Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-05-24
an APRIL SUNRISE AND SUNSET.
BY OLIVER BELL.
CHAPTER 1.

"Lucy, have you forgotten who is
coming to-night?" said Mrs. Gordon,
with a reproving glance at her youthful
curly-headed daughter, who stood in
the doorway of the old-fashioned farm
Kitchen, in an unbecoming wrapper,
curls flying about her fresh, but dis
contented face, and a fretful pout on
her full red lips.
"Nor" gloomily replied Lucy. with
out turning her head, her hazel eyes
roaming over the distant meadows,
where green blades of timothy were
just showing themselves among the
russet BROWNIES of the withered grass.
''Are you not going to dress?' her
mother went on, little sharply.
No"
sLucy," her mothers face flashed
angrily. "You ought TO be ashamed of
yourself. You treat John Appleton
outrageously. One day you smile on
him, and the next you won't speak TO
him. He's worth a dozen of that LAM
bert, that you've been flirting with
lately"
Lucy walked out into the little porch
where John and she had so often talked
the twilight hours away, and muttered,
with a toss of her curly head, "John is
4 Dear. l. III 90 as L please.
every well," coolly replied her mo-
ther, s'but take care you don't go too
far
Lucy leaned against a pillar and
watched a tall, straight figure coming
at a swinging pace across the meadow,
with sullen eyes. She knew 1t was
John, and she did wish John would
stav away for few weeks at least. Not
that she did not love him, for Lucy
cared more for one of Johns horny,
brown fingers than she did for the
whole of Gilbert Lambert's perfumed
body, and she meant to marry him some
time in the happy future. But Lucy
was pretty, and with pretty woman's
vanity, could not give up the admira-
and enchanting.
He had shown such a decided repug-
nance at her intimacy with Gerald
Lambert, that she felt unusually piqued
at him. Yet a feeling of remOrseful
pity came into her heart, as the honest
face came nearer and she saw the shadow
on it. She half regretted her careless
toilet, but it was too late to improve it.
for Johns keen grayeyes were scanning
her from head to foot.
3'GOod-evening. Lucy" he said, as he
reached the porch, ''what beautiful
eyening!'
He removed his hat and gazed rever-
emily up at the sapphire April sky, and
Lucy-arOused out of the sullenness
that had been blind to beauty of all
kinds, looked around her and grew
suddenly softened at the splendor Of
natures glory.
"What a glorious sunset, Lucy" said
Johns solemn voice-for John was .
lover of all grand or lovely scenes.
.Lovely," echoed Lucy, hiking her
hazel eyes on the bank of golden clouds
in the western sky, where the sun was
Just slipping down behind purple hill
tops, like a ball of ruby flame. Tiny
bits of foam-like clouds fiecked the linn
pid blue of the heavens, a warm, golden
glow gilded the earth, freshened and
viyified with April showers. The mu-
steal twitter of birds filled the wood
lands, and strange feeling Of awe stole
into Lucy's heart for the glory that
surrounded her seemed more than
earthly.
'sWon't YOU come in, john" Lucy
said. i'm softened voice, with glance
at the pleasant kitchen her mother had
wisely vacated.
'sNo. Lucy" replied John, seating
himself On the porch steps at Lucy's
feet. "What have to say l will say
here"
Lucy flushed to the roots Of her curly
nut-brown hair, and moved a step or
two away from John.
.Look!'' she cried, pointing to the
blazing western sky, "that bank ci
golden clouds is changing to crimson"
John looked at the gorgeous panorama
absently.
Yes, Lucy; it is a glorious sunset.
We NAV never see another like it this
side of eternity" he said, dreamily,
seeming to lose himself in some solemn
thought.
"Pooh,'' Lucy laughed-a little, mu-
steal laugh that always set Johns pulses
to beating wildly. "You are always
looking at the dark side of things, John:
We will watch many sunset together.
John bounced to his feet and stood
before Lucy, blushing like girl-for
John loved Lucy with no common love,
and the slightest word of encouragement
was eagerly caught at
''Oh, Lucy" there was quiver In
his manly voice, "do you think SOY"
''Of course l do" asserted practical
Lucy. edging farther away from him;
we are not going to die yet awhile"