Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-01

| iui oiuc eyes udu COllt SUCH Wlsllui
ness and heartsick woe, that dear Mrs
Pemberton, looking up from her knit
ting, saw the misery.
''It will never, never do" she said
energetically-so much so that hel
kindly, emphatic tones, brought sud
den dash of color to Blanche's face
1T will never do-the way you allow
yourself to brood on things that you
can't help. | am really delighted tC
think John will be home so soon. III,
will take you in charge, and make you
give up these useless memories, which
only seem TO make you miserable
Such dear, blessed old boy as nv
John is, Blanche, and so handsome
Why, l confidently expect it will be 8
case of mutual affinity, you and he, un.
less he has lost his heart abroad; thi.
year he has been to Germany"
A case of affinity for her. Blanche
felt a thrill of sick pain Mrs. Pember.
ton never imaginad her words had
caused, for, although she knew there
was love story entangled somehow
with BlancLe's old life, the girl had
been proudly reticent of particulars, oil
Elmer Westcourt's name.
Mrs. Pemberton talked so much, Sc
often of her darling "her blessed boy >
her only son, John, who, to her, full,
filled every dream of manly excellence
and perfection And Blanche used to
wonder often what the quiet home
would be like when Mrs. Pemberton'
son came into il. She used to wonder
how it would be possible for her to en-
dure the presence of anyone who would
in any way remind her of mans per.
fidy and heartlessness.
But if their liyes-her life-was 10 be
invaded by a man. Well, after a time
she grew to be ashamed of her morbid
cowardice of feeling, and resolved, with
stern determination that was pitiful
that John PembertOn "a and odd
strengthful name il was TO her-should
not interfere with the duties of the
quiet life she had chosen, and which
although she was hardly conscious OF
it, was leaving its impression on her
discipline and patience, and nobility on
her nature.
Nevertheless, the pain-the very bit
! terness of woe-was not removed. HeI
fathers death she could, in the ordina-
ry healing course of nature, have got
over. Loss of wealth, position, and
summer friends, would, after time,
have been as a trifle to her.
But Elmer Westcourt's detection
So long as she lived, it would hurt her
with that keen, sick pain, which some
purity and trust of nature, who can nc
more imagine deceit and cruelty in one
they love than themselves are capable
of it. Truly it was her darkest hour.
To her, Elmer Westcourt would al,
WAYS be the one who had power tc
touch her heart. To her he would al
ways be the beloved, though not the
/ lover-the one above all others, al
though unworthy, strangely paradox
cal as il was.
So Blanche tried her best and brayeSi
to enter into Mrs. Pemberton's spirit OF
welcome for her son. She beautified
his room, that for more than year had
stood alone in its unOccupancy. She
baked delicious cakes. anu arranged
/ Of ra ra
through the whole house, leaving every.
where the impression of her artistic
touch, that delighted Mrs. Pembertor
so thoroughly.
John will appreciate it so, bles:
his dear heart. Blanche, never want
ed anything in all my life as | wani
my boy. And do, Blanche, make hin
feel, so far as you are concerned, thai
you make him welcome, will you?"
Up in her room, hours after, Blanche
remembered particularly what dear ole
Mrs. Pemberton had said about hei
contributing her share towards welcom
ing and pleasing the coming guest, ant
as she stood before the glass, brushing
out the long, lustrous hair, that wa
full of CLEANS of sunshine, she though
how far past the time it was when she
could be a pleasure or a pride to any
one
She thought how worn out she hat
grown to be, how aged and Old-woman
ish her fierce, ceaseless fight with fat
had left her, and she smiled wearily a
the idea of her being even thought o
when John Pemberton came.
| think Blanche really thought it wa
so-that she was worn and faded, when
instead of her old-time radiant, spark
ling beauty, she saw a sweet, subdued
serious loveliness, which others recog
nized and admired, if she did not.
She had never, in all her flush o
beauty, wealth and happiness, made
fairer picture than she looked that day
after she had dressed for Mrs. Pember
toms sons home coming.
She wore white, with delicate blu
ribbons, and her lovely hair was pile'
high on her head in golden confusion
of flossy prffs, tenderly rings, ant
glossv braids.
1t seemed strange to Blanche that sh
could not possibly take an interest il
the coming of this gentleman-shew VIII
not so very long ago, had so thorough.
enjoyed Irritation. She wondere'
why, in spite of herself, she was s
listlessly Indifferent, and honestly trie'
to catch the infection of Mrs. Pember
toms excitement of joy
The old lady had put on her oes
dress-a rich, rustling silk-to do hon
or to her son's coming, and Blanch
thought, as she went into her parlor
that she had never seen a sweete
tableau of placid, aged beauty, and hap
DIV old days, than Mrs. Pemberton OF
fered, in her lace cap and gray puffs
and pale face lighted by such glad eyes
.sHow your son ought to worshi
such motherr ~ she said, with warm