that
Ill H.. Las Iraon,
love was too fresh in her memory to al
low her to receive any seri Gus attentions
from any gentleman. So she kept Mr.
Ballard at a distance by her woInanly
tact.
Meanwhile he wooed perseveringly.-
She embodied his uoblest ideal of woman
hood, and he did not Gispair of winning
her.
She was sitting one evening in the
parlor with her cousin. who remarked af
ter reading letter she had just received
Miriam, | have an Invitation to act as
bridesmaid from an old schOol-friend
Anna Ellis. from New York, who is 10
the spriug to marry Mr.. Fraak Castlen'
Of the same city"
With an exceeding bitter cry. tha,
would wiring ones soul to hear, Miriam
bowed her head on her clasped hands.
"Why. Miriam ! cousin Miriam what
ails you 7" uttered her astonished oom'
panion, as shr sprang to her side.
The poor girl slowly raised her face.
wan aud white, aud answsred:
III, is nothing. Alice sudden pain,
that ia ALL" Aud she elasped her hands
over her heart, saying: 81 shal! b. better
in moment; ii you don't care Ill 20 to
my Nom."
She went alone. aud going to the
window, locked up a, the pale, brigh,
stare, aud said wearily:
life 10 40 hard, shall have 20 many
years to endure this suffering, II |
could forget! II | only could fGrget!"
she stood there uu,il the shades Of
nigh, had completely enveloped her. then
turning away ste mu,tered-
"He shall never know what fool he
has made Of me"
Iha, nigh, Horace Ballard called che
encouraged bic advances /, when he left
she wa. his betro,hed wife.
she returned home ia few days. and
was surprised to receive in shert time
a visit from her false lover.
He entered the parler unanneuneed,
and found her sitting with her back to
him a, the piano, siusing an old ballad
Like the wall of broken heart came The
las. words from her lip.;
why don't he come once more,
And love me as before,
AID s-y, cease weeping,
Thy love watch keepiag!"
"Miriam q be said, when she had
finished
she turned her face quickly toward
him i, was 40 pale, so de.pa'rins, The
index Of hear. torn with emotions ~
that Ca..len iel. twinge OF
COINCIDENCE tor a mamens a, the work he
had wrought,
Miriam with the courage Of her nature,
tried TO face him but leve wss stronger
,Lan pride, aud fadius i, in vain 10 NEE.
aud bear down the steady, teuder glance
of The blue eyes liked upon her, ehe
dropped her head into her hands,