Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-03-01

that" and then she stopped at los
how to explain her meaning,
.'You haven't tried to make me Low
you, exerted any wiles to catch me,
that is what you mean," he answered
but thought you did care for me
Stacia."
$50 do, as a very dear brother, sh
answered, 81 love you very much, Roy
but not in the way you meant jus
now."
Roy's face was full of keen disappoiut
ment. He had hoped to WOO and VII
this girl But it could not be.
II am sorry, very sorry for you Roy
she said, tenderly, touched by the sigh
of his disappointment. ''Let me b.
your sister Stacia. and forget that vol
ever thought of me as anything else
You shall he brother Roy from this tim
forth. Is that agreed ON, Roy?"
''Yes, since you will have it sO," Ii,
answered
He understood that it would be use
less for him to urge his suit. Stacia al
ways meant what she said.
Let me seal the compact with kis.
then," she said, and kissed him.
Looking up after the carcass. she saw
John Ashley's face at his window. H
had seen her kiss Roy, and his hear
was full of keenest pain at the sight. H,
thought it was such kiss as a woman
gives to the man she loves, and sighed
to think his life must be barren of sucf
kisses.
That night he was in the parlor alone
thinking of her, when she came in.
Il have been hunting for you," she
said, I'm lonesome: l want some one
to talk to"
She drew little stool up to his feet,
and sat down, leaning her head upon his
knee.
Lonesome, are you?' he said, strok.
ing her yellow hair gently. Where is
Roy?" He ought to keep you from get
ting lonesome
Il don't want to talk to Roy" she
answered. Il want you, John. You
don't act as you used to before Roy came
L don't have you all tomyself for quiet
talk as used to-"
''You don't miss my company, do
you ?" he said, threading his fingers
through her tresses in an absent way.
He was thinking how much he should
miss her when Roy took her away.
''You know L miss you," she answer
ed. Il like to talk to you better than
any one else"
''Better than to Roy?" he questioned.
''Yes, better than to Roy" she an
answered.
Il suppose it is all settled between
you and Roy" he said, by and by, brea-
king the silence that had fallen about
them.
His voice had sharp touch of pain in
it. 1t hurt him to talk about losing
her.
"Yes, it is all settled" she answered.
':Has he told you?"
mo, but saw you kiss him in the
garden this afternoon, and have known
how it would be from the first. / hope
you will be happy, very happy, Stacia.
1t will be hard for me to give you up; l
shall miss you more than you can think
but am not selfish enough to try to
keep you when love calls you else
where"
81 don't understand you" she said,
looking up at him, in puzzled way. 81
kissed Roy in the garden, but it doesn't
follow from that that you've got to give
me up, or that love calls me away from
you. 1t doesn't; John. I'm going to
stay with you always, and, be yoUr Sta
cia,"
Don't you love Roy?" he asked, lift
ing her face up that he might look into
her eyes.
Yes, love Roy, and we're going to
be the best of friends. He is brother
Roy to me, and 1 am sister Stacia to
him."
'.And nothing more? There was a
strange eagerness in his voice.
Nothing more" she answered, soft
''Stacia, 1 wonder" he began and
stopped suddenly.
wonder what?" she asked.
mo matter, he answered getting up
and going to the window, where he
stood looking out into the sight, with a
shadow on his face.
.'But 1 want to know" she said, fol-
lowing him. and laying her hand upon
his arm. Tell me Johnl'
Would you force me to tell you that
l love you?" he cried, passionately.
THAT l have been fool enough to dream
that could make you happy? Go away
Stacia, and let me think of my folly, and
try to conquer it.
us it folly to love me?" she asked,
softly, lifting shy eyes to his. ''Ok,
John, L could be happier with you than
any one else in the world!''
'.Do you mean that you could care for
the old man as the old man cares for you
Stacia? Have you thought of the years
between us?"
81 only know 1 love you," she said,
and put her hands in his. IF you want
me, John, why take meI'
"But" with the old haunting thought
throwing its shadow in his FACET am
SO much older and soberer than you.
Don't take me out of pity, Stacia. 1t is
love l want, You Will be in woman.
hoods prime when am white haired
old man."
"lhen / will be an old mans darl.
ing" she said, softly. and John Ashley
bent and kissed her, with great Joy in
his face. She was his-all his!
JONES' Offsr.
Mr.. b, who ha d store In the coun