Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-09-16
MRS. GRAY's SPARE ROW

| Suafies Nentnor, giving a look
OF surprise at the handsome brown.
stone front before which the carriage
stopped, never knew there was a
ooariing- house in this block"
This must be the house." said his
sister RianciDg at the card she held in
her hand ''2Si-yes, that is the nun.
her Mrs Duvsl gave me and, Charley.
believe L will go in with you. aud
then, If the room suits me, can engage
them at once" Aud, as she said this.
Mrs. Loring descended from the car.
riage and followed her brother up the
long fight OF steps.
Their ring was answered by a servant
IN livery, aud they were ushered into a
small reception-room, which was so
perfect In all its appointments that
Mrs. Loring gave little sigh of satis-
faction as she glanced around saving.
81 believe, Charley, that 1 have at
last found place which will suit me. "
"You ought indeed to be suited. il
all the house is like this" replied her
brother ''for this is certainly charm
| ing"
1t was indeed very pretty room.
The floor was covered with a carpet of
! pale drAb, dotted over with forget-me-
Dots ; the windows were hung with
draperies, over satin hangings of a per
feet forget me-not hue the chairs and
! ottomans were of the same color and
the few exquisite paintings on the wall
/ we're framed in gilt. with border of
| pale blue velvet !: costly bronze adorned
I the mantle a curiously curved table.
I IN the centre of the room, held a golden
vase filed with rare hot-louse flowers,
! aud little gleam of October sunshine
that stole in at the window, fingered
i loving Y on an exquisite marble cupid
which rested on a gilt stand.
( Scarcely had Charley Ventnor COM
| pleted his survey of the room, when
tire door opened. and young girl en-
tered who looked as If she might be the
presiding genius of the place, for her
dress was soft drab material, relieved
by knots of pale blue at her throat and
/ in her hair. She was very attractive,
though there was not singular feature
in her face but it was SO bright and
intelligent, and she had that graceful.
dainty air, which is often as pleasing a.
real beauty Her hair was really beau
tiful, of that golden shade which is
often described and so seldom seen.
She advanced with graceful esse, and
said ii a very sweet voice
81 believe you wish to see my sister |;
but as she is unfortunately not at home
| thought that perhaps yOu could leave
your message with me"
Mrs. Loring at once proceeded to
/ business, 81 came at Mrs. Duval's
suggestion, to look at your spare suit
of rooms" she said but if it is not
( convenient for you to show them to
me, L will come in again when your
sister is at home"
There Is no need of troubling You
to do that" the young lady replied.
.Tfyon have heard of the rooms through
Mrs. Daval, and would like to see
them, | shall be very happy to show
them, though they are not at all re-
markable."
81 assure you," replied Mrs. Loring,
''that | do not care for anything re-
markable. Ali wish is TO find a
pleasant home for the winter"
A little surprised look came into the
girls face as Mrs. Loring said this !;
but she Immediately rose, and saying.
Come with me, then, if you please.
led the way from the room.
When they reappeared again after
few Minutes, Charles Ventnor knew by
the expression of his sisters face, that
she was much pleased with what she
had seen, but said nothing till they had
hidden the young lady good morning,
and were IN the carriage once more.
Then she began
% Charley, the rooms up stairs are
lovely, even prettier than the one you
saw The two which she showed me
are furnished in crimson, and are IN the
most perfect taste. l do hope L shall
be able to secure them.'
Il only wonder that such remark
abl, boarding honse is not better
known. Did you ever hear OF 1t be-
fore 2 asked her brother.
No. replied Mrs. Loring; but then,
that is nos at all strange, for Mrs.
Duval told me that it had only been
open a short time But will You go
with me to- morrow? / am to be there
at ten o'clock, to see Mrs. Gray, when
we are to make all the final arrange
ments.'
Certainly, 1 Will with pleasure. /
am a1xious to see more of this house,
which L begin to think is an enchanted
place, of which this yellow haired
i4ssie' is the princess.
So the next morning found them at
Mrs. Gray's door, punciually at teD
o'clock. The lady of the house proved
as charming in manner as her sister !;
| mt when, after few compliments,
| Mrs. Loring explained the object OF
h.r call, Mrs. Gray seemed SO much
tstonisbed, that i'll spite of her efforts
20 conceal her amsZsment, Mrs Loring
| perceived il suffi ficient to rouse sus-
picion in her mind, as she went on
ooldlv:
Perhaps your sister did not tell you
that We we've here yesterday looking at
your suit of spare rooms, of which l had
heard through Mrs. Duval, and with
which was SO much pleased that L will
take them at almost any price.
There must be some very great mis-
take about this matter, Mrs. Gray said.
And with that she rose, rang the bell,
! and when the servant came 10 answer
70 the summons. said "Tell Miss
I Bessie would like to see her a mo-
ment.
A most awkward silence fell on the
trio after this, and it was great relief
/ to all when the young lady at length
made her appearance. She came into
the room in snch hesitatiDg way. and
with such a mingled look of shame and
fun in her face, that Charley Ventnor
/ thought her more attractive than ever.
Bessie said her sister in rather
grave tone, can you explain this extra
ordinary proceeding to meF
The girl bIushed, hesitatingly mo-