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

volved IN my marriage, necessitating
divided duty, even il my husband would
consent to live here. That, too. L hesi-
tated to ask, for, as you know, the life
here viii better suit retired elderly
man or woman than young, ambitious
aspirant for the worlds honors and
profits. So made my choice"
"But your choice was TO remain with
your uncle"
"les, dear, remained here. Arnold
Halcombe, the noblest man ever knew,
cid not make my duty harder by anger
at his dismissal. Very sadly he ad-
mitted the necessity of the case and left
me. Even then he would have CORES
ponded with me. have held himself
bound; but that I would not permit.
My uncle's life was not in danger, and
! would not let Arnold waste the best
years of his manhood, without wife or
home. So we bade each other farewell,
and few months later, heard that nv
lover had joined party of men going
to Australia
"And have you never heard of him
since?"
"Never!'' My uncle lived six years.
When | was most desolate, after his
death, found you. You have been my
comfort for eight long years; but | do
not mean TO tie your young life down
to mine. When die, hope to leave
you happy in your own home. Stephen
knows this, DEAR"
Marjorie, whispered, ''did Arnold
Halcombe marry?"
81 never knew, dear"
"But you-do YOU still love him? -
''Yes, dear, shall love him while
live"
She told me no more then of her heart
history, but talked. of Stephen, of our
love, of her entire sympathy in our fu
ture. 1 think she must have written
10 him, for in the evening he cam.
again. and we were betrothed.
l knew that Stephen must return t.
his business in New York in a few davs
but he promised TO return in few
months time, TO spend Thanksgiving
Marjorie gave him cordial invitatio.
Jo be our guest. But when Marjori.
left us alone, for the confilences lover
exchange, | plunged at once into the
ubject that had been in my mind ali
DAY.
stephen" 1 said, "tell me agaiI,
about your cousins Offer"
"Why, do you want TO go TO Aus
tralia 2" he cried, in ainaZen.ent.
mo, but | want TO know something
about your cousin"
"rhere is but little to tell. When !
was mere boy he went 10 Australia. Il
poor man. He invested very small
capital in sheep, hiring his farm
Gradually he increased his stock, bOugh
the farm, and became an enormously
wealthy man. About six months ago
he came TO New York, intending TO re-
main there. But he wishes still to re-
tain some of his Australian possessions.
and is looking for an agent, to whom
he offers far greater advantages than
those he enjoyed himself. When he
first proposed TO me to go, | thought, a.
| think now, that preferred to pursue
the business l have here. and grow rich
slowly than to exile myself, perhaps for
years. But had you persisted in what
you said this morning, | think to-mor-
row / should have accepted my cousins
offer.'
sis your cousin married? ~
s'No, indeed, And vet he is as free
from bachelor eccentricities as l am.
He had some disappointment in his
tered him. He is splendid fellow,
and as noble as he is fine-looking. But
why are YOU interested about him"
81 will tell you when you come again.
In themeantime, will you use your in
fluence to persuade him TO come with
you?'
s.Here?"
.eYes, here, Bring him for Thanks
giving. Make any excuse you like,
only bring himr'
"But l do not understand" began
Stephen.
tell you then"
II will bring him, if he will GOMEZ"
/ was sure he would come. 1t was
hard to carry a secret hidden from Mar
jorie's loving eyes, for an entire month,
but fortunately we were soon engrossed
en- wedding preparations. For Mar
iorie, remembering her own broken
jove-dream, had consented and won my
lonsent to Stephens wish to be married
in January.
So we spent the late October and
early November days i'm stitching busily
upon the finery that every bride wishes
to take 10 her new home. And as our
needles flew i'm and out upon the dainty
work we reserved from that in hired
hands, Marjorie told me more of her
own youthful life, revealing uncon-
sciously how purely unselfish she had
ever been, how her whole life had
gradually led upward TO the noble
self-sacrifice that left her at thirty
three still single.
When Thanksgiving came, all my
nervous anxiety about our preparations
was attributed to my desire to have
Stephen pleased; but strange as it may
seem, | was net thinking of Stephen.
He was to come on the train due at
half-past eleven, and the carriage was
sent to the station To meet him..
was dressed early, and fused about
Marjorie till even her quiet gentleness
was reused to opposition.
why, child, it is absurd" she said,
as 1 dragged my favorite of all her
dresses fran the wardrobe.
IL shall look like goose in that, i'm
the morning."
sBut we will have no chance TO dress
again." l urged, '.and this is so becom-
ing!'
/ had pulled her hair down, and was
rwiDing the magnificent raven lengths
into the most becoming coiflure my skill
could compass. In the glossy bralds !
twisted half wreath of fine leaves with
the scarlet blossoms | had stolen from
the conservatory.-The dress Marjorie
would not wear, but she chose a heavy
black silk, with trimmings of thread
lace. and let me put scarlet bow upon
the fine lace at the throat, and coral
earrings in the small white ears.
81 look like flamingo. she pro-
tested.
"You lock like a queen, l per-
sisted.
And she did look superbly handsome.
The folds of rich silk training upon The
ground suited well her TALL. noble n.y.
ire. and her face was always the most
beautiful one | ever saw. Her lie oil
constant usefulness, charity. and intel