The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-11-14
A Modern Romeo and Juliet.

If you had gone with me into cer-
tain chuich in Elltown on q certain
Sunday, followed the highly respectable
usher up the softly y-carpeted aisle, set
tied yourself comfortably in the corner
of the proffered seat, and glanced up at
the organ and choir behind the Rev.
Speecham's desk, your attention would
probably have been attracted, as was
mine, by an undeniably attractive rub
iect. A girl in dark gray dress ant
hat, with dash of color like the breast
of bird in the latter, and charming
poise and quick motion of the head to
carry out your thought. A slender,
graceful girl, with warm red dimpled
cheeks, full red lips that gave the CHIEF
expression to the face, and were con.
.stantly changing that expression b.
curves and quivers, steady blue eyes
and strong forehead and chin.
If, at the end of the first hymn, you
had, been unable to tell what she had been
singing about, it would not have been
because you had not been watching her
all the time from under cautious eye-
lids; and, after the reading, you would
probably have found yourself as did,
old bachelor that am, wondering what
the girl was thinking about.
First she pulled off one neat little
gray glove, rolled it into a ball and
threw it into the book rack in very
impetnous manner, and when the quiet
little Mr. Speecham gave out the hymn
she glowered at him savagely, then shut
her lips tightly, making straight scar
let line that surely was not called out by
the sentiment, "Blest be the tie that
binds" etc.
After the benediction had been pro-
nounced, and the people had been
sufficiently awakened by terrible blast
from the organ to walk mechanically out
OF the chilly church into the bright sun
shine outside, saw my morning puzzle
slip by DR.. Speecham, join middle
aged lady of the highly respectable sort,
and go out with the crowd. AS for me,
I betook myself to humdrum boarding
house with dim feeling of regret that
was no longer young.
Now, all this is simply prologue, as
it were, to the little drama which I
found out afterward, and started out in
which has, believe, been used for a
Having given the introduction in due
II,
first act of the play.
Picture to yourselves Sunday after
noon, slowly waning into evening
large gothic house, with a great many
porticoes, and on one of them my puzzle
Juliet, and the middle-aged lady, whom
she addresses as aunt, sitting VtS-a.UiS.
Juliet looks up now and then into the
elderly lady's face as she speaks to her,
but oftener, it must be confessed, glances
dreamily beyond over the wide slope of
lawn at the side of the house.
Auntie Gray, impressively, " Now,
Juliet, I am very sure you would find
your feelings changing toward DR..
Speecham if you would only stop think
ing of that wild harum-scarum Hal
Lane" ("H'm," thinks the maiden,
it is good thing you don't know who
l am thinking too much Off cit isn't
he most violent love that lasts the
longest, and, besides, it is dangerous to
trust too much to the feelings. The dear
doctor is a good man, and he would re-
strain your sudden impulses and freaks"
Juliet's lip curls suspiciously, but she
says nothing.
Auntie Gray resumes, "You do like
him, don't you, Juliet ?"
Yes, auntie, I respect and like Mr..
Speecham, but that isn't loving; and
don't love him.
A sudden vivid blush finishes the SEN
tence, for as she looks up she has the
horror of seeing that reverend gentleman
standing at the end Of the porch. having
come over the lawn as usual to take tea
nd walk to church with them. after
custom of some years standing. The
instant she glances mp, he makes ges-
ture OF silence, SO much sterner than