Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-09-24
Years passed by, and Bella recovered
her old cheerfulness. SuitOrs came,
but she encouraged none. Her every
day life said plainly, in the words of
Marion Gray:


her old cheerfulness. Suitors came
but she encouraged none. Her every
day life said plainly, in the words o
Marion Gray:
- can love more,
My heart lies buried beneath the sea
Yet why should give my days to grief,
There is plenty Of work in the world for me.
And work she did the poor of thu
country round blessed her; not house
did sickness or sorrow enter but Belli
Selton found her way to, bringing sun
shine to many darkened home.
Squire Selton had mourned Tor Ralpl
as for son, yet he hoped that Belli
would forget him, and marry. Only
once did he mention the subject tc
Bella, when rising young lawyer asked
for her hand in her twenty-second year
"Bella, my child" he had said, "why
won't you accept young Granville? HI
would make you happy, and L wish Sc
much to see you settled"
"Dear papa. Bella replied, 81 cannot
Something whispers to me that Ralpf
is living. Five years ago told him
would wait for him, and [ Will keep my
word"
"God grant that he is living" said the
squire, solemnly; "but I can scarcely
hope it; five years is long time,
Bella"
81 know that, papa, and still 1 have
hope" was the reply, and so the subject
dropped.
And the years passed on, bringing nc
tidings of Ralph Truman or the Rose
of Canada.
Again it was May, and the apple-blos
SONS loaded with perfume the air round
Selton Hall. The sun was sinking
slowly in the west, its rays lighting up
the windows of the old house, as fair
haired woman passed ont of side door,
and walked toward the orchard. Down
at the far end she stopped, and leaned
against an apple tree.
"Sixteen years to-day" she mur-
INJURED, "and it seems like dream
sixteen years since L promised to wait
for you! o, Ralph, Ralph my poor
lost Ralph living or dead, do you know
that l am waiting for you still? ?"
A soft breeze rustled the apple boughs
above her, and shower of blossoms
fell on her head, as she stood, her fore
head resting against tree: A step on
the grass startled her, and she turned
round. A tall, sunburnt man, with long
brown beard and curling chestnut hair,
stood before her. For a moment Bella S
heart stopped beating, and she grew
pale, but the next instant she sprang
toward the new conner.
Ralph
"Bella! =
And the long-parted lovers were re-
united at last.
The first words Bella said were,
"Come to papa, Ralph" and she led
him to the porch, where Squire Selton
sat doing.
"Papa," she said, "here is a gentle
man, an old acquaintance, who wishes
to see you"
"Oh-ah-yes Very happy to see
you, SIR" said the squire, starting up.
II believe 1 don't remember you
Ralph"
Upon getting full view of his visitors
face, Squire Selton had recognized him
at once.
eyes, Mr.. Selton, it is Ralph; have
you welcome for him %
ga thousand, my boy, thousand, "
cried the squire, shaking hands with
Ralph as though he intended to wiring
off his arm; 'and there's that lady" "
pointing to Bella, "she has waited all
these years for you; what do you say
TO that?" Aud, Bella child, see if tea
is ready; we mustn't let curiosity get
the better CT hospitality" Here the
squire stopped for want of breath.
After supper Ralph Truman gave the
squire and his daughter detail of his
adventures how he was wrecked in the
Indian Ocean, and cast, with two com
panions, on an uninhabited island,
where they remained for fourteen years,
and were at length rescued by vessel
bound for China, whittier they went.
Upon reaching China, Ralph learned
that his uncle was dying, and hastened
to him. He fingered for few weeks
after Ralphs arrival, and died, leaving
Ralph his sole hair. As soon as possible
after his death, Ralph started for Can
ada, returning to his native land a
wealthy man.
The following day the neighborhood
was electrified by learning that Ralph
Truman who, for sixteen years, had
beer considered dead, had returned.
Two weeks later there was a wedding
at Selton Hall, which every one declared
to be the grandest they had ever seen ;
and looking fairer beneath her bridal
veil than ever she had looked in her
youth, Bella Selton became the wife of
him whom she had mourned as dead
years before, and yet clung to the pro-
mise she had made-to wait for him,
no matter how long.