Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-11-25
Miscellany.


Il don't know what you mean, sir ~ she
exclaimed, with an expressive lit of the
jetty eyebrows; but the liquid orbs beneath
avoided mine, aud that encouraged me to be
saucy in my turn.
''lt is of no consequence that you should,
of course; but you don't imagine that you
were going to firt all summer with fellow
of my stamp, and get off unsinged your
self"
''Why not ?" she laughed. '.You don't
seem seriously damaged"
"But am. My heart is shriyelled crisp
as a wafer"
Really? Well, don't know what can
be done about it."
81 am going to show you" And so on,
for half an hour. We spoke jestingly, both
of us, but the laugh with each other covered
deeper feeling.
She was beautiful, my Margaret; fond Of
homage-as what woman is not ?-and accus-
toned to receiving it. 1t was not her fault,
after all, that loved her, but her glory, as
an honest mans love is always a true woman's
glory; and Margaret was a true woman,
though had called her a f1irt.
She was promised In marriage TO Ross
Bently before she ever saw me, long enough.
lie had stopped a horse that had been runn-
ing away with her, and SO saved her life.
When he asked her 10 give him what he had
saved, what woman with gratitude and a
whole heart would not have said yes as
she did q? Besides she loved him, for aught
| knew. / had seen him, and he was a hand
some enough man to win a woman's love, if
beauty would do it.
A handsome couple, bus somehow, seeing
the two together they did not seem to be fond
of each other; and so took courage Ger
tainly, Margaret never looked at Ross Bently
when | was by, as she had looked at me
many time that summer, as We strolled
along the beach.
Ross Bently once stayed week, and went
back TO town. He was man of business,
keenly devoted to money making; fonder OF
that, fancied, than of the beautiful woman
he had won, and upon that imagining hung
another hope. Margaret was an heiress,
If Margaret had been dOwerless, | fancy
that Bently would never have wooed her.
But how to prove If.
Margaret and | did not relapse into the old
fashion Ofstrolling about the beach by moon
light after Ross Bently had come and gone,
and We stopped looking and talking nonsense,
watching each other furtively. | felt con-
fdent that Margaret was wondering if |
had anything TO do with those moods of
pensiveness which had come upon my dark
eyed queen of late.
One day found her upon the balcony,
with an open letter in her hand.
Il am very fortunate girl" she said,
glancing at the letter. "Did you know that
Clark, Vernon & Co., the bankers in New
hal fa.1 1ol Io..
had heard of it.
"The bulk of my fortune was in their
hands at one time. | did not know but it
was still. My guardian writes to tell me,
however, that he removed it months ago"
L came forward eagerly at that, extending
my hand.
Permit me to congratulate you, Miss
Stone"
Margaret laughed rather confusedly as
she put her little hand in mine. l saw that
she was surprised at my eagerness.
''Miss Stone" said /, "Did you believe me
when | said that l loved you, somewhere
about month ago?"
Margaret colOred wildly, as she gave me
a doubling look.
"Yes. What of it? Do you want TO take
it back now! ~ she laughed
''Not |. But in consideration of my great
affection for you, want you to do a favor
for me-"
Name it," she said. looking puzzled.
al am going up to New York tomorrow.
Will you humOr me by permitting me to be
the bearer of a letter from yourself to Mr..
Bently 20
''This is an odd request
81 am aware of it. VIII you write TO
Mr. Bently' letter, asking him to inquire
into this matter of the bank failure, and
let you know how serious a business it
really is 90
''But l don't care about knowing"
81 do"
"Why not enquire yourself them"
''IIe has so much better facilities for in
restigation. The truth is, Miss Stone, am
very much interested in this failure, and
Mr.. Bently can find out all about it for me.
But don't like to ask him TO do so much
for a comparative stranger"
Margaret looked doubtful still, but she
wrote the letter, and took it to the city the
next day.
Ross Bently grew slightly pale as he read.
Il suppose you know that the bulk of
Miss Stones fortune was in the hands of
Clark, Vernon s Co.," l carelsssly OBJ
served.
81 was not aware of it," Bently said,
losing another shade of color.
''Oh, well, it was. Can anything be saved |
out Of the crash, do you suppose?"
mot anything, am very sure" he stam- |
mered. And thinking he might like to me-
ditate upon the aspect of affBirs, | took my |
departure, saying that would call before |
went away again TO take any message he |
might like to send.
when l called next day he gave me let |
ter for Margaret; but he looked anywhere |
but at me as took it.
l caught a glimpse of Margarets blue
dress on the piazza as we drove up to the |
hotel; and without waiting to go to my room
first, FASTENED to her, and gave her the
letter.
Then, much as I would have liked to stay
until she had read it, had no excuse for
doing so, and therefore left her. waited
with something more than curiosity for her
appearance at dinner time, but she did not
come at all. | ate nothing myself, and
spent the evening pacing the piazza with
my cigar. and watching her window. But
not so much as a shadow of what | watched
FOR crossed my vision.
remembering Deully lace as Ne gave me
he letter, l could imagine that he might
nave written something unpleasant; but
wen was not prepared for the contents of
he missive Margaret placed in my hands the
morning, coming suddenly upon
ne where | lounged on the shore.
II suppose that was what you went to
own for" she said, with an angry scorn,
nder which l quailed. for felt guilty; and
8 read l WINGED again.
hescoundrel, A more disgraceful epistle
never perused. If Margaret had loved
i'm ever so dearly, this would have certainly 3
nded it. He dissolved-the engagement {
Tithout so much as saying ''by your leave" |
lie did, indeed. say something about has {
ming to speak while there was yet an c
ncertainty as to how seriously the failure q
ad involved other people. But that was Z