Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-07-23
AT Great Cost

Hartley Cline, the master of MapletOn.
had terrible temper, a fierce. ungoverned
spirit, which almost every one connected
with him feared. He had lived fifty odd
Years in the world, vet people prophesled
that II would vet be subjugated at great
cost.
Not that he was brute or tyrant. He
was generous with his dependents. tender
with his children, just with all men. 1t
was only when his indignation was aroused
that he was terrible in its uprising. Few
dared 10 face its volcanic force
Fortunately for the peace of the house
hold, his two children, Leigh and Clarice,
were not like him. Both were blonde, sun
ny and facile. The former was abroad
with party of artist-friends. The latter
was at hOme-her fathers pridc-the mis-
tress Of his house. And these two children
had no mother. She had died nineteen
wears before, AT Leigh birth.
Clarice was Two years her brothers elder
Fair, graceful and good, her father promised
himself great things OF his only daughters
beauty. Love and wealth he had bestowed
freely upon her: rank and title should be
hers when she married. But for Clarice 5
marriage he was not vet ready. She was
far too dear and necessary to his daily hap
pinesS. Therefore, Clarice kept her secret
ike the grave, that she loved her half-cousin
Allan Larrimer-another genial and sunny
spirit.
These young people, cOngenial and IN
spoiled, became committed TO each other
because gay youth loves gay youth, " be-
fore they realized all that their confession
Of mutual affection involved; for Hartley
Cline would not be likely to consent to
Clarice's marriage with Allan Larrimer.
He was an American. undisiinguished.
and of moderate wealth, and It was the de
sire of his heart that Clarice added foreign
title to her other gTaces. For this reason
he had invited Count Herman to Mapleton.
Count Herman was German. fat and face
tious. He was not the only titled man to
whom Hartley Cline had protfered his rare
and costly wines, but the counts good hu-
NOR was particularly agreeable to him, so
that he found it pleasant to imagine him at
some distant day, his ally and sOn-in-law.
To be sure, he was twenty years older
than Clarice, and she laughed at his rotun-
AAlAN. AAlANr fNA liz
father considered the match not only posi-
ble, but probable, since he approved.
Ii was a happy summer, though Clarice
shook with terror when she thought OF her
father discovering tine tender connection
which she had formed. For, fear as she
did promise to marry Allan, she yet, with
great sweetness. freely confessed her love,
and enjoyed to the utmost the stolen mo-
ments they could spend together.
But when they could no longer meet in
lonely rustic places, by appointment, from
time to time, and Clarice could not receive
him with any frequency at home, regret
dimmed her happy spirit In vain Allan
expressed his willingness to face her father 5
anger; her panic of terror at the suggestion
quite disarmed him Of his purpose.
Winter set in. For a time, only notes
passed between Clarice and Allan Larrimer.
Suddenly there came change. Leigh
WAS coming home.
'.Yes, my boy is coming home, said
Hartley Cline, rubbing his hands in pride
and joy. ''What shall we DO, Clarice, to
please him
''Wha; have you thought of, papa
"a reception on the night of his arrival.
All his old friends here.
Eyes. we will - she replied, gladly.
So invitations were issued, orders given,
and preparations commenced.
Hartley Cline had planned masked par
~. II would be all the meTrier to have
Leigh surrounded by so many unknown
friends. Tie, the host, would wear dom
inc. and for a moment. at least, defy Leigh S
bright eyes to descry him. Early in the
evening all would unmask that Leigh might
recognize his congratulations
| When the household was the busiest,
Clarice stole away to her chamber, and
hastily wrote a note:
/ sALLAx: We are expecting Leigh home
tonight, and masked party OF his TRENDS
are invited to MapletOn to receive HIM.
! This gives me opportunity to see you with
out causing any one to suspect how glad L
I shall be Of the meeting. | was getting TO
desnair of ever seeing YOU again. Wear
trorbadour's dress. with the inclosed ribbon
ninned 20 the sleeve. You will find what
YOU need at the customers, Sechrist- Come
precisely at eight.
YoUE own CLAEiCE.
Inclosing knot of rose-pink ribbon IN
the sheet, and dispatching the note by an
outside messenger, Clarice returned to her
task of arranging flowers for the rooms
with brighter eyes and warmer cheeks. III
the afternoon, a note of response was placed
in her hand:
s1Iy DAZZLING CLARICE: ], too, have
been in despair of ever seeing you again
For all my promise not to acquaint youi
father with our love, ] have been almost OIL
the point of going to him, stating the truth,
and demanding a right to see YOU Bu
now | need do nothing TO alarm you
viii. according to your directions, be a
Manleton precisely at eight, wearing trou
badour's dress with the pink ribbon on tn,
sIeeve. and black domino; and we VIII
have q happy evening in spite of fate
ALLAN.
As soon as Clarice had snatched IN
meaning from the sheet, she hid II haslilN
in her bosom, for her fathers steps wer'
annroacbinr. She shook so with lear
tbe sound that her trembling Obliged her U
burriedlv empty her hands OF howers ai'
fiy from the room. -, .5 h,
ssGet your supper now my cililu' siu " ~
dressed early!' he called after heI, as iie e''
- ,bo onartmen. by another door.