Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-04-24
From the Mays Landing RecordJ
A Practical Joke.
BY LILLIAN L'EsTRANGE.

We'll, anyway Eugene, after all
your boasting, you can never say you
fooled me once on the first of April"
NO. really cannot, Florence, but
that is not saying | never will. Mark
me. in two months time you will not
be so ready to repeat those words you
said a few moments ago"
Il will. tOo." replies the other, with
a pretended pout, which made her red,
sweet lips very charming. "PhIlip, y
turning to the gentleman that had
hitherto been only listener to their
merry talk. ''you bear me witness.
Just listen to Eugene. Why I've never
been April-fooled," as the children
say, since | can remember, and I'm not
going to begin now"
.'Very we'll. I'll wager you that
cameo ring We saw at Bailey's last week, 4,
that il shall be as ! say
Done" replies the girl. with one of
her low. merry laughs. Its just what
| was teasing papa to get me at dinner
to-day. There will be no backing out,
either. Mr.. Eugene Rivers. Here is a
paper: sit down and pledge yourself, "
and while the young man is writing, we
will glance at the three persons in the
elegantly-furnished room.
Florence Mortimer is the only child
of wealthy Judge Mortimer, and is,
figurativelv speaking, ''the very apple
of his eve"
Tonight, as she leans eagerly over
Eugene Rivere's chair, her red lips
;ust parted in a merry smile, and show
ing the glistening white teeth, one sell
dom sees a more beautiful girl. She
wears dress of dainty blue cashmere,
fitting closely to the slender form, and
which is well suited to set off her deli
cate blonde beauty.
She is only eighteen, this little he
roine of ours; a girl just blossoming
into womanhood. She has never known
care in all her happy, sunny life, and
is one who will never have 10 say, "All
Thy storms and pillows have gone over
me- All no, All her dainty feet
will ever tread on will be the fairest,
most delicate flowers with which mother
nature has ever strewn this earth of
ours.
Standing by her now, and gazing
with fond, proud eyes, at the bewitch-
ing loveliness of her fair face, Is Philip
Kennedy, her betrothed of two week :
standing. He is noble, handsome fei-
low, in spite of his faults, which are
not many. the worst being jealousy and
distrust of human nature. He loves
Florence Mortimer fondly and truly,
and he is one whose affections are not
easily transferred; with him, to love
once is to love forever.
And now we come to our third and
lastcharacter, Eugene Rivere, "a thought
less mirth-loving young editor of no
ted paper. Florence had known him
from her earliest childhood, and he sup
piled the place of the brother whom she
had never known, as he died when she
was a baby.
Philip Kennedy has taken an absurd
sort Of dislike to the young fellow, and
now. as he watches them together, a
faint, underlined fear steals over his
heart, which causes him to say hastily
"Wen. Flo, if wish to catch the
train for B, | must be leaving.
Florence starts up suddenly; the
smile fades from her face, and all else
is forgotten, i'm the fact that he, her
hero. her king, as she fondly calls him,
going.
The Judge has called Eugene from
the room moment ago, and they are
alone.
Tears fill the girls lustrOus violet
eyes, as she says:
..Oh. Philip. must you go? / don't
know what is the matter with me to-
night, but | feel as if when you went
on this horrid Journey, | should rever
see you again. Oh, dear, don't go, d,
she pleads, clinging to his arm and
shivering all over.
Philip looks down at her, smiling, as
he folds her close in his strong arms,
and then she nestles her golden head
on his breast, and is fain to be content.
"why, sweetheart" hesays at length
'.what is the matter with my own brave
little girl" stroking the thick, glossy
curls.
81 don't know, but | have some kind
of presentiment | shall never see you
again.
"why Florence, my darling, you are