Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-07-20

other, a lad with aquiline nose ant
> retreating chin. could not tackle him
for always detest boys or any mel
under thirty. l turned to my othel
neighbor, rather uncertain, if it was the
thing to speak to ones neighbor, and
said: ''Do you think it will rain ?''-l
noticed afterwards that it was raining
but then one cannot be expected to
think of everything the old gentle
man answered pleasantly that he though,
1t would. After that We got on capitally.
We began talking ON all sorts of subjects,
even the Academy; he had seen great
many pictures that had somehow over
looked, and felt quite at my ease and
at home, and laughed just as do when
L am happy, when a sharp "Luke, my
dear, don't you see 1 want the salt p
from the wife on the other side brought
us up short, and had to hold my tongue
while my neighbor soothed his better
half's irritated feelings.
AT the head of the table was parson,
evidently looked upon as a person of
Importance, for reference was made to
his opinion on all subjects, from Church
questions to trout-fishing. The man
next him was stout and jocular, and car
ried on a running conversation with the
waiter, in this wise-"Yes I'll take some
more beef and some of the greens-at
least" on being corrected and informed
that they We're not greens, but French
beans, ''at least they're green, which the
greens never are. Now, then, give me
some strawberry jam Who ever heard
of Scotch meal without strawberry
jam q Opposite were a spruce little
couple-she with polished hair braids
and best silk neckerchief and brooch
he in spotless black, like an undertaken
out of place, even the sparse hairs on
his head black and shiny and funereal.
They conversed much together amiably.
and he remarked that Z o'clock was quite
a heathenish hour to dine at /; 6 o'clock
was late enough in all conscience. The
meal was very plentiful and very good,
and every one did justice TO it except
myself, who, after the remark about the
salt, felt distinctly snubbed.
The next morning, after i descended
to breakfast, l again sat next the same
family, but this time it was next the
lady. L attempted, in the intervals of
scones and buttered toast and newly
gathered honey, quite delicious to an
English gourmet, to hazard slight re-
mark. The lady tossed her head, and
said, Indeed - / felt further efforts |
were hopeless and there was my friend |
Of last night at the head of the table, |
not even daring to throw me glance of
approval. drew myself up and looked
haughtily, as can do when like. But
the mother could smile well enough i
when she chose, as she proved presently |
when her good-looking daughter asked
for Jam. / wondered what would have |
been the result had asked for jam. To
my surprise, later in the day, when L
had finished my tramp among the hills
with BrTIsher-the views were lovely, |
but Brusher's petticoats got wet, and
she did not care for the walk-the same
elderly lady came up to me at the sta
ton, where L was sitting partly on a coop
of chickens, partly on my own portman-
teau, very damp and sticky with ladies
and said in an unctious voice, II think
you said you were going to Inverness,
would you mind taking charge of my
l felt fiattered, pleased,
fabbergasted, all in one moment. What
had happened ? Had the husband
apologized or the wife forgiven? Or
did she think, after all, little widow at
a tabe dhote was entitled to some indul-
gence, or perhaps she imagined was
duchess in disguise? l never knew. But
the girl was very nice, and took cap
of her as far as Inverness, much to
Brusher's disgust.