Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-05-02

iue .only gOOu Ouer you are ever
likely to receive, my child"
Only aunt, Selwyn Trafford and nv
self were at home, so that there was
little fear of interruption.
By the morning post had received a
letter from Cousin Lizzie, with whom,
at al times, kept up an irregular cor
respondence, for We were fond of one
another, though our lives ran in such
different grooves. She wrote a long,
gossiping account of the farm that was
my only real home, of grandmother's
failing eyesigiht, and such items of in
terest. But on the very last page she
told me piece Of news.
50 will write by this post to Aunt
Bess that you may be prepared to re-
ceive me In all my new dignity. / am
engaged to be married to gentleman
who is here for the summer holiday. L
will not describe him tC you, for you
will see him when we all meet next
week. Aunt Cornelia will not faint,
for he is man of good family, good
business position and moderate fortune,
and he loves me. He loves me, Bess,
but the cream of my story is to come.
He believes am you. He thinks Miss
Elizabeth Washington, the heiress, is at
Newton, and that / am the German
teacher. Nobody told him so, only he
seems familiar with the family history,
and accepting my position here as evil
dence of my being the Elizabeth Rush.
ington who always spends her vacations
10 \ fnl1 l. H..
truth yet; it is so delicioious that he
cares nothing for my fortune, knows
nothing whatever of its existence. By
the way, Aunt Cornelia hints that you
will soon have a confidence to impart.
May you be as happy in your love as 1
am in mine."
A shadow fell across my paper, and a
voice said:
"What have you so absorbing to
read?" and looked up to see Selwyn
Trafford.
ga letter from my cousin In Mays
ville," said, "with a pretty romance
in it."
81 am fond of romance" Selwyn
said.
"Then you shall hear this one 1
said, ''if you will promise to keep it
secret till all the world hears of it,"
81 Will be silent as a sphynx."
1 read Lizz,e's confidence. When /
finished reading | looked up. and my
sharp lesson Of modification was
stricken upon my heart at one blow.
Selwyn Trafford had made the same
mistake.
IL was the first time l ever suspected
that Selwyn Trafford thought 1 was the
heiress Elizabeth. But the blank con-
sternation upon his face could not be
concealed by the forced smile upon his
handsome mustached lip. He was pale
as ghost, and said, family:
"Quite a romance, indeed, Miss Rush
ington. Your cousin seems very happy"
"She is happy" 1 said, bitterly, for
my modification was deep and biting;
"she has found one true heart in q
world of false ones"
There was a moment of silence, then
Selwyn Trafford said, hoarsely:
"You despise me. see it in your
face; 1 hear 1t In your voice. But hear
me. l am wholly dependent upon my
uncle. If offend Erasmus Selwyn, 1
AM beggar."
"Your family affairs do not interest
me-" said haughtily, rising as l spoke.
"You shall hear me-" he cried, pas
sionately; ''you shall not condemn me
without defense"
II have heard no accusation" / said.
"But you know my error. ] was sent
here by my uncle to WOO Elizabeth
Rushington. Somewhere he has met
your cousin, and it occurred TO him that
she would make me suitable wife,
with a suitable fortune. / came, as l
obey all commands laid upon me, to
please my uncle. / was in reality
wholly Indifferent, expecting to find a
frivolous butterfly of fashion who
would waltz through society with her
own fortune, and allow me perfect
liberty to do the same. L found a
woman who had heart, a brain,
disposition that might win the true,
loyal love of any mana woman full OF
noble inspirations, winsome and digni-
fed, and while obeyed my uncle, /
loved Elizabeth Washington. L have
been an empty-headed fop, but you
could have made me man! And with
the love strong in my heart, the hope
bright and clear, l came 10 ask you to
be nv wife, and find l must tear my
self from you." rE
1 smiled bitterly.
"Not because you are poor, but be
cause l am, Not because you are not
the heiress, but because my uncle will
thrust me out to starve If bring home
a wife other than the one that he has
chosen. And love you too well to
drag you down to such poverty as an
utterly useless man, deprived of fortune,
must endure.
Without waiting for my reply, he
turned away and went into the house,
and heard the door of the room close
sharply. r-#
Amoment later my aunt stepped from
the low window of the parlor. Never
had her face been so womanly in its
tenderness as 1t was when she pressed
her lips upon mine, saying:
"Bessie, forgive me! 1t was all my
fault. But thought 1t was such
chance for you." -.-a4
"You have heard?" / said.
eyes; / was doing on the sofa when
your voice awakened me-"
"You knew the mistake Selwyn was
making?"
81 guessed it! And really, child, !
could not be expected to set him right"
"No! 1t is pity, though"
"You love him? / did not think you
did,"
"I don't, / might have married him,
"a he MIGHT have married me, for