Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-11-29

BY EMILY X. sTEINEsTEL.

invitation, but no female in mine If yol
please"
swell, you needn't scalp fellow, /
you don't want to go; don't know a
anybody will be the loser oy your non
acceptance except YOURSELF" was th'
piqued, indignant answer.
The first speaker, a rough-looking
middle-aged man, with a sunbrownet
face, and a pair Of steel-gray, restless
eyes, blew cloud Of smoke into the air
and as he watched it circle higher ant
higher and higher until it was lost t,
sight, his manner became grave, an(
the lines about his mouth deepened int
sadness.
"See here, my boy" he said after ;
short silence, "when / was about you
age my ideas of womankind were jus
about what yours are to-day. But
tell you it was something little short o.
an earthquake that completely took al
the nOnsenee out of me. l never loved
again."
The last remark was uttered in such
ludicrous manner, and the sentiment
eemed so out of place, from such a:
source, that his young and rather elegant
companion could not refrain from smil.
ing, as he said:
"Why, Uncle, were you ever in
love?"
"YOu bet, my boy; had it mighty
bad, too. There was not better dressed,
or nicer spoken chap ever knocked al
fair lady's heart than this same old rus
ty coon sitting here, with his feet on
the stove, taking his comfort out of a
pipe-but that was twenty years ago,
and l was mighty fond of the girls
them days. Go on, boy, have all the
fun you can; life's short, and if you
don't make the most of it, I'll make the
most of you. Go and see the girls. Let
every dog have his day, say I"'
''Thanks, Uncle, for your permission.
shall avail myself of it, never fear, but
excuse me, protest at the implied pup
py love-"
so, dry up, Can'ta man use figure
speech, without treadiDg on somebody s
corns. Ididn't mean any harm, boy"
81 wish you would tell me about that
love affair of yours-ifthe wound is not
too sore, that is"
"Sore? Wound?"
Another short silence, and a second
cloud of smoke circled away above
the bronzed visage, after this peculiarly
repeated query.
"Ahem, Well, l really don't know
about the Sore but I've no objection
to telling you how devilishly 1 was
duped, and what an ass made of my
self about it."
"She was the prettiest girl in town!
Her father was wealthy dry-goOds
merchant-so was mine you know; all
parties thought the Wise One had crea-
ted US for each other. was madly
smitten, "clean gone," as they say in
the territories, and jealous as butcher
boy of every fellow that came near her.
She had scores of admirers, but she told
me time and again that she didn't care
a fig for anyone but me. Lucky me,
how 1 swallowed the lies, and strutted
about, feeling as if had conquered the
universe! l who had won this prize.
speak of the girl; didn't care a cent
for her fathers money. l had plenty,
and was ambitious enough to make
flIiar saba aYd y,i1a II
all at her feet to walk over if she wanted
to. Well, we billed and coOed after our
engagementsfor several months, while
was fitting up our house, and she was
under the hands of five hundred dress
makers, and corset makers, and bonnet
makers, and shoemakers, and the Lord
only knows what other makers. had
my wedding-suit ordered from New
York-and nobby fit it was let me tell
you."
The speaker drew long breath,
heaved a sigh of inexpressible regret,
and continued:
1.-The day before the happy one l
drew up before her door in my new
buggy with my high-steppiug grays;
in my vest pocket l had lite parcel
that cost me just one thousand eight
hundred dollars. 1t was intended as a
surprise for my pet. Good God! boy,
did 1 say 'petr 1 must be getting fee
ble!"
The older man started from his chair
as if he had been shot. Sat down again,
his whole frame in a quiver. The
word that had escaped him so unexpec-
tedly, seemed to bring up the most tor
turing emotions. He laid aside his
pipe and covered his face with his hands.
"Yes, boy" he muttered hoarsely,
''the wound is sore. don't see how l
came to make such blunder," he add
ed, recovering himself.
christopher Columbus! how 1 did
worship that girl. Its astonishing how
a woman can work herself into a mans
heart, until its very beating is depend
ent on her will and action. l confess
1 must have been a sentimental cuss;
but Pm all over it, swear l am" he
exclaimed with emphasis, as if TO settle
the troublesome memory that made his
face gray parlor and gave his voice a
ring of uncertainty.
"Happy as fool, bounded into the
house without the cermony of being
announced, opened the parlor door.
She was there in the arms of some trif-
ling son-of-a-gun, who had been, as
supposed, vainly trying to cut me out.
Why the devil she played such double
game, is more than can guess.
"The fellow wanted to leave In double
quick time, but had seen enough to
convince me that she was treacherous
huzzy, and he a miserable scoundrel.
With one step had him by the throat,
and the hugging he got was not Of the
nature a man expects when he goes to
see his girl. The whelp, how he squirm-
ed and begged; Ipounded him until my
knuckles bled. The frightened girl
tried to make me release him and said