Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-02-23
Two EIODements.

II Two EIODements.
In = large, square, ,old-fashioned house
s,,cb ascnr fathers used TO build when So
,ditv Uss I,ore sought after than utility
Tved Philip Mason ami his sister Esther.
upbiIin had reached the mature age of 40,
nd Esther was close TO hun. Sill, each
had pursued a solitary pathway through
life. seeking no companlonsmp save that oi
ibe other TIL there was reason TO believe
E,bst tney would continue to follow the same
cmrse Ill In the fulness of time they were
gatbered into the family tomb-the recep-
iacle Of many generaEgns OF the Mason
Efamily. There was n11e reason to think
"a. since they took care TO commend an
unmsrried life, not only by example bul by
precept
s.Na," SAID Philip, when assailed on this
subject BY matchmaking lady; marry
ing may be very good for some people, but
could not bear to have my habits broken
in upon, and NV whole house turned top
sy-turvy by the introduction OF wife!"
..BuI by-and-by, when yOn grow older,
YOU will feel the need OF wife, more than
al present"
No, said Philip, conclusively, Il have
a sister who is devoted to me, and while
\ she lives ! snail need no other.
As for Miss Esther, she often declared
that she would never make a slave of her
set Tor any man living. If other women
were foolish enough TO give up their Inde-
4 pencence, and Tie themselves 10 q man, for
no other earthly purpose than to burden
themselves with cares and tolls from morn
inc Till night, she was sure she had no OBJ
lection. Fer her own part she was wiser.
iier brother and she had always lived To-
gelher peaceably and happily, and she did
Lot think she could make any change for
The better
Of course, it was insiDuated by those
VII Sc OplnlOn differed widely from Miss
EstheT's that in adopting this opinion she
was only making a virtue OF necessity, and
that ii was besI 10 be coniented with ones
lOi, provided there were no chance OF i'm
proving 1t. But Esther CID HOT HEIR I;rcsc
RENAL as, and so Was not disturbed by them.
She continued to live In the old house with
her brother. They kept no domestic, since
Esther rather plumed herself on her house-
keeping qualities, and there WAS really bul
little 10 DO. 90, as her brother was usually
absen, during the day, she was leit for the
most part 10 the cOmpanionship of her owl
thoughts, unless soule neighboI chanced tC
Call in-a thing, By the Way, OF rather rart
occurrence, since most OF the nelghbors ha-
large families OF their own, which necessa
My confined them al home.
Early one afternoon just after Esthe
Mason had completed her task of clearing
away the dinner dlsh.s, and storing then
away III the cupboard after a thorougl
washing, she WAS startled by rap al tn
door
Somewhat surprised by a caller at thi
unusual hour, She answered the summons
She Was a Little apprehensive that ii was I
neighbor who had OF late proved very
Troublesome IRON her habit vi borrowin.
articles, and owing, 1t is 10 be presumed, Il
haDIual 1orgetfulness, negleciing to re
I'm them.
Il hope she unused, ''that if it is Mrs
Bailey, she will be wanting TO borrow some
thing that have not got"
She opened the door; but no Mrs. BaileN
presented herself 10 her expecting gaze
gentleElan Ot fOrty-hye, Carefully, nay ele
gantly dressed, stood before her.
Il beg your pardon for intruding, ma
dame, said he, as he noticed Esther Iool
OF surprise; ''but can you direct me to tn,
house OF the late Ar. " el!fieetf l have hear,
II was for sale, and from the description
have heard OF 1t, judge il Will suit me"
1T is the next house on the left, sir,
answered Esther, who had had time, Will
the gentleman was speaking, to examine hi
appearance, which did not tail to impres
Ler fayorably.
Thank you for the information. 1 trus
you will pardon me for the trouble l hav
occaaoned YOU" replied the gentleman
bOwing
MOT the least trouble in the world" re
plled Esther, a little fiutIered by defer
ence 10 which she had not been accustom
ed.
Two days afterward Esther heard tina
Mr. Melli1eet's estate had been purchase,
oy stranger named Bigelow She at one
oohlectured, and rightly, that this was he
VISITOR. a few days elapsed, and Esthe
Mason received another visit from the gen
teman.
have favor to ask of you, Miss Ma
son, he began (it seems he had ascertaine,
her hane). Il am aware that our Sigh
acquaintance viii hardly justify it, but
trust time will remove this objection. Yo
must Know" he added, smiling ''that al
aoaeheior, dependent In many respects upo
iDt housekeeper, who though a good WON
an III her way, am afraid is not reliable i
matters OF taste. As my furniture has al
Il'ed, but has not yet been arranged,
Nouid esteem II real service If you woul
give he your opinion in some little matter
Inspecting It's proper disposition. NV Cal
-ase Is al the door ready to carry yo
over
but, said Esther, little hesitatingly
20 not claim TO have much TASTE / fea
shaii prove no more reliable in that II
epect t1an your housekeeper.
\, L have but 10 look around me, P" sal
M; biseiow, politely, ITO be fully saril
hed upon that point"
=, Islhers cheek flushed with pleasure &
.nis CON mpllment, and she made preparation
"CoiIpIy with her new visitors reQues
Was not without little consciousne.
VI the singulality of her position that Z.
ulei found herself riding by the side of
ssn'leAian with whom sne had scarcely el
nanged halt a dozen words in the cours
;, bn, ner hie.-The distance, however, wa
GuI snort' and she had little time for refiet
~ 80 on arriving at her place of destin,
n"u, aon she iound the chief part of the bus
ness accomplished.
no rue furniture, which, by the way, VIZ
,h' NJ" ana handsome, had been arranged j
De room after fashion, but Esther W,