Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-06-18
The Exchanged Overcoats.

Several young folks were assembled at
Mr.. Lawrence's one evening for the purpose
of amusement, and after they had quite
exhausted their budget of fun, they re-
quested Mr.. Lawrence TO tell them story.
As he delighted in pleasing young people,
he readily complied with their request, and
asked what they would have.
Yours and Lenora's love story, echoed
several merry voices
..Well, then," said he, ''if you will be
seated and keep quiet, | will tell you about
our courtship."
They seated themselves around him, and
with Lenora's lustrous black eyes beaming
on him he began.
.T.enora was sixteen and | was twenty
two when my story begins. was visiting
at Uncle Johns in Benton, when / became
acquainted with her 1t was at church, the
Sunday after my arrival, that first saw her.
She was pretty girl, with black eyes, dark
brown hair and red cheeks; which charms
YOU see, she still retains in wonderful per-
fection, though many weary years have
passed since then. As she was an intimate
friend of Uncle John is family, soon became
acquainted with her We met often, and
spent many happy hours together. The
result was that scarcely a month had elapsed
ere | found myself SO deeply in love with
her that | resolved to tell her how dear she
was to me. and ask her TO be my own sweet
Lenora. Nor was il long before | had an
opportunity of executing my resolution.
We were seated on a rustic seat in beau
tiful spot in her mothers garden 1t was a
pleasant morning IN May, and nature was
dressed in her richest garb. The flowers
were in full bloom, and the ground was
covered with velvet green The morning
sun shining from a blue sky through the
rich foliage that clustered above our heads,
lent magical lustre to the scenery around.
1t was a spot that the artist might be proud
to have reproduced on canvass. We had
often sat in that same spot before; but on
this morning it possessed more charms and
more fascinations than ever. With LenOra :
head leaning on my shoulder and her hand
placed confidingly in mine believed myself
the most favored Of mortals. | thought II
| could only have such dear girl with me
all the time, | would be the happiest oi
men. 1t seemed that she OWNED my
thoughts, for she asked me what | was
thinking about | told her that | was think
ing of the short time that remained until
would leave for home, and how lonesome
il would De so far away from her. y teal
stole down her rosy-cheek, and her head
hung lower on nv shoulder. | put my
arm around her, drew her to my breast, anc
somehow, though | never could tell JUS
how. | asked her if she would he MY wife
Her reply, which was a sweet ''yes, seem
ed to have almost transformed that little
garden spot into heaven. | held her Ions
in my arms and pressed passionate kissei
on her lips. When we parted, an hour al
terward. we had vowed to be forever tru'
| to each other. After that our meeting
became more frequent and life was thous
and times sweeter to me than ever before.
Several weeks had passed pleasant!
| away, when the time for my return hom'
drew near. 1t was about the middle o
July. Having gained her parents consen
to our marriage, 1 promised to return
September and claim my bride.
With farewell meeting with Lenora, Il
which all our VOWS were renewed and man.
parting tears were shed, | took passage in
stape-coach for Clifton, my fathers home
IL was eighty miles distant, and was thre
days in going. The first thing | did afte
had received the congratulations OF m.
| friends was to write to LenOra, to tell he
of nv Journey over the steep and rock.
road among the mountains and hills on th
old coach. A sweet correspondence ensued
and through the long summer days tina
followed the greatest pleasure that | enJoye
was in reading Lenora's letters and writin
90 her.
About the first of September | received
letter from Lew Rowland, requesting me
come 70 Greencastle and spend few day
with him befofe his departure for Califor
MIA.
Lew and had been schOOlmates, an
were very intimate friends For the pas
three wears he had been clerking in dru
store in Greencastle: but becoming wear
of such monotonous occupation, ana nc
being satisfied with the small income derive
from it, he had resolved to-seek more re
mantle and profitable employment in tn
gold fields of California.
The time for my return to Lenora wa
only two weeks off. However, l detel
mined to comply with LEWIS request, an
on the day after / received his letter
started for Greencastle. As went by raj
way. | was only day and night on III
road: and on the following morning l wa
in Lewis room in hotel in Greencastle
found him in good spirits. lie W;
making ureparations for his journey.
OF course | took an opportunity to writ
and tell Lenora of my trip, and assured h'
that if kind Providence favored l woul
be with her at the appointed time.
The three days that ! spent with Lee
were pleasantly passed. In the forenoon
the third day, Lewis comrade, who WI
going with him, arrived in Greencastle, an
insisted on taking the evening train.
Accordingly everything was arranged
and about seven o'clock we repaired to IL
depot to await the arrival Of the o'cloc
westward bound train. Throwing aside OF
overc,ats and hats, we seated ourselves Il
our last conversation.
Very soon the shrill whistle of the al
preaching train sounded in our ears a.
companied them into the car, and as u
train began TO move away l pressed the
hands. wished them prosperous life an
stepped from the car, glancing, as | wei
out. at the serene faces of the passenger
little suspecting the horrible death tn
awaited many of them that night. stoC
on the platform until the noise of the ira
died away in the distance, and then we
with a heavy heart to the hotel and retire
to rest
When | arose ON the following mornlr
] discovered, with much chagrin, that LIE
sad taken my overcoat instead OF his ow
ks far as the value of the coats were co