Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-06-30
My LiIy-of- Valley.

fttp. IL Wis cHetfN. dilno-t
childish voice, well known and loved
10y me; and yet | started in half alright,
50 deep was my reyerie. Reyeries, in
the majority of eases probably, have love
for their inspiring god; but this was an
exceptional one, else / had surely been
prepared for any such surprise AS this,
from the very priestess herself of love.
Not that she acknowledged il, or |
either, for that matter. But we were
both finite, and love is infinite.
''You little puss," | exclaimed, chow
You frightened me:'
''DO | look so like fright then, in my
masquerading?
'Of course not. You are always
charming. But your voice"
WAS harsh and"
''IIOw deXterously you do fish for
compliments this afternoon, You know
your voice is soft and musical. for
have told you so several times; and
''iIa, ha, ha! Go on"
at was that very sweetness and soft
ness that startled me, being so antipodal
TO my thoughts just them"
"Therer' a sudden seriousness set
tling over her manner. "That con-
Vinces me that you are not obeying your
doctor. You must have been thinking
of those dreadful columns OF figures,
and of puts and calls and shorts,
and such ridiculous nonsense. Don t
you remember you told me you shouldn' t
think of any calls but calling the
cows, nor any shorts but those they
have for their supper, to make them
give you an extra quality of milk for
your breakfast, so you can 90 back to
the city in the fall vigorous for business,
and fresh for the smiles of your sweet
heart
''Quite a long speech, upon my word !,
And it is not month yet since L sup
posed you never INDUCED in anything
beyond monosyllabies, and scattering
ones at that"
Thank you for nothing. But how
do you like my costume:"
Charming. Who assisted you?"
81 made the things, Cousin Maggie
helped arrange them, and Mr.. Fred
Marston acted as critic, to see whether L
was presentable."
And pronounced you du fditi"
"Yes. if looks would do so. But he
was so busy sketching that he would
hardly say "A word"
"Puss,'' | said. after moments de-
liberation, and wondering whether" I
really had the courage, .'do you really
remember all | told you, in my gossip
ing way, the day after Fred and | ar
rived, about the doctors Instructions
how was never to think of business or
cares of any kind, but only amusement,
and any nonsensethat came uppermost?'
Ies-perfectly.
who'd have thought | would go so
contrary thereto first to come up TO
this quiet place, where both amusement
and nonsense would seem TO be sacri-
iigious; and
secondly" looking as prim and dig
nified as 50 slight and sweet body
could.
"Yes, secondly, by falling in love
with you."
Il spoke deliberately, and with an
effort: and the last word had not died
from my lips before knew that my
premonitions of dangerous ground were
not uninspired.
A pink glow suffuSed her face for an
instant. and then faded into a whiteness
that was not so deathly rs it was trans
parent.
Ii added 10 NV pain as well as 10 a
itil III tiit Bi'Ahh' ThN
made in her masquerading dress.
To speak of this mimic masquerade,
and the picture it formed, it will be
necessary to 90 back few days, on
which occasion / sat in the little
pinched-up parlor of the old-fashioned
farm house that formed my retreat from
the city's hum and business for few
weeks in the summer. On the wall
opposite where sat, hung an old family
portrait, so old, indeed, that the daugh-
ter of my hostess was oteNactly certain
as to who she was, or of what genera
ton she had formed part of the life.
The student of fashions capricss could
probably have ascertained by research;
but itTeally made no great difference.
The Salient part of the portrait was a
large EliZabethian ruff, not so stiff and
ungainly as are generally represented
In portraits, bun seeming quite graceful
and pretty, and, indeed, as though
forming part of the personality of the
parsonage, who was young, less than
twenty, apparently, skin white and
delicate. almost entirely devoid of color,
eyes of dolce far Riente feeling, and lips
whose just perceptible pout was in fine
keeping with the round, CHEEKY face.
Miss Perry / said, ''the portrait
yonder is enough like you to pass for
your own, if you should only tell people
you were masquerading. How like
nly-of-the-valley it looks, with the round
delicate face, and the delicately penciled
ruffr'
What an idea.' said Miss Perry, the
daughter of my hostess. "And yet,
since you suggest it, 1 can trace quite
resemblance. / remember hearing papa
say once that she was quite belle in
her day, and there was something of
romance connected with her."
1t was in dress precisely like this in
all Its details in which Miss Perry was
Srrayed when she peered over the rose
bush on the afternoon i'm which my