Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-01-06

1t was at the Capitol In Washington
that 1 first saw her, sitting demurely in
the Senate gallery, gazing down with
soft blue child-eyes at the assembled
wisdom of the nation. As 1 entered
with my sister Constance on my arm,
the blue eyes looked up, the arch mouth
dlmpled into smiles, and she nodded at
my sister-one of those charming little
feminine mods that expresses these SEN
timents 81 am glad to see you-am
lonely-come and take a seat by me-"
"Who is she ?" / whispered to my
sister, as we threaded our devious way
toward her.
And Constance answered as if not
overpleased with the recontre, but in
tending to make the best of it. Oh
only Irene Invernay, boarding-scho
miss"
Constance had graduated two long
years before at the Georgetown Semi
nary for young ladies, and looked down
with due contempt upon her enanci-
pated dignity on the generality of silly
bOarding-school misses. i smiled to
myself at the serene condescension with
which she bent to kiss the offered lips
of Irene Invernay-the prettiest lips in
the world l thought then, and think
now.
"Miss Connie, am so surprised to
see you here" cried q fresh young
voice.
"Ies, and am more surprised to see
you," answered Constance with a sus-
picion of boarding school escapades
and adventures in her voice, 'Irene,
this is my brother Frank. Miss Inver-
nay-Capt. Fordham."
She bowed slightly as Constance set
tied herself in her seat, and extended
one little ungloved hand to me. l took
it, bowed over it a second, and seating
myself, released it, leaving my heart in
that rosy palm.
"WhO'd have thought of seeing you
here" said Constance enquiringly and
puzzledly, "Are you alone 2"
A fitting flush crossed the fair, child
like face under the sharp fire of Con-
MES black eyes. could have pinched
the rosy ears of my stately sister for
her unmerciful abruptness to the poor
little dove.
"No, not quite alone-oh ! 1 know
you are suspecting me of an escapade,
Miss Connie"-a dawning mischief in
the blue innocent eyes, "but really, l
had permission to accompany Miss
| A, our music teacher, here. / was
so anxious to come, and have not been
so very well of late, touching her pale
cheek with one taper finger, "and the
doctor said fresh air and amusement,
and so-they let me come"
"Oh !" said Constance relieved, "and
where is Miss A-?"
"Oh not far off, she saw friend :"
and with this not very lucid explana-
| ten the sixteen-year-old child turned
to me.
"Will you show me some of the
celebrities, please? Some of the great
men of the day?"
1 pointed ont Sumner, Schurz and
others to her awe-stricken observation,
smiling to myself at the reverential
pleasure that dawned expressively in
her eyes. Once or twice had to catch
the dimpled hand and force it down in
her lap. Don't point your finger,
please; you will be observed it is not
etiquette" / vaguely remarked.
She laughed, lifting her gaze brightly
to mine.
Thank you for reminding me. 1
believe l never remember to behave
exactly as others do"
That was her greatest charm, /
thought, but forebore to say SO. only
caught up the conversation and chatted
soft nonsense to her while Constance
listened to the energetic sparring that
went on among the Senators below. /
confess that had come to listen, too !;
but what is the united eloquence of the
world to a man when he can listen to
the silly, innocent whispering that
comes so eutrancingly from the lips of
beautiful, innocent child-woman
Que or two hours went by in this
wise, and Constance signitied her desire
to go. Then little Miss Invernay looked
about her in fiutter for her COM
panion. In vain. Miss A was no.
where to be seen, and the child lifted
an appealing glance to me from the
soft eyes framed so bewitchingly in the
fair, almost too fragile face. "What
shall do ?"
"Im sure / can't tell, /" said Constance
refectively. 81 am afraid Miss A. has
gone away and forgotten you. l know
her of old to be absent-minded. Sup
pose you go along with us and Frank
can accompany You to Georgetown and
take an explanatory note to your prin-
cipal from me-" and Constance looked
inquiringly at me as if to say, "Will my
young exquisite of brother take the
trouble to play knight-errant to this
poor, forlorn little school girl, and de-
,>nS;t bar 60 falx- within tho orp,c Of bar
alma mater?"
81 shall only be too happy" L has
tened to observe. The bright eyes that
talked more than the lips thanked me
as we rose to leave.
Constance" observed, a few weeks
later, Don't you think you can add
little Miss Invernay's name to the in
vitations for your birth night ball ?"
And Constance answered, 81 don't
know, I'm sure. Possibly it may be
effected if the principal is willing. l
will see about it myself-it would do
the little thing good. She is rather
delicate for the close confinement of the
schoolroom. Then with an arch glance
at me, 'Are you smitten, brother ?"
That was how l came to be standing
alone watching the little fairy as she
fioated round the ballroom in her white
robe and her fair, soft curls, that 1
could not bear to see blowing against
and twining around the arm of her
partner.
"The next waltz is mine," I said to
her after the perfumed Adonis had re-
leased her, and, happily for me, given
her seat near my corner.
"Yes," she said, flushed and breath
less, but with a certain wistful pleading
in her voice and eye; "and l was about
to ask you if you would find me nice
place to rest instead, and l can give you
the waltz later"
"Are you weary, Irene ?" -.
"a little" saying it shyly, as II
shamed of her weakness, and looking
at me still wistfully, and gently, "That
was long waltz, you know"
Hound her cosy retreat, with great
cushioned armchair. and leaning over