Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-12-12


Paul's eyes follow her with a strange
light in their dark depths. ''The poor
child - $50 young, so lovely, and SC
lonely :" The tone Is eXquisiUely ten
der, and strikes Alice as something
more that pitiful.
''Uh Paul, don't flirt with her ~ she
says, half pleadingly. Mamma would
dismiss her instantly from the house %
''Flirt." Thtre is an angry fash in
the eyes now.
who talks of.firting with her ?"
As the days pass on he meets her
often, but only 10y stratagem, for Pearl
is shy as fawn, and fists away from
him like a will-o -the-wish His shy
little darling, he calls her to himself,
and the light shines still brighter i'll his
handsome eyes. One day he comes
across her, seated on a rock looking
seaward, her Young charges playing at
her feet. What beautiful picture she
makes The wind toSSes her golden
hair back and forth, now hiding, now
revealing the shapely swan-like neck.
1t blows her flimSy white dress against
the rock like beating wings. There is
sadness upon her face that he has
never seen there before, and a suspi-
ciouS sparkle upon her long, dropping
lashes.
Pearl, darling :"
A startling crimson face is turned
towards him for an instant, and then
this time Pearl does not escape him.
AS well strive TO loose the shell-pink
hands from grasp of iron. Then FOL
lows a passionate avOwal Of love, ring,
ing clear and strong above the roar OF
the incoming tide. Pearl is so taken
aback by his vehemence that she for
gets he is waiting for an answer.
Pearl, darling, will you be my
wife ~
Again her face is turned towards
him. out the sudden light that has SO
transformed it changes to look of in
tense pain, and the tones are almost
harsh.
''Sir you are forgetting yourself ; re-
lease my hands instantly"
"Oh, there comes mamma :" chime
in Eva and Efie.
Surely you are not afraid of her,
Pearl?"
Let me claim you before her and
the world,
''She is proud, know, but"
"Yes, she is proud" repeats Mrs.
EveTsOR-
$50 proud to countenance such a ter
rible me salliaHce as this.
Paul, your father shall hear Of Your
conduct and as for you-''
She gets no further, for Pearl, as cool
and as naughty as she, rises and con-
fronts the angry woman.
~ ou may spare your words, madam.
as they ale entirely unnecessary.
have not accepted your sons love,
neither do | intend TO. OF course this
is all very unpleasant, and to prevent
its recurrence, l shall leave Aylmer'S
Rest Tomorrow"
And before Paul can frame a word of
remonstrance, she has fairly flown
towards the house. How she managed
1t Paul never knows, but PaeTl Wylie
Is gone before breakfast the next morn
ing, and no word of farewell has passed
between them.
''Alice, if you could only get Miss
AthertOn's work to do it would paw as
much better, and Paul needs 50 many
things now the fever has left hlm SO
weak
And Mrs. Everson's pale face looks up
from the coarse sewing upon which she
has been toiling since early daylight.
Il viii try" is the weary answer.
There is no use in trying to hide our
poverty any longer, L suppose"
1t is an elegant brown stone front be-
fore which Alice EyersOn stands shiyer-
ing on that cold wintry morning. She
IS ushered by a pompous footman up
the yelvet-carpeted stairs into an ele-
giant little boudoir, and there, in an ex-
qulslte morning robe of white cash.
mere and satin, Stands-Pearl Wylie.
Alice falls back step in dismayt
but Pearl, with a cry of joy, fairly flies
across the big room. and clasps her
around the neck.
''Oh, | thought l never should find
you /! And to think you have come to
me-"
But [ didn't know-'' falters
Alice. 1.-The name ?' interrupted Pearl.
oh, that was changed by the wealthy
aunt who adopted me, and made me her
heIreSS. And now / am going home
with you; do so want TO see my two
little girls :"
Mamma, 1 have brought someone
TO see you."
And at the sound of PEARLS low
musical voice in reply, the man in the
next room, who has scarcely yet lifted
his own hand, springs up and sits up
right on his couch. My darling. come
back to be at last J" he murmurs. and
falls back, half-fainting. upon the pill
lows. What vision OF loveliness sits
by his bedside when he drifts back to
1t is only after she goes
away that he learns of the great gulf
between them. Then he turns his face
TO the wall with kind of dumb despair.
and the knowledge retards his recovery
for weeks. The choicest flowers. the
most tempting fruits, in the daintiest
OF baskets, find their way to his room, |
and more than once the donor relieves |
Alice and her mother from their long
continued watch. In his feverish mu-I
murings Pearl learns what is passing in
his mind, and the knowledge gives her
both JOY and pain. She is silt ng by |
him, late one afternoon and as the |
wintry twilight falls upon his face a
great yearning throb stirs her gentle |
little heart, and bending over him, she
'oftiy touches her lips to the broad !
white brow.
''Oh, Paul, my darling, my king" |
The tender words are scarcely breath
ID; but his eyes open suppenly, and
here is only infinite pain in their burn
ng depths.
Yes, it might have been, but now"
There is no gulf that love cannot
,ridge ever" says Pearl, softly. Oh,
Paul, live for my sake, for L love you,
III, / love you ~