Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-03-14

- - ASA P-aSSs -iAIh . AiNdA u
never break, and there is no one whom
L know suits me better. That old man
who gave me the letter never read the
address. There can be no inquiries
made. 1t would be safe enough to de-
stroy it, dangerous not to do so now
even if l wanted Annie to read it."
Then Jane tore the letter in two
thrust it in its envelope, and looked
about her. 1t would be dangerous tc
tear it TO bits ia the woods. Its white
fragments might attract some eye
amongst the greenness of the grass.
But hard by pretty stream babbled
away over stones and pebbles. Once
thrown into the water, that was the
end of it.
Jane hurried to the water side, and
looking over her shoulder, as one might
who expected to see a ghost, tossed the
little package in. 1t fell with the closed
side downward, and distended by the
torn note, which was rudely thrust
into il. The surface was hard and highly
finished, and shaped so as to resist the
water. A little breeze that had just
sprang up favored il, and away il
floated, like little boat, deftly clearing
the shore and tacking and turning as
it passed the dark, half hidden breasts
of the little rocks over which the water
played.
Goodbye" said Jane, laughing as
she watched it. 81 have now a vessel,
freighted with the hopes of Harry
Craig, afloat in fine style. am afraid
it will make shipwreck, but all the
better for some one else. 1t is IN i'll
wind that blows no one any good.' >
And, turning, she triPped towards the
house.
AT this moment, farther along the
same stream. where in little cove lay
hidden a great tangle of water lilies,
Annie Conyers sat in a rough little
boat, rowed by Mrs. Wilton's son Peter.
a shock-headed boy of twelve. Little
Fannie Wilton sat beside her, and the
two girls drew from the bank dark
green stems ofthe great, beautiful white
flowers.
''If one could only carry them to the
city," said Annie; ''but they always
die. How greedy am, L can never
get enough. But Wen leave the buds
until they open-and there comes one
down the stream TO US. Let's try to
catch it, Peter"
Peter in obedience to the mandate
rowed his boat into deep water, and
Annie leaned over the side with her
hand outstretched to catch what she
fancied was floating lily.
''PshawI' she cried, with laugh,
as it came nearer, Its nothing but pa
per. But it seems to be dOdgiDg ne.
III catch 1t what ever it is!"
And with these words her white
fingers closed on an envelope not yet
soaked through, and within which lay,
torn or crushed, paper still dry.
''Why, it has my name on the back"
cried Annie. az never destroy a letter
when I'm away from home"
Then her face changed, aud the chill
dren saw her pale and flush as she
pieced the torn letter together and read
it through.
SIS anything the matter, Miss An
nie?'' asked Fannie.
"What should be?" said Peter.
''What little goose you are" Fan"
Nothing is the matter, children"
said Annie; "only, as the old adage
says, Truth is stranger than fiction " +"
"Eh." cried Peter.
$50 odd for letter of mine to float
to me on the river" said Annie.
"Ha, ha, ma, ha ~ Amt it?" roared
Peter.
And stranger than Peter knew, for it
was Craig's love letter that Annie bad
just read.
She was a wise little woman, and
kept the matter to herself. But Fanny
did not.
"Wasn't it funny, ma?" she cried.
"Miss Annie found one of her letters
floating down the stream, just like a
boat, when We were getting water Ii
lies"
ssOhv' cried Mrs. Wilton, for at this
moment the teacup Jane had lifted TO
her lips dropped from her hand and
dashed to pieces on the floor.
elbow careless that was OF me-"
criad Jane.
"Hope you hayen'ts spoilt your dress?"
said Mrs. Wilton; but as Jane lifted
her crimson face from the fragments of
the broken cup, she met Annie Conyer's
eyes.
Women sometimes talk TO each other
with their eyes; two did then;
Bot Annie was generous in her tri-
umph. She never told Craig, and she
sent Miss Heth an invitation to her
wedding, which Miss Heth, with a great
many regrets declined.