Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-08-11
Changed by Years.

plexion, plump and compact. She was al
ways in good humor, and we soon became
the very best of friends-nay, more-for
who could help being affectionate toward
nerI Everybody loved her. When the
boatmen called her "a sweet little craft, !"
they expressed though vulgarly, the senti-
ment Of my own heart. | was in love with
Jemima, and Jemima- well, Jelnima was
not indifferent to me. had not nerve to
ask her, in so many words, would she ac-
cept my hand and name. spoilt quire
of paper in the effort to utter my thoughts
IN letter; so at last, on her birthday, the
18th of May. ventured to present her
with an elegant bound book, and on lit
tie slip of paper inside | wrote:
''DEAR JENINA-By the acceptance of
this trifling gift let me know you accept
the giver,
ALFRED BARNsTAPLE DOUGHTY.
| flatered myself it was rather plucky
thing to do, and it answered admirably.
Next time 1 saw her she was all of a
glow, and when We were alone together,
and was standing rather near her, and
said: "You received my humble offer
ing" she burs. into a flood of tears, put
her arms round my neck, and spoilt my
shirt front
Then, when she recovered a little (do
you believe in Niobel | don'D she
said:
''Have you asked pal'
OF course / responded had not.
''Then do ct once, ;" she said; "for, good
ness gracious Inc, if he was to find us out
in anything sly, and trying to keep it from
him, it would be awful"
1t is a good deal worse asking the governor
than asking the girl, especially such pep
perry old party as Captain Marlborough;
however screwed myself up, and when
Jemima Was down about the place, playing
on our piano, and | knew he wogld be
making his evening toilet by putting on a
pilot coat, | ventured to look in upon him.
After a few words on ordinary topics, such
as how were we both, how was the
weather, hemmed and began, Captain,
am ambitious"
'Right boy-climb as high as you
can"
Don't encourage me too much, Cap
tain: I'm ambitious in your direction
'.Boy, you're not gong to seal'
No, Captain; I-l-I-I aspire to the
honor OF being your son-In-law!h
The Captain looked me full in the face,
then said:
''Have you money =
"Of course | hadn't, and lie told me to
20 and get it before venturing to aspire to
the hand of Jemima.
.sBut, my dear Captain" / ventured
- expostulate.
sect off my doorstep
'.Let me speak for moment to- Jemi-
ma"
''Get off my doorstep.
He accompanied this last instruction by
a thrust which sent me staggering into the
street.
My affair with Jemima was at an end.
The Captain would not listen to reason
that is, he would not listen to me. All the
letters | wrote TO Jemima were sent back
to me. grew weary, packed up and
packed OFF, with letter of introduction TO
a firm in China Well, the fortune was
not so easy to make but at the expiration
of twenty years began to think it sufh-
GENTLY large TO warrant my return to ''the
girl left behind me-" | had heard very
little from home. Father and mother were
still alive, but the Captain was dead They
had carried him through the cornhelds one
summers day to the little churchyard, and
there they buried him.
Jemima, l understood, lived in the old
house anc was still single. So-full OF
emotion. all the tenderness for the dear
girl | had left behind me rapidly reviving
off l went. carpet bag and everything,
Just as | was. to have the old VOWS re-
newed and sealed in the usual manner.
4 maiden with freckled face, much
sunburnt, opened the door. Could l see
Miss Wattleborough The maiden did
not reply, but leaving me where | was,
retired to the remote back settlement.
There l heard the following dialogue:
'.Missus,"
"Well, what is it
Somebody wants you"
"Who is If n
"a fat old man with bag.
/ could have shaken the girl into jelly.
There was further talk in smothered
whisper and then the girl returned, and
motioning me with her finger, said:
Come in here" and showed me into the
parlor.
The old parlor. Just as had left it, neat
and trim, the old harpslchord, the old
punchbowl; but some new things-a ca
nary in a cage at the window, black, long
legged cat ensconced upon chair.
The next minute a lady entered. Could
it be? No, impossible-this pale-faced,
sober visaged lady with stiff curls, and N
more figure than clock case-could this
be my Jemima? Where was the old lustre
of the eyes-where the old bloom upon the
cheeks-where the lips that were ruddier
than the cherryl She lifted up both hands
when she saw me.
"Alfred."
..Jemima,'
We shook hands; after a moment hesi-
tation we went furthermore IL accor
dance with old times.
My heart sank within me, however, as l
sat down opposite to her, and thought OF
what she was. She looked at me very
steadily, and thought l detected disap-
pointment in her glance.
1--WE are both changed, Jemima."
''You are very much altered, she
said
.'You are different responded.
''Do you think so!'
'Think so? Why, Jemima, there can't
be two opinions about it.
at is generally observed; but yoa
swell, my dear.'
'.You have grown ridiculously stout, and
you are bald-headed."
"You are not stout my dear; but your
hair is not quite what it was"
'.People say they see no change in me
that preserve my childish appearance
wonderfully"
''Humphl"
Our interview was not altogether agreea-
BILE. When we parted we contented our
selves with shaking hands.
That afternoon I wrote a note to her,
suggesting that we did not renew our en-
gagement-
That afternoon she wrote q note to me,
suggesting the very same idea to me. Our
cross letters crossed.
We are % be frlends-nothing more.
But that could not last. i was the first
to give in. / called upon her, and said a