Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-04-02

ldNOr MIN ana Drlny MN nearer tie ODJcc
of his thoughts.
Before long he found himself bowling low
before Miss Hattie Hastings, who cordially
extended her hand, exclaiming, while sh,
| flashed glance of her bright eyes upor
| him,
Il always like to take by the hand thos,
who are fighting for our flag. / feel al
especial interest in our soldiers.
| He was charmed by her frank, impetuou:
manners and handsome face, and she
held him in close conversation, leading hin
on TO speak of battles in which he had beer
engaged, until he nearly forgot her fair.
| haired sister, whom he at last discovered
sitting in an armchair on a raised platform
near them, gayly chatting with the friends
who surrounded her. Her face, lighted
with animation, was very beautiful, and,
turning to Hattie he remarked:
81 should like very much to be presented
| to Your sister if you will do me that favor.
'ISuch an act would require more courage
than l possess" declared the incorrigibl,
Hattie, .for Lou Harwood would certainly
annihilate me- She is looking daggers al
me now for keeping you from her so long.
J And laughing gleefully at that young lady
discontinue, and at her own cleverness III
keeping him from her sister, she led him
sway TO another part of the hall.
When she reached home that evening sht
was loud in her praises of her new acquain-
tance, while Minnie, who though gentle
and lovable, felt piqued at his seeming in
difference toward making her acquaintance,
| shrugged her shoulders, and said:
IL couldn't perceive anything so very re-
markable about him. To be sure, he is
passably good-looking and has fine form
but then these gOod-looking men are, as d
general thing, soft.
Hattie laugllingly repeated this remark tC
| Miss Harwood, who, in spite of her declara
| ton to the contrary, was on quite friendly
terms with the sisters, and who called on
/ them the following day. She in turn re-
peated il to the gentleman in question, add
/ ing that Minnie had declared her intention
I of snubhing him, thereby proving to hin
/ that one girl at least was not ready to fal
down and worship him. He was surprised
and hurt, and decided that possibly Mis-:
Harwood was right in her estimate of tn,
young lady, and that he would avoid max
| ing her acquaintance.
Lou was delighted with her success ii
keeping them apart, and, although aftei
! those first remarks neither spoke the other
name, she was constantly inyenting som,
sighting remarks and pouring them into tn,
ears Of each.
! Thus weeks passed. Minnie. in spite OF
her resolution TO the contrary, had learned
to look eagerly for the appearance of the
tall soldier, and to feel a keen disappoint-
ment if he were not present at each meeting,
while he could not make up his mind thai
the mild-eyed, sweet-faced girl was any
thing but pure, truthful woman. They
met everywhere, vet each tried To AVOID
the other. and two months had passed be
fore the ice was broken.
Among the new recruits was young boy
who had been taken suddenly i'll, and In
mother, poor widow, had him removed
from the camp To his home, that he might
receive her loving care. He rapidly grew
worse. however, and Lieutenant Dane, whC
had taken great interest in the lad, saw
that his DAYS were numbered.
One day about a week after he had beer
taken home. he walked down TO the cO;tag,
a little earlier than his usual hour for calling
As he approached the door, he heard soi'
and mOans, as Of some one in great distress
while sweet, low voice seemed speaking
words of comfort Fearing that the worst
had happened. and that the young recruit
| had already Joined the ranks Of the angels,
he made his way into the room without
knocking. and was greeted by fresh out
burst of tears from the stricken mother, who,
pointing toward the bed, where young
girl was Just closing the eyes OF the boy,
and tenderly laying his head upon the pill
low. she cried piteously,
MY Rob is dead, My Rob is dead. -
''He is free from all pain, my dear Mrs
Bennett. Remember he is an angel now,
and can never suffer more. And as sh,
turned, her eyes trimming with tears o.
sympathy, and took the hand of the mother
in hers, she discovered the presence of th'
gentleman.
She bowed and blushed confusedly as sh,
met his eve. but the suffering of her neigh
Dor served to take all thoughts of othe
matters from her mind, and she proceeded
TO put the disordered room to rights whil'
he endeavored to reconcile the woman &
her bereavement With heart breakin:
sobs she exclaimed:
Il will try to he resigned, but oh. h
was nv only child. He has suffered s.
terribly, and don't know what / should
have done all this dreadful week but fo
that blessed angel there. God surely vii
) reward her an hundred fold for her kind
ness.
As it Was growing quite dark, Minni
! said shecould not remain longer, and Lieut.
, Dane, rising, offered to accompany he
; home, saving, when he saw her hesitate
, that it was hardly safe for her to go alone
as there were so many soldiers roaming
about the streets.
She could not decline his escort withou
rudeness, and they started out, each main
tanning perfect silence until half the distanc
to her home had been accomplished. Find
ing it impossible to restrain himself longer
he said:
81 find, Miss Hastings, that |. have bee
greatly deceived in your character, and
cannot tell you how happy | am to fin'
YOU, instead of the heartless coquette wa
led TO believe, an angel of love and mercy
} have been deeply interested in you fron
| the first, but have tried, though vainly, Z
dislike YOU You see am frank with you
VIII you not be equally so, and tell m
} why you have avoided mel"
Mutual confessions followed, and th
perfidy of Lou Harwood was revealed.
} In his great joy at finding her all III
: fancy had pictured, he forgot that this wa
; the first time they had ever exchanges
words, and told her how she had won he
: way into his heart, and that he wanted ne
l for his own precious wife; while she, wit
blushing face and happy tears, exclaimed
81 think | have always loved you, but
supposed you loved Lou Harwood, and
) was so very miserable.
Drawing her closely to him, and imprint
ing his first kiss upon her lips, he said; =.
''That, my darling, was your mistake
Il