Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-04-11


could command. He squeezed her hand
and glanced tenderly into her eyes.
"You are the sweetest little creature,
he said, coming up close to her, as ther,
was again pause for them in the dance
"You are so quiet; you interest me;
you are SO different from the rest here
Pray tell me why you have chosen thi:
somber costume? 1t really looks like
balf mourning. Speak, pretty one?"
In low, disguised voice, Miss Wood
vile answered: ~
''Don't you see, sir, that I'm wild
ow?" E
"To be sure. Why, 1 adore widows.
have several among my lady friends,
but none SO charming as yourself."A
He kept pouring out compliment after
compliment, and then entreated her to
unmask.
sit is impossible. There is one man
here that l would not have see my face
for worlds. L must leave soon; il is now
near midnight"
"You pique my curiosity, madam, TO
the utmost. Give me but one peep at
that face, which l know must be lovely.
l will defend you against that man,
whomsomever he may be. Pity me /;
humor the whim of man who in few
days will be married to girl with a
plain face, just because she has position
and fortune"
81 pity her more; but the time has
come when l must go. It's twelve
O'Clock now."
''No no, you must stay 1 will see who
you are"
"Some other time," said Miss Wood
Vile hastily, trying to wrench her hand
from his grasp. "If you detain me you
lose me-"
''Tell me where can see you, my
sweet charmer "
swell, next Saturday afternoon, at
half-past four, at any place you may ap-
point, SIR"
"Then let it be at the Hotel. /
shall send to engage private parlor
there for that day, and will order din
ner at half past four. Pray do not
| fail"
The widow in mauve, otherwise Miss
Woodville, slipped away, and the old
beau was left standing almost in the
in the midst of the crowd.
The next day at Mearsdale the guests
were heartily welcomed, and all ap-
peared quite happy except Miss Wood
vile, and she seemed little cross and
unsympathetic with the lovers. Thus
three days passed and Saturday morn
ing arrived.
my dearest Maria, said Mr.. George,
taking the hand of his betrothed in the
most tender manner, sit is painful to
part from you; bu. business of the most
urgent character calls me to New
Orleans. Console yourself, however,
for 1 shall be back by the earliest train
on Monday morning.
Maria's eyes opened wide in surprise.
She demonstrated with him; begged
him to wait till Monday, and pleaded
that he would come home on Saturday
night so as to pass Sunday with her.
No, the business was too important;
so he left by the 1890 A. NJ. train.
There was another train at twelve.
On this two young ladies left the Mears-
dale station. One wore light purple
or mauve silk, wholly concealed by
large linen duster; the other was
dressed in a plain brown, and both
were thickly veiled.
The one with the duster said to her
companion:
''No, don't say another word, Maria.
What am doing is all right. Obey me
in everything to-day.
When the train reached New Orleans
the ladies took carriages and drove to
the Hotel. On the way, Miss
Wcodville divested herself of the linen
duster, and threw a black Spanish veil
over her face and head.
They were shown to private parlor,
where already the preliminary prepar-
ations for a sumptuous feast were
spread.
Exactly at half-past four gentleman
entered tile room.
"True to your word, my darling" he
said, trying to give Miss Woodville
an affeetionate embrace. She checked
him, and at the same time the lady In
the brown dress and veil stepped for
ward.
"And who have we here" he asked.
81 was not aware that should have the
pleasure of another lady's company"
"That is my companion, sir. Do you
suppose would meet you aIone?" said
Miss woodville still in her assumed
voice.
"Well, be that as it may" a frown
gathering on his face, ~ have come to
see your face, as you promised. Unveil
now, for dinner will be served in few
moments"
''Not so fast, gallant sir, if you please.
First you must repeat your professions
of the other night"
sob, that is easy enough, my little
one. You know / love you, and intend
visiting you very frequently, and sit
ing at your pretty feet literally and me-
taphorically." ...-....
''After you are married?"
'.To be sure l will. What is to pre-
vent?"
''rhen certainly you may see my
face" and the veil dropped at her feet.
"AllOw me to Introduce you to my
friend Miss Mears. Mr.. George"
Mr.. George turned CHASTITY pale; his
hands trembled and he clutched the
back of chair for support.
Maria now stepped forward. and with
great self-cOntrOl, and cOmposedly said
to Miss Woodvile:
"Thank you for having opene my
eyes to the fact that was in danger of
marrying hypocrite. We may as well
go now."