Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-04-22

was one of the an,inted !-one of The
few set apart
I don't like to be laughed at, and yet
1 always enjoy joke on myself as vel
as on others. I'll put my hands ovel
my face while tell it.
A peddler came along with q fine
assortment of Irish poplins. Now, ]
always had a weakness for lustrous
poplins. l am tall and slender / knew
a dress of dark green poplin would fall
in such magnificent folds from my
waist down to my feet, that 1 would be
the admiration of all Lenox and vicinity.
had felt desire to help my pool
husband, Fudgel Wouldn't that be
inverting the order of marriage p
wouldn't that be making of myself the
strong oak, and of him the clinging
vine2 1, free woman, able to earn
my own living by my pen, would none
of this.
1 bought the beautiful pattern, and
promised to pay for it as soon as heard
from "my publishers. said this with
great deal of zest and satisfaction.
TIE dress was twenty dollars. I could
pay for that easily, and have money
left-and how nice that would be. Not
another woman in Lenox could do such
things as that, they were all burdens to
their husbands. They leaned on them.
Well, well, no italian sunsets were
finer than ours in Lenox no sunrise in
the tropics softer, or mellower, or more
delightful.
In few weeks came a bulky enve-
lope, accompanied by a letter. My
beautiful love story of Augustus the
Runner, and Melissa Melsina the Or
phan" came back to me, and the letter
read:
"MADAM: We shall not be able to
use your story of Augustus the True
Hero We return you the MSS, ETC.,
ETC."
Why wouldn't they use it Perhaps
an ill-disposed clerk had sent it back to
me; or, maybe, they had organized
rings, and favored no new contributors.
1 wrote back Immediately, and asked
why they refused it. l wanted they
should point out the errors, and if it
was not worth fifteen dollars, perhaps
they would pay me twelve for it; and,
rather than miss sale, and because it
was my first attempt, l was willing to
sell it for ten dollars. l didn't mind
making little sacrifice. could afford
to be generous. 1 received no reply.
1 wrote again with like result.
1 hoped better fate for the "Grand-
mothers Prophecy" but though 1
waited long and patiently, Inever heard
a word from it. presume it was con-
signed to the waste-basket.
The days were not so beautiful then.
My star of hope had gone down-the
sunsets and sunrises were very common.
1 wondered wherein had ever lain the
FURNISHED glow and the tender simmer
on the hazy hill-tops, and the soft, ca
ressing touch that seemed to come to
my glad face in the twilight breeze that
dallied on the billowy meadows, and
shook the over-ripe roses until their
pale petals fell like fragrant flakes at
my feet.
L took up the burden of life again
it was a little heavy at first; its task;
were often performed in tears, that fell
freely when thought of my great mis-
take. Though 1 shrank from facing
the truth, l could call my error by no
other name.
How 1 hated the sight of my green
poplin dress 1t brought up such pain
full memories; and then it did not har-
monize with my shawl, or hat, or veil.
What a mountain loemed up before me
when l tried to pay for it myself.
l sold butter and eggs, chickens and
berries, and cucumbers and radishes,
and took in washiHgs and boarded the
music-teacher, but i couldn't pay for it
all myself, and couldn't trade it off.
It haunted me like the dead body haun-
ted Eugene Aram.
At last, in a fit of despair, l cried
right out one night, and owned up to
the whole thing. Twas very miserable;
hid my face in Joey's bosom, and with
sobs that shook me like an ague fit, 1
confessed the whole truth. 1t was very
humiliating, but joey said it only made
me dearer to him than ever, and that l
must never play the strong oak again,
and keep secrets from him any more.
He said the public should never have
the opportunity of criticizing his dear
wife's pretty stories. that they couldn't
appreciate them; greedy gourmand of
a public never should tear from the
sanctity of home her precious name,
and flaunt it in the papers.
He paid for the ugly green dress will
lingly, and the tender love-light in his
blue eyes, as he did it, was worth more
to me than all the huzzas and noisy
plaudits of hollow-hearted public.
never recovered from the humilia-
tion. My soul is sick yet, when 1 think
of the bright dreams that for few
months dazzled my eyes, and bewildered
and biased my better judgment.