Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-03-17
Changed her Mind.
exclaimed

''Quarrelled with Frank! exclaimed
Mrs. Wentworth.
.'Quarrelled with Frank" echoed the
husband
Then they both looked at Nellie. Nellie
WAS Mrs. Wentworih's unmarried sister,
and she now stood before them, all dusty
with travel, having just accounted for her
unexpected journey by saying she had
''quarrelled with Frank = the said Frank
being her lover, to whom she had been en-
gagged:
''Quarrelled with Frank repeated Mrs.
Wentworth ''Oh, Nellie, thought him
30 NICE
Don't look so Mortified" she cried.
1.-The faults all mine. You were good
enough to ask me 10 visit you; but l de-
clined, because. you see, thought l was
in love with Frank But now that / find
that am not, l have come"
Not in love with Frank" exclaimed
her sister,
Il can't mar, parson, and live hum
drum life in some little rectory all my days.
50 Frank must go. / intend 10 catch &
millionaire, and be happy ever after, as
the story books say
Ah'N4 RcoS% IN S.osNhf
with deprecating shake of her head
There, now, don't be didactic, retorted
Nellie, laughing again. 81 intend to have
my own way. ! always did have it, you
know"
Not an evening passed that Nellie was
not present at some party or other; for Mrs.
Wentworth's beautiful sister was quite
belle. A dozen fortunes were laid at her
feet: this suitor was too old, that one net
sufficiently cultivated, third was too obvl-
ously selfish, a fourth too high tempered.
Besides now that she had tasted of the
siren cup of fashionable society, Nellie
f0nnd, as many one had found before,
that il was, after all. but dead Sea ashes"
She turned from ii, finally, with ioathing.
Il suppose | have exhausted life she
said one day, as she sat in her dressing
room, and curiously regarded herself in the
mirror Il am looking frightfully old and
worn. The fact is, all men are fops or
fools, seeking rich wives; and we-well.
we're no better; all the women are scheIn-
ing puppets, among which may class my
self, trying TO secure rich husbands. I'm
disguised with them," she continued;
with myself most of all. I'd rather go
back and marry the parson, and mend
stockings in the bay window of the little
green rectory than marry the best man in
society"
But the parson isn't there now," said
Mrs. Wentworth TO her one day, when she
had repeated something like this in her
presence.
What has he left the Dngley parlsh!"
and the color flew from her cheeks.
''Some rich living has been conferred on
him. They thought the jewel required
finer setting
a shall never see him again, suppose,
she said.
Hell find you out yet, said Agnes.
Never, You've no idea how cruelty
treated him Now, suppose he'll go hunt
ing after 4 wealthy woman. Well, don't
care"
But she did care. Her tears, in the
nightwatches, attested TO il; she cared, in
her own ELUSIVE language, tremendously.
The next day was Sunday.
The church was a goodly distance, and
Nellie, as she entered, with downcast eyes
and heavy heart, felt desperately in need of
its calm and strengthening service. AT the
first sound of the rector's voice, however, a
sliver of delight thrilled her heart. She
dared not, al the moment, lift her eyes,
she felt so humbled. but when she did
gather courage, there stood Frank Penrose,
and his ringing voice was the sweetest
music she had ever heard. And when she
caught his eye she bade farewell to hope;
for she felt then that she loved him, and
had loved him all along.
At the close Of the service he came to
meet them; came quietly, steadily, smiling
": this man whom Nellie had deserted for
society and fashion.
If his hand had but trembled little as
he grasped hers, she might have again in
dulged in some fiippant speech, TO prove
that he had not conquered her; but the tears
were too near TOR that.
Il think you would ike this parsonage
it is not green, he said, with sup
pressed smile.
Prank she said imploringly.
''And when you are there it will be
bower of roses" he added. You will
Gomez"
What could she say? Nothing. Her
eyes eloquent with tears, did all the talk
ing.
did you know Frank was going to
preach this morning." she asked of Went
worth as they drove nome.
.'Of course"
''You might, at least, have prepared me.
.'Why, 10 keep you from golngi And
defer, if not prevent this happy ending:"
Il forgive you," she said. Love is
ii III oh
added, enthusiastically, there's not another
man in the world so good as Frank Pen
rose"
Except Harry" said Agnes, nesting
closer to her husband.