Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-06-03

"Has gone driving with Mr.. Shelton, >
finishes Norman, composedly. 81 saw
them start. But it was not Miss Dians
whom came to see, Mrs. Hoadley."
''Whom then. Norman?
yourself. 1 wished, however, to
talk with you concerning your daughter
L know that what I intend saying is nc
possible affair of mine, and doubtless
am taking the most reckless of liber.
ties"
'Speak on, Norman" Mrs. Hoadley
softly encourages.
Norman Pomeroyis dark gray eyes are
fixed very steadfastly now on the face
of Dians's mother.
"Mrs. Hoadley, I believe that youl
daughter has become greatly interested
in Walter Shelton"
Mrs. Hoadley looks right troubled al
this. "Oh, Norman" she presently
bursts forth, 'if you only knew what
an effort it has cost me to bring myself
into acknowledging that Diana really is
fond of Walter Shelton do not like
the man / have never liked him And
Mountaineering her voice to regret.
full semi-tone-''there was q time, you
know, when 1 firmly trusted that
that"
"Yes. l know" he breaks in, little
coldly, though his eyes shine almost as
if from unshed tears. "But that is all
past now-all irrevocably past, Mrs.
Hoadley." Then he suddenly rises and
walks toward the window, stands gazing
from it for a moment, knits his brows
worriedly once or twice. and at length
turns toward Mrs. Hoadley, speaking
with most rapid tones and in an excited
voice: "Close observation can show q
man great deal, and it has shown me
this: Every fresh day that Diana Hoad-
ley is in Walter Shelton's company she
becomes more and more attached to
him. He fascinates her, as he is trying
to do. 1t is his trade"
"What do YOU mean"
"He has no other occupation in life,
one might almost say. He is the sort
Of man who counts up his 'conquests
every year very much as an Indian brave
might count the number of scalps he
has taken. Marry? Not hei If woman
believes the nonsense he talks to heI
and pines for him after he has gone away
among fresh fields and pastures new,
why the more fool she is-that is all.
"Do you mean to tell me the man is
like this. Norman?"
81 know it. But in the case of youl
daughter 1 propose at least giving him
the benefit of the doubt"
81 don't understand.
Let me explain: With your permits
sion 1 mean to meet this man and hold
an interview with him. As an old friend
of his family shall ask him whether he
has matrimonial views or not. If he
tells me a falsehood 1 shall very soor
detect it. Should he positively state
that it was his intention to ask for you
daughters hand. then l shall have nc
further words with him."
There is a slight silence, nov. Mrs
Hoadley levels upon Norman looks ol
ill-concealed admiration.
"This is so noble and kind of you =
she at length bursts forth. "There are
not many men who would behave in sc
disinterested q spirit I"
"Oh, do not speak of that" Norman
murmurs. "There is one point in this
coming interview" he progresses,
(Which somewhat bothers me. 1 mear
where to hold it. My room at the
hotel is so small, and what one say SC
nearly sure to be heard among the ne1t
door apartments. that"
"Let it be held here" interrupts Mrs
Hoadley.
"Here I"
"Why not?"
"But yon cannot arrange it.
"Do not be too sure of that" Mrs
Hoadley looks thoughtful for a few
seconds. Presently she goes on, with
considerable earnestness Altogether
Norman, 1 would rather have you meei
here, for more reasons than one. And
as for its not being practicable, L really
doubt if you can have thought much
on the question, to decide so. We car
very easily arrange the whole matter"
On the following morning Diana /:
occupying the sitting-room, with visi
tor on the sofa at her side. The visitor
is Mr.. Walter Shelton. He looks ex
tremely handsome this morning, in his
elegant suit of white duck, relieved by
a rich blue-silk cravat. He is reading
Tennyson to Diana, who bends above
some embroidery that seems to occupy
her attention much more closely at Ger
tain times that at others. Reading
that is, in a ve-y irregular way; fol-
both he and his companion pay Mr.
Tennyson the frequent disrespect of in
truding their own thoughts (often com
monplace enough among the poets
charming numbers.
Suddenly Mrs. Hoadley enters, fol
lowed by Norman Pomeroy. The lool
of dissatisfaction that crosses Waltel
Shelton's face is indeed ill-concealed
as he rises to pay his greeting. Dian'
is lady enough in her own house to smllt
with the proper amount of courteous
ness.
II am very sorry to tell you, my
daughter" Mrs. Hoadley Immediately
commences, "that you will have to leave
both these gentlemen in my hands TO
some few minutes-perhaps Q quarte
of an hour"
"Why so, mamma ?" asks Diana.
because, my dear, Mrs. Wainwright
has sent her maid for you from the hote
to 20 over and cure one of her head
aches. You know how wonderfully 20,
cured her last one by just passing ant
re-passing your fingers over her fore
head.
"Yes, mamma and since I have dis
covered that nature has endowed M
with the sweet privilege of at least call
ing myself good for something, an
only too happy (speaking with laugh
terful earnestness) to hurry toward
poor Mrs. Wainwright's succOr.
"But is she not very suddenly at
tackled? saw her less than an hou
ago, and she was looking quite we'll"
''Neuralgia comes on quite suddenl.
always" responds Mrs. Hoadley.
Just now Norman Pomeroy is won
dering silently to himself, "How is Mrs
Hoadley possibly going to manage mat
ters? The headache of Mrs. Vain