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

was offered an advantageous position in
a foreign house, a member of which,
was courteOusly Informed, had lob
served the mastery manner in which
had managed the affairs of the branch
which had been entrusted to me-"
So, of e>urse, it transpired that did
not return TO my native land that au-
| tumn nor the next, nor-in fact, II was
three years from the time | left for
Europe before | returned. / landed in
the middle of August, last summer, and
at once began to hunt up old cronies, by
| aid of memory and directories. But
had no luck. Fred | could get no track
| of, only that he had just returned from
an European trip; but where he might
be at that particular time was uncer-
tain. All for whom | cared in the city
were out of town for the warm weather,
or else where / could not readily find
them, and | began to think had been
fool to come across the water at so un-
propitious time. My own immediate
family L found, on inquiry, We're stop
ping for few weeks at a remote place,
twenty miles or more beyond the little
valley where Fred and | had summered
three years before, and toward that
point | turned my face.
just before sunset the train made a
halt at the little village overlooking the
valley where | had met my fate, and
where the last time had seen Fred he
was engaged in making sketch of the
valley, hardly taking his eye from the
canvas to bid me his CHEEKY goodbye.
For some reason the train was delayed
a few moments, and, rs gazed over the
valley, the old feeling of three years be-
fore was instantly surging and swaying
in my breast; and before the train was
again in motion | stood upon the rude
country station platform, unable to re-
sist the force immpelling me there,
thinking | could pursue my journey the
day as well as this.
After the train had departed, and |
observed the curious country eyes sean
ming my singular behavior. | suddenly
realized my awkward position, and
wondered what to do. Mechanically |
strolled toward the spot Fred had chosen
for his underground to view the
valley. Little change was visible. The
sunset cOlors were less vivid, and con-
sequently the shadow over the valley
was less sombre-a much more pleasing
picture; and yet | could not help feeling
that the sombre shadow was over nv
heart instead.
aimlessly followed the winding road
into the valley, descending at every step
farther and farther into the shadow: vet
my soul into its own shadow plunged
more recklessly still, the gloom sur
rounding it seeming almost sullen in its
intensity.
Suddenly it grew lighter. What did
it presagel a large cumulus of cloud
had drifted into the range of the sun
rays, and caught the splendor, sending
them down to the earth in glow of re-
Election. If my own soul could drift
into such volume oflight," thought,
bitterly, and walked slowly onward.
What marvellous shapes the clouds
take at times This one and smaller
ones, drifting with and counter to it,
suddenly took the shape of large
anchor, seeming to me, i'm my shortened
vision, CLEAN ofmighty irony glowing
with false glimmer.
So intent was my gaze bent heaven
ward that L did not observe figure
Immediately in front of me, emerging
from the valley. 1t was female figure
and / hastily stepped on one side to
allow her to pass, hardly withdrawing
my gaze from the heavens. The mo-
pent she had passed, in obedience to a
sudden impulse, L turned my head, to
see hers also turned to observe me. The
light from the cloud of hope shone full
in her face, and | started at the recog-
milton. Was my soul, then, drifting as
yonder cloud had done? Was this thrill
that bathed ii in pathos the light, in
deed, that warns and glOrifies all it
shines on-or was il but mOcking
irony?
''Miss Perry,'' l exclaimed, ''this is
a rare pleasure"
She advanced in the same shy manner
as of old, and held out her hand in the
old coy style.
"Was it you, then, that was to meet
at the station!" she asked.
''Were you expecting some one?" |
asked, little bewildered.
"No-yes," was the hesitating reply.
81 suppose, if | tell you, you will laugh
at me. l was sitting in the parlor a
short time ago, looking now and then at
the old picture you were pleased to take
so much notice of i'm those other years
the picture has been very dear to ne
latterly," she parenthetical added. with
just perceptible tremor in her voice
''when suddenly L was impressed with
the idea that | was to meet some one at
the station. The notion occurred to me
at once as so ridiculous, that | laughed
outright. But il wouldn't be laughed
down, and finally L started, and-here |
am
/ then told her how | had just re-
turned from Europe, and was on my
way to find my mother and sister, when
| was almost impelled from the ears.
"And you were going right by with
out stopping to see us.'
l hesitated not knowing the nature of
the ground was standing on, and not
caring to make misstep.
Erred and / would both have been so
disappeintedif you -had.;'; 49,.
"Ah. is Fred here.' l asked. making
an effort to appear at ease, though sue
ceeding badly, am afraid.
'sWhy. of course: He>i is here all the
time, now. except for a few months in
the winter"
Ny heart leaped into my throat in
very agony, and for a moment | dared
not trust myself TO speak. We had in
the meantime been walking slowly
down into the valley, and suddenly-a "A
door of house close by the wayside
swung open, and flood of light
rested upon my companion. All, the
caprice of fashion! How its edicts drift
around in circles, and turn up unex-
pectedly! OF course the ruff was not so
pronoRce, nor the rolling folds to the
dress, gathering in a mass back of the
neck, so angular and so stiff as repre-
sented in the Elizabethian portrait; but
there she was i'm the dress, with modifi-
cations, i'm which she had made the final
assault upon my heart, and won it
.unknowingly, heedlessly," / said to
myself.
Didn't you know of Fred's mar
riage?'' she asked, after the awkward
pause in which my mind had been so
busy.
"Not to certainty. / conjectured as
much. You are very happy, l suppose
"Yes, as the world goes, Fred is the