Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-28
How il w as.

49,
Folds of the silk and cream-colored
roses. You VIII have the bats just alike,
then?'' asked Miss Lucinda Smith, mil
liner.
'Just exactly alike. 1t will please
Hermione, and there is nothing l like
so well as to please my pretty step
mamma" answered Linly Thetford.
lifting her sweet eyes for sympathy to
the precise countenance of Miss Lu-
cinda.
"Umph.-so you are very fond of her,
Linly?'
YES, indeed, She is my best friend
since poor papa died, and being so near
of an age we are constant companions.
1 don't know what l should do if it
weren't for Hermione; Ryelands has
changed SO since papa's death"
You have Mr.. ST. Charles company
4 great deaf. hear"
A fash like sunrise dyed the beauti-
ul brunette face.
Va NOut lit II : NONioAbs
and-and like brother TO me-" an
swered Liniy, STOPPING over a box of
silk viOlets to hide her confusion.
"Umph, yes-well, it's all right, of
course, 4" remarked Miss Lucinda. pinch
ing out brier-leaf, and setting the lit
lie rose more firmly on its stem. ''But
didn't it ever occur 10 you that folks
would talk -
About what?" asked Linly, lifting
her clear hazel eyes TO Miss Lucinda's
profile.
'IIis being at Ryelands so much so
soon after your fathers death. Poor
man, dead but six months; should
think your stepmamma, as you call her,
would have more respect for his MEM
Ory than To-
Than 10 what!'' asked LIEly, her
bright orbs growing large and bright
with indignation. ''What have you to
say against Hermione-against my
fathers wife, Miss Lucinda:"
"Say-oh, say nothing. It's what
other people are talking about. But 1
must add that it is strange you are so
blind, Linly. Now have known you
since you were a child-used TO come to
Ryelands every spring 10 make caps in
your grandmother's days, and your
own mother always bought her bonnets
Of me-and you were always bright
enough about other things. It's strange
YOU can't see"
''What?' with thrill in the young
voice.
"Why, of course, your stepmother
married your father for his money, and
to have home and position. She was
only district schOol-teacher, down in
Marshfield, when he married her, and
every body knew she did pretty well for
herself when she married DR.. Thetford.
Bat she was dead ia love with her cou-
SIN, Rupert st. Charles, and he with
her; bat they were poor, and he work
ing his way so slowly through college
that she thought there wasn't much
chance there, and so gave him up for
your father. And now he's promis-
ing yOung lawyer, and she mistress OF
Ryelands, what's 50 likely lord, you
amt going to faint, are you, Linly z"
,'Fintg No! The day is warm,
and your store Is close. Ii is foolish for
me u stay here listening to this gossip.
/ do not feel in the least indebted to
you for repeating il TO me, Miss Lu-
ciuda. Ny beautiful srepmother loved
my father dearly when she married
Lim-iive years OF utter devotion to his
interests, and her crushing grief at his
death proved IL for me-nor dol believe
she loved any one else when she mar
ried him. And Ii She chooses to marry
Mr.. St. Charles now, she is at liberty,
for al in Circieville;" and bowling
with tire harest civiiity to Miss Lu-
cinda, Linly Left the shop.
The cool air OF the village streets
cooled her Burning eheeksi but how
her loyal young heart ached in her
burn ug bosom, Not for worlds would
she have had Miss Lucinda confirmed in
her suspicion that she loved Rupert st.
Charles; but il was the cruel truth.
lie was 80 kind and fine in his nature,
So handsome and unsPoiled by his rapid
success IN life, 10 woader the girlish
heart w0rshipped him. She had never
believed that there was anything be-
tween the cousins but coHsinly kindness
and freedom. But perhaps others knew
better; may De she icas blind"
A feeling Of bitter desolation fell upon
her as Size entered the broad gates of
Ryciands, wheICe her beloved father,
80 hose pet she had always been, had been
carried scarcely half q year before. She
lowed liermione, and had believed that
hermione loved her best Of Bything in
the world, but nov II seemed as though
she had uo home IN any heart
rTr. lIsrrrs- te-uslfui EEsre suifaEa
-,si tied f. .a -ree. For tha firsl tins
ua -ieLt -sFe Iaai} paia instead Of
.aa-ala. sAe ll1 l5t ash g. saeri