Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-08-01

hciy iCuldi htu 10 her companion
that something had put the old lady
out ~
Celandire Hall followed more quietly
INTO the large, airy room which was
dedicated to the use of the two factory
girls.
"Goodness me l'' cried Rosalie, with
start, what is that strange rustling
noise overhead Is the house haunt
ed ?''
Celandine smiled. 81 suppose it is
nothing more serious than rats in the
garret ~ she said. do, Rosalie,
hang your waterproof cloak up. instead
OF throwing it on the fioorl There, the
noise has ceased now -
Nor was 1t all strange. For Mr..
Harry Drayton, who had contrived to
TWIST and writhe his six feet of humani-
ty INTO the merest Granny of space close
under the caves, in search of the leaky
spot In the roof, was even then consid-
erlng whether he had better twist him
sell back again,-an undertaking not
quite so easy as it might at first appear.
or keep quiet until the girls should have
gone down stairs.
They'll laugh at me-" he thought.
They are always laughing, bless their
hearts. think I'll preserve nv incog-
nito. 1t will he only minute or two
before they go down to tea.n
Ros;ille gave a tremendous yawn as
she twisted up the yellow luxuriance of
her hair, little recking that her affianc-
ed lover was separated from her only
by a trail thickness of lathe and plas-
ter
How is that Greek knot. Celan-
dine z" she asked. - want particu-
larly to have it look nice tonight. Ru-
dolph likes my hair in the ancient clas-
sic style.'
Rosalie,'' said Celandine Hall,
grayely, "does Harry know where you
are going to night ?"
mo, you goose" said Rosalie.
"Why should he? / shall tell HIM /
am going to sacred concert with Polly
Wright and her sisters.''
But he Will want to go with YOU
Then l shall find some pretext to
put him off,"
Rosalie,' cried Celandine, sis it
right for you to go to party under
Rudolph Peckham's escort, when you
are engaged to Harry Hartley?"
You don't suppose am going into
a nunnery, just because | happen To be
engaged ?n said Rosalie. pertly.
Rosalie-'' began Celandine. in
dignantly.
"Now don't go on lecturing me-"
said RoSalie, waxing impatiant. 81
have promised to marry Harry Drayton,
not because / love him, but because l
am tired and sick of the drudgery of
this endless factory work. Harry
DraytOn is country lOut-uot half so
polished and charming as Mr.. Peckham
but he's better than no husband at
all. And Rudolph will be my lover
still. like those dear Platonic creatures
in the French novels, because, you
knOW-H
AT this mament, however, there was
a sudden crash from overhead. The
plaster of the ceiling came down in a
limey shower of pieces, directly into
Miss Hartley's rouge-pots, and balm-of-
beauty; and Harry Drayton, who, in
the agony of his mind, had writhed him.
self little further than he had intend
ed, descended most Unexpectedly into
their midst.
Rosalie screamed Historically. Celan-
dine looked as if she did not know
whether to laugh or cry. Harry Dray-
ton sat up and rubbed his w-joints.
Pm sorry to startle you, ladies'"
said he . but upon my word, couldn't
help it."
And then he explained to them the
precise nature of the dilemma III which
he had been placed.
81 couldn't go forward on account
of the kitchen chimney, /" said he and
when | tried to back myself gracefully
out, the ceiling gave way and down l
came. And my collar is full of rain
from the leak in the roof, and L think
I've swallowed about a pint of lime
dust"
Rosalie turned first scarlet then
white.
"You were up there over our heads,
she said, g in the garret corner"
He nodded, calmly.
"You heard all we said ~
81 am sorry to say-yes," he answer
ed. Il regret to be considered a
country lout,' Miss Hartley, but as
| don't approve of the PlatOnic system
of love and lovers, l must beg to alb
dictate in favor of Mr.. Peckham J And
now, if you will allow me to retire, III
send up little Tim, the cowboy; with
basket and a broom to remove some OF
this superfluous dust and lime from
your floor"
Miss Hartley wept and bewailed her
self stormily. but she went with MIR.
Peckham to the party, nevertheless,
and Celandine stayed at home to sew
buttons on the beauty's boots.
While Harry, as he unfolded the
newspaper which had come by the
evening mail, remarked incidentally:
s'Oh, by the way, mother,-that
engagement of mine with Rosalie Is
broken off !"
Mrs. Drayton's face lighted up.
"Really and TRULY, Harry ?" cried
she.
"Yes, really and truly, mother. l
don't think we should have suited each
other at all I! But don't you want to
hear how comically it happened 7"
And he told her about the leak In the
roof.
Miss Hartley changed her boarding
place the next week,-but little Celan-
dine remained. And Mrs. Drayton is
already beginning to fiatter herself that
nerhaps Celandine may be heI daugh-
ter-in-law after all. Who knows how
love might weave his warp and woof
Perfectly satisfied.