Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-07-14
The Old Letters.

80 Elsie, What must do? There
comes that odious Clifton again.
MY child, refuse to see him; surely
YOU are not obliged to receive him
whenever he chooses to come here 20
20 nurse, you cannot understand; l
must submit TO that mans imperti-
nence."
Indeed! l cannot understand why
This should be the case, and you aston
ish me when you say so. have thought
that this Mr.. Clifton's calls were 30 fire.
quent that DIR. Reed, your betrothed
husband, might not be pleased
Il must confide the humiliating secret
10 you, mamma Elsie. Years ago nv
own imprudence placed me in that bold
bad mans power. But listen-that is
his ring at the door bell. will see him
this evening, but Elsie, this shall be the
last interview that 1 will grant him.
Tonight | will tell you ALL
MY poor dearie. | fear some youth
ful folly is about TO r;pen into bitter
fruit that you cannot easily put away"
And motherly old Elsie sighed deeply
as the old lady followed the servant.
Ii was hours after. The evening had
grown into night when Sybil Bond
crepr UP the stairs TO her old nurse,
whom she knew would be waiting for
her. Crossing the room to the window
where Elsie sat in the shimmering light
OF the full moon she sank Oh the floor at
her side, burying ber face in the folds
of her dress.
Caressingly soothing the dark hair of
her pet, Elsie waited until the storm
had spent its fury, and only an occa-
sional shudder or quiver of the slight
form told of the mental anguish she was
enduring.
"rell me, dearie, what troubles you 50
greatly 20
Mamma Elsie, bear with me even as
you have always borne my wayward-
ness since my mother placed her twelve
hours old babe in your arms, and went
TO heaven"
80, Sybil, my dear young lady, it was
precious charge, coming as il did from
my dear young mistress in her early be-
reavement, and you know your sainted
mother followed her idolized husband
10 his last home in one short week after
his sudden death"
Elsie, do you remember the summer
we passed at your sisters beautiful
prairie homer"
Full well, my dear; il was your fif-
teenth summer; you were rather deli
cate, and 4 thought perhaps the country
air might be beneficial to you."
"You will remember that, although
did not like going, 1 soon became well
pleased with the place, and liked staying
go well that did not ask to come back
to the city until fall, when L suddenly
insisted Oh All immediate return"
"Yes, ] remember"
"Well, nurse, il was there that met
Warren Clifton. ] WAS young, roman
tic and easily battered by his attentions.
! promised TO be his wife. After We re-
turned home, had time TO think of my
folly and alter a few months OF childishly
romantic correspondence, 1 wrote TO
him, asking to be released from my en-
gagement, and requesting that he should
return all my letters. This he refused
TO do.
"rhe cowardiy rascalv cried Elsie.
al wrote again and again, but TO my
entreaties he returned the same answer.
Then 1 went abroad, you remember,
and met DIR. Reed. l loved him, and
promised to be his wife, hoping that
Clifton had forgotten me, or had learned
was On learning the news of my en-
gagement, that bad man came here, and
threatens to show my foolish, sentimen-
tai letters to DIR. Reed, if 1 do not in
stantly break my engagement and marry
him."
Svbil burst into tears, and ceased
speaking, while Elsie soothingly said /:
There, there, child, do not grieve so.
l. n ha httr an va
nothing really to be ashamed of, after
all. Tell DIR. Reed the whole story, and
he'll not be the man TO judge a mere
child harshly."
A look of horror appeared on Sybil's
pale face.
Tell DR.. Reed, You know not what
you are talking of, Elsie He has told
me, over and over again, that he would
marry no woman who had loved another
man. And will he not despise me for
not telling him the truth until forced to
do so? He will not understand that
never really loved Warren Clifton after
reading those letters. No, cannot tell
him."
depend upon it, dear child, it is the
best thing TO do, urged Elsie.
mo, mol Never speak of such a
tnlng again. II lie ihuet AHoW II, i w hi
not be the one who tells him that which
could only cause him to scorn me. To-
morrow afternoon we must be ready To
90 from here. In the interim, We Will
catch few hours sleep. And, nurse,
be sure you are ready. Now, good
night"
And, kissing her old friend affection
ately Sybil arose, and walked slowly
out of the ROOM
..She shall not commit this last folly,
if have any wits about me" said Elsie
determinedlv.
She caught up light shawl, and
hastily throwing it over her head, lef'
the room, but paused at the stairway In
the hall, counting the strokes Of the
clock.
.'Twelvei" she muttered.
She listened moment and then passed
down TO the hall leading to the from
door. Standing on the outside, she
looked up the village street.
There's dim light, and his buggy
is at the door. must hurry, or III be
too late" And she walked briskly uI
the street. ----