Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-08-13

lull anu
sunshine, when she came to make her fare
well call. He was with her watching her
every momen with loving pride; and yet it
seemed to me that he regarded her some
, what as beautiful plaything, winding her
yellow curls around his fingers, and calling
her pet names. We went out into the
garden TO gather some flowers; and as she
ran about, laughing and talking, picking
riowers, and wreating them in her hair, she
seemed lovely and bewitching child.
John had gradually lost his constrained
and embarrassed manner when with me,
and, excepting that we never approached
personalities in our conversation, our inter
course was getting to be something as it
once was.
Our tastes in many things were similar
/ We had read and admired the same au-
thors, and upon most of the important sub
/ jects connected with human life, our
thoughts were alike. We were speaking
Of some work We had lately read, and were
quite interested in discussing its merits,
when Mary suddenly checked her happy
play, and with grave face, walked silent
/ " for few moments at Johns side At
/ last she said '.Iou never talk in that way
/ to me, John, but its because don't know
enough ''You know enough for me,
dear" he answered; but she went on, Il
shall be but a child wife, Caroline would
suit you much better" '.Allowing you TO
be judge" | said laughingly, for | saw
John could not answer readily. We SAID
no more on that subject, but think John
asked himself more than once that day, ''Is
Mary right :"
When Mary bade me goodbye" that
afternoon, she wound her white arm around
my neck and kissed me, saying in her gen
tie voice, '.Write to me often, Caroline,
and teach me TO be worthy of him And
she went out of the gate, through the hop
garden, leaning on his arm, the warm au-
tumn sunlight falling on her golden hair,
making her very beautiful.
] Soon after this John Grant left Elmwcod
and took farm on his own account in the
west of the State, adjoining that of old Mr..
Heating. | seldom heard and never men
toned his name then. Mary wrote
frequently to me during the winter; hel
letters were like herself, graceful and
charming. full of love and confidence. She
spoke much of John-''iIow proud she was
Of him, what letters he wrote 50 much bet
ter than hers, and wasn't it strange he
should love such child as she was ~ She
went on writing in this way Tor several
months; but al length there was change
in her manner of speaking of John; il
seemed as though she were not quite as
happy as she had been; she said she began
to he discouraged about ever knowing any
more, and limited that John was getting dis
satisfied with her-generally ending her
letters with some anecdOte about her favor
ite cat or canary. Ii was not long after
this, when she began to speak Of her cousin
'.Harry Smil h, " who was so agreeable, and
vet Iidn't know a bit more than she did.
\ month or two after this, ] was not much
surprised when she wrote that her engage
ment with John Grant was broken by mu
tual consent-"They were not at all suited
|, to each other. and no doubt would both b'
, happier she said; for he knew 50 auci
. and she so little. She concluded with :
, long account Of her new black kitten Top
+ sy. which seemed then to be the one oh
iect which engrossed all her attention.
Two years passed, and | seldom heart
John Grants name mentioned, and if
thought OF him at all, believed had con
duered nv old attachment life flowed
ON quietly and serenely. One year ago
how well | remember the day WAS sit
ting quietly reading in the fading light o
, an October sky, when hearing a rust!in:
= among the leaves, that lay thick upon thu
! gravel walk, | looked up and saw Johr
| Grant approaching the house.
When he last was there, she was Will
him, but he was alone now, and my heart
quick throbbing told me his errand.
! Was weak and wanting in self-respec
when. after he had told me all-told M
: that although he was fascinated with ;
beautiful and loving child, deep down II
2 his heart had always lain love for me-
/, All nv love came back to me, and witt
t more confidence that could have felt fou
/ years before | laid my hands in his, AM
: SAID. s'John Grant, will be yours
/, John has sold his farm at Ferny Coombes
I and our new home is near Ashford, as tn
p old house at Elm Wood was taken dow
to make room for the railway. We neithe
I of us expect to pass over our path OF lit
without meeting with occasional storms
r but we place our trust in One who is bot
willing and able to assist those to remov
. them who put their hand cheerfuliy to tn
work: and with us it will be both wor
n of trust and love.