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

ALEAK In THE ROOF.
Mrs. Drayton had just put the tea
kettle over the fire for tea.
That bright, CHEEKY New Hampshire
kitchen-not even the driving north
east rain, which poured in torrents out
side, could put damper on its merry
aspect. Close to the window a bulfinch
whistled meditatively in its cage OF
woven wicker boughs-a pomegranate-
tree ON the other side was all sprinkled
with scarlet buds, and the very stripes
of the rag carpet were suggestive of
sunshine and cheerful thoughts. And
Mrs. Drayton herself, one of those
plump, motherly, good-natured souls
who are born 10 make home happy was
setting the table with white and blue
edged cups and saucers that had be-
longed TO her grand mother before her.
The bread Was winter than snow, the
apple-sauce waspleaSantly favored with
cinnamon, and freshly baked loaf OF
"cup cake" occupied the center of the
feast.
She was reaching up for little jar of
homemade pickles, when a par of
strong arms encircled her vast, and a
handsome bearded face appeared on tie
level with her own.
"My goodness gracious - said Mrs.
Drayton, how you frightened me !!
But do think, Harry, you get more
harum-scarum every day.
He lifted her lightly to the floor.
'.Do you want any more eggs, moth
er ?n he asked, there are plenty IN
the barn!"
''I've got enough for to-day" said
Mrs. Drayton, pouring the tiny picked
cucumbers into the plate.
"Rosalie takes omelets, you know, !"
mischievouslY suggested the young
man.
A frown darkened Mrs. Drayton's
face.
Harry she said, ''yOu'ye made a
mistake -
"Have |, mother dear ? But you'll
find that I've not
..Rosalie Hartley is a selfish, heart
less coquette y cried Ms. Drayton,
excitedly.
Mother, hush ~ said the young
man. tenderly putting his hand over her
mouth. -'She has promised to be my
wife
'sOh, Harry Harry y
1T is SO, mother dear,-and you
must learn to love her for my sake.
You will soon find how completely you
are mistaken i'll your estimate OF her
character. and she will be like daught-
er to you!
Mrs. Drayton sat down, still with the
pickle-fork in her hard, and began TO
cry. A. ;5o
Now there was nothing in the wide
world that made Harry Drayton feel SO
uncomfortable as tears. \ whole dc
tionary full of remonstranceS would
not have melted him like one OF those
crystal drops.
tsDidn't you say there was leaky
SPOT over the kitchen chimney, moth
er ?'' SAID he If L go up and look at
it now | can perhaps see where the
trouble is"
And. thus speaking, lie hurried away.
Mrs. Drayton looked after him with
fearful eyes, as she shook her head
doubtfully.
ssThere never was better son, sad
she. "If he had only selected Celandlne
Hall ~
Poor Mrs. Drayton When she took
tbe tvo pretty factOrygirls to board,
inst to earn money enough for new
parlor carpet, she had not dreamed til,t
She was setting trap to catch Harry
true and loyal heart. To De sure IL liau
once or twice occurred to her mlnd lilat
little Celandine Hall, with her soft voice
and doye-like-eyes and the handy
wavsu that she had about the house,
would make a very acceptable daush-
ter-in-law. but Rasalie Hartley,-the
brilliant. saucy brunette with her loud,
ringinp laugh. her cheap jewelry, her
ahiect following of the latest devices Oh
the fashion-pletes, the subrosa filrtatiohs
which she conducted with the foreman
of the factory, the good-looklng young
miller down town the handsome car
riage-maker who was building the Dig
bonSe under Ransom Rock, and her uli-
t;dv fashion of leaving Celandlne 10
care for the room which they occupied
in common,-an these thiilSs "eie 'i'
abomination to her mother-So1i.
.Why is it, she sa to herself, III "a .
sort of desperation, "that soiis ava!
select the women for wives tiial .hel
mothers most dislike ? I'm almost sure sure
that Resale paints, although L never
could detect her at it,-and there Were
onIy three buttons on her boots yester-
day A real womanly woman is as .ios @
viii her shoes as with her gloves. Anu
Mrs Jessup told me yesterday that sue
was flirting disgracefully WIN MI, MI,
Peckham. that Spaniard-faced foreman
at tbe factory. What can Harry poSsl,
blv be thinking of to trust his future .o to
the care of such frivolous creature as
this 2" ,soJ ;nco.
Even as these reflections passed aaI;o,. lIeo. :.
berentIy through her mind, Kosal1es Me-
shallow laugh echoed in the hailmM.s1 - haS
Hartley had once been told that M slle had iHS,
a musical laugh, and had ever after dSs los'
no opportunity of airing ITS swee.neSS nn %,
Is tea almost ready, Mrs. DrayIonss y,oass
she asked, putting her pretty o pnoi,ut nu,
head INTO the room. "I'm to go out s,!
this evening, and we are to De cary :, aid
at will lie ready very sooE si;a s;,a
Mrs. Drayton, so coldly that hos;,ne s;,ne
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