Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-04-13
In the Cleaning.

"You are the best judge of your own
bea1t, but 1 do not think your future
promises much happiness as the wife of
Godfrey Hill. Remember who and what
he is.
These were the words over which Alice
Hill pondered as she walked slowly through
the grove at Bellows Falls. 1t was her
fayorite walk, when she wished for solitude,
though 1t lay at some distance from her
home, the stately house that crowned an
incline stretch of ground overlooking the
village.
Remember who and what he is
Mrs. Hill had sad these words very
slowly, and with due emphasis only few
hours before, when Alice had read to her a
letter, in which Godfrey Hill had asked her
to be his wife.
Who was he, then? He was the second
cousin of Alice, a man of about twenty
seven, who had been brought up by his
grandfather in the house upon Bellows
Height, and had supposed his inheritance
Of house and fortune assured.
Alice and her widowed mother had never
entered the stately house while old Mr..
Hill lived, but had supported themselves
by keeping a school for young children,
after Godirey's cousin, Alice's father, had
died.
1t had never crossed their widest i'm
agination that the old gentleman at Bellows
Falls would remember them by even
triflng legacy, and they were inclined to
think they were the victims of practical
joke, when they received the lawyers letter
informing them that Alice was the heiress
of the entire estate of John Hill, of Bellows
Falls.
1t was like q dream, to come to the
splendid home, to know there was to be
no more weary struggles for daily bread, to
wander through magnificent rooms and ex-
tensive grounds with the deliciously novel
sensation of ownership.
And il must be confessed that Alice at
first thought hut little of the dispossessed
heir
But he introduced himself soon as a
cousin, and visited the house as a welcome
guest
For, in answer to the second clause of
Mrs. Hills question, what was hel Alice
could have answered truly that he was the
most fascinating man she had ever seen.
And Alice Hill, though bread winner
In the busy world, had moved in good
society, havirg sristocratic family con-
nec;ions both on her fathers and mothers
side.
She was no novice TO be won by merely
cOurtly manner, but she had never met a
man whose intellect was so broad, whose
courtesy was so winning, whose face was
so handsome a. we're those of Godfrey
Hill.
And yet there was a letter in her writ
ing desk, written by the dead man whose
helress she was, warning her that ''because
he Is unworthy, because he has betrayed
the trust put In him, | haYe disinherited
Godfrey Hill"
There was no specific charge, no direct
accusation, but the young helress was
warned against her cousin.
Yet, in the many long conversations the
two had held together, Godfrey Hill had
eEeeayOred to convince his fair COUSIN that
his grandfather had been influenced by false
friends to believe statements to his dis
credit utterly untrue.
lie had almost convinced her that he was
an innocent victim to unfortunate circum-
stances, victim TO mistaken sense of
honor.
She was young, naturally trustfuI, and
her heart was free; so it is not woRderful
that Alice Hill was inclined to restore the
disinherited man to his estate by accepting
The ofer of his heart and hand. Absorbed
IN her reflections, Alice did not notice that
clouds were gathering, till a sudden sum-
mer shower broke with violence above the
tree tops.
The rain came through the branches sud-
Genly, drenchIng through her thin black
dress, and she ran quickly to the nearest
house for shelter.
The nearest refuge proved to be the cot
iage where Mrs. Mason, who dId the
washing for the great house, lived with
her daughter, Lizzie, one of The village
beauties.
There was great busting about when
Allce presented herself at the door.
Mercy sakes You're half drowned, :
The Old woman cried, hurrying her unex-
pected guest to the kitchen IRE. you're
wei TO the skin, dearie. Now amt it q
Diesslng there's whole washing in the
basket to go homer You can go into Liz.
Mes room and change your clothes, and
III 90 up them you've got on Dear, dear.
iouf hat is just ruined-crape won't beal
We'tlnS-snd you've no shawl You mus
Just put on dress of Lizzle's to go homt
H. us nearly dark anyway
Where is Lizzie 2" Alice asked.
sewing at Mrs. Gorham's, dearie. Shell
De coming home, soon. alters make tha
part OF the bargain that she's to be le
none aiore dark, and it gets dark now By
Ax-fall days are shorter than summe
ones. SO she'll be here soon. It's clear
ing up"
IL was clearing up, and it was also grow
ing dark, so promising to send home tn
oorfoweddr dressin the morning, Alice startet
for home.
She smiled at herself as she stood befor
the cottage mirror, for she had not worn
gay color since her fathers death five year
before.
Lizzie blue dress scarlet shawl and ga
gu. SUNDAY hat were oddly out of place upo
'ne slender figure, and setting off the pale
neniled face of Alice Hill.
Dear me, said the old woman. 81 hop
,TuA soon cnirk up bit, Miss Alice, an
.aAe on your black The cid gentlema
,aS Oeen dead year, now. Them rose
10 suit you beautiful"
Ahce glanced at the staring red flower
said:
Il will take great care o. Lizze's ha,