Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-05-30

hls appearance q clergyman, the other
an old, sharp-featured, stony-eyed little
man, whom the sergeant supposed 10 be
the bridegroom. The cause Of the sol
dier's presence being explained to him
by John Edgeworth, old Fraser, for il
was he, in a sudden fit of generosity
threw him a crown, desiring him to
drink his health with il. ,-.
The coin fell .unnotieed al the SER
geant's feet, for the door was opened,
and Mrs. Edgeworth entered, followed
by Amy Bradley, on whose arm leaned,
or rather clung, a pretty, child-like
little creature, her pale young face i'm
| pressed with the sadness of a heavy
heart. She did not raise her eyes 10
greet her future lord, who hobbled
over TO her side, and the hand which
he took lay cold and passivei in his own.
1t was painful sight, that ill-mated
couple standing before the clergymen
10 utter VOWS that TO one, at least, must
seem a death knell. Painful inded il
must have been TO the manly heart of
the sergeant, for his chest heaved with
| suppressed emotion. He rose from his
chair, but sat down again, passing his
hand over his eyes. He saw John
Edgeworth's face whiten with intense
agony-he saw the bowed heads of Mrs.
Edgeworth and Amy Bradley; he heard
the low voice of the clergyman falter-
ingly begin the marriage ceremony, as
if he felt that the blessing he would in
woke would be a moekery. He saw all
this, l repeat, until the clergyman,
turning 10 the poor girl, asked her elf
she would take that man there present
for her lawful husband" then SPRING
ne mp, he shouted:
Never. Matte, never, my sister -
but the rest of the exclamation was lost
in the cries of 'sHarryr' that burst
from the lips of the astonished women,
and the next moment they were cling
ing around him weeping, heartily
enough, to be sure, but they were
blessed tears Of joy.
Harry, Harry, my dear Doy?' falt-
cred John Edgeworth, still half incre-
dulous.
''Yes, father, returned the sergeant,
removing from his face at the same time
the beard and mustache which had dis
figured it, your son, indeed, who has
returned to ask your forgiveness, TO
snatch Matte from a miserable future,
and if Amy loves me yet, and won't
say no, why, TO become her husband"
''Amy hid her blushing face on his
shoulder, Whispering
Indeed won't say no, dear Harry"
"oh, Harry, darling, are you in ear
nest:r Matte cried, still clinging
aound his neck, ''Oh, know you are
and | won't have TO marry him?"
That you won't poor little thing"
said Harry.
Where was old Fraser during this in
teresting colloquy ?--where, indeed,
but standing over by the window,
gnawing his lips, and forcing his nails
into his elenched hands.
"My money. Ny seven hundred gold /
guineas, John Edgeworih :" he ga-tcd.
There's your money, old Shylock."
Harry said, throwinga a well filled purse I
across the room. And now, bark ye,
quit! Well, yes, satisfy yourself and
count II. Yon'll fnd IL right, for a.
sure you II wss placed IN there for
You"
Old Fraser deliberately eiDptied the
purse Of is contents upon the table, aud
finding the sum 10 De- correct, neryou-ly
. "a. LII -. La. Il
aud turned 70 leave the apartment. ln
doing 20 bis foot struck the crown
piece which he had thrown 70 the
sergeant on bis entrance. IIe stopped
down, and picking II up, bagfened from
the room without casting glance be-
hind him,
"fIas be gomez" asked Matte, fear
fully raising ber bead from IIarry's
shoulder.
"He bas, but somebody else T. 10
come, Matte, " said Harry.
A. be spoke, Nancy came into the
room, followed by tall, bnndsOme
young fellow, who, no sooner had be
perceived Matte, than, regardless u all
present, be beid her iD bis ariDs.
$50, Philip, my hoy" laughed
Harry, 'yOu TOOK ne Tor sergeant.
and thought you had really 'ilstedF"
"IIe couldn't believe Dc for q long
time, Ar Harry, dear, " s1Dbed Nancy.
f.. found him sitting 20 disconsOIste iB
he little room where you left him"
"Took you for q sergeant, Harry"
said Mr.. Edgewortb, cycling the Mill
tary clothes. "are you not 0Def"
my dear mother" be- answered II
an not a soldier, aud though ! incDr
NY father. displeasure, confess ! an
an actor"
Forgive me, my dear boy" John
EdgewOrtb said, warmly pressing biz
sons hand. was TOO bastytD fhe past.
have long since overcome my foolish
against the theatrical prOfes-
lion, and, 10 convince you, that ! would
ind a truly intellectual qualification
IN witnessing the powerful delineatiOBs
Df the great Warden tomorrow night"
"You have witnessed one Tonight.
am he"
'Ob, goodness graciOus.' cried
Nancy, clapping her hands. "Mr. Harry
rhe great actor. oh, Miss Amy, can't
you now be proud of himf"
Il trnst she may, Harry said, draw
ing Amy Bradley TO his side, he ex-
claimed: "Since have so well played
Lhe part Of a sergeant, may my per-
formance as a happy husband be far
more successful, and, with the blessing
If kind Heaven, be longer upon the
stage" .k al,
Pride.