Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-03-22
A Double Wedding.

Marjorie W aildCt TtpIS>tDttu ip me
all that was noble, generous, self-sacri-
fcing in wOmanhood- My gratitude Il
her began when | was ten years Old.
and she came TO the hovel where my
mother had scraped out scanty food for
herself and for me longer than my
memory recalls. She lifted me from
that mothers dead, cold form, where |
was sobbimg out my childish agony,
and covering my thin, chilled limbs ill
her own velvet cloak. carried me in her
arms TO her carriage, TO her home, to
luxury, ease and love. L never had been
loved. NY mother loved gin, and moi
her child. | was fed when drink had
made her guod-natured, beaten when
drink aroused brutal demon in her
heart. | tell this that it may be under
stood what owed 10 Marjorie Wallace
No. can never tell il. She carried me
to her home; she clothed me in gar
ments as soft and as fine as her own !:
she shared every luxury of her splendid
home with me; she gave me teachers
for all studies suited to my age. As L
grew TO womauhood she introduced me
to society a. her adopted sister. Best
of all. she loved me-
She was twenty-five when she took
m home, and for eight years L can re-
call only happiness | had no whim
ungratifed, no reasonable wish crossed
or denied If | had been indeed the
sister she called me she could not have
lavished upon me more tender care and
Affection
When | was eighteen l had lover
who won my whole heart. l gave him
love, ,uncOnsciously, and when his words
showed me what my own sensations
meant | shrank back affrighted. With
the intuition of deep, grateful affection,
knew that Marjorie had wrapped up
her life in mine. She stood utterly
alone in the world. Her paid COM
panion and housekeeper was a matron
of middle age, whose whole soul was
absorbed in preserves, pickles, and
crochet work. In her Loneliness she
had taken me into her great, noble
heart. and when l left her | knew /
should leave her desolate.
so | shrank back from the avowal
hat was such an ecstasy of delight,
such bitter self-reproach. | thought
had conquered all traces of emotion
in my face as | went from the garden
where we had walked-my lover and
myself-to Marjorie's sitting room. But
she looked into my face, with her soft,
beautiful eyes shadowed by Il troubled
inquiry.
Have you quarreled with Stephen?"
she asked.
''NO-I have not quarreled-we-
that isl do not think he will come
again. 4.
For the first time she frowned sternly.
SIS ii possible that you are that base
trifler. a coquette," she said, in a voice
full of Indignation, ''that you have led
Stephen TO believe you loved him only
from vanity, and have rejected his hon
est, true love?''
In my deep pain that she could so
misjudge me | sobbed out the truth,
that | loved Stephen, but it seemed to
HE base ingratitude TO desert her.
'Child, child," she said, softly,
gathering me in her arms, "Heayen
forbid your life should be sacrificed to
me! Did you ever near among our
friends of my love story Z"
''Never"' | said, earnestly. "But |
knew there was a great grief in your
life, at SOM time. | could see that in
your eyes, even in your smile. 1t is
tender and sweet but never joyous"
when | was your age" she said,
gently stroking nv hand as she sroke,
Il was called handsome, and l was As
hght-hearted as bird. My orphan
hood was an event so long past that
have no recollection of my parents; but
my uncle was father and dear COM
panion to me. He was a wealthy man,
and gave me every advantage wealth
can beStow. And when Arnold Hal
cOmbe-'
l started at that name, but Marjorie
did not notice, continuing her story:
wOoed me fer his wife, Uncle
Charles made no objection, though my
lover WAS a poor man, compared TO my
Uncle. We were very happy in those
days, very happy! Arnold was true.
noble man, one to whom love was a
sacred word, woman's heart a sacred
trust. We had been betrothed nearly
SIX months, when Thanksgiving Day
was drawing near, and Uncle Charles
decided 10 accept an invitation to spend
the daY with some city friende: and re-
main at a hotel for week, to give mt
an opportunity TO do some shopping
or Tor IN the spring L WAS to be Arnoif
-A"iNoilDt Nlle. we -ldIttu oh Say 4.
and spent most delightful week liz
New York Uncle Charles was resi-
Gent there during several years befor.
he retired from business, and could take
me to visit all points of interest. We
made large purchases for my bridal
outnt, and returned home.
Alas. we returned, mourning hea
Willy, where we had left so gayly. Upon
our trip from the city, Uncle Charles,
IN some way, made false step upon
the platform of a railway car. and fell,
m]uring himself so severely that imme-
uiate amputation of both legs became
necessary. 1t was i'm my power then to
repay the devotion and care that had
oeen lavished upon me, and faithfully
ehdeavored to alleviate my dear uncle's
sunerlngs in every way in my power.
1T was then, dear, that my hear
was torn as yours is torn to-day. The