Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-01-24
DAISN.

A clear and ringing whistle rose an
fell and rose again, pleasant sound
hear, upon the evening air; but tn
girl who stood knee deep in clover be
side the meadow fence looked sombrel
down as the Joyous notes struck upol
her ear.
"Poor fellowl dear fellowl" she saii
to herself sit is so hard to go agains
him when he is as light-hesrted a
that"
Amoment more, and Ralph Armstrong
her lover, vauited lightly over tn
intervening bars and stood besid
her.
Straight, sturdy, brown, something o
the contrast between himself, with hi
superintendent life, and the wee womal
waiting there, seemed TO strike him.
"Why, my little Daisy" he said
with a playful touch, turning up he
chin until he could look into the sof
eyes, that straiehtway filed with tears
why, Daisyl' he repeated, in an alter
ed, vexed voice. Il thought when
saw you out here that you were glad t.
have me come. Never mind; you vii
be when 1 tell you the news. 1 have
paia off the last Instalment on the farm
and there's to be an end of your drudg
ing your life away. No more cooking
for lodgers. or sitting up half the night
to look Out for Rick. Is ne mp to his
old tricks again? Is tina. what has tak,
en- the color all out of your face?"
,,-as- oil ,,fnht Seii Ia.er-
IL low voice. He never got home
until noon to day. He is asleep, and
oh, RIphI | am AFRAID to have hin
wake. 1t Is SO much worse now that
Miss Winter is here"
"Didn't tell yoa how thatwOuld be?
reminded Ralph, notvery kindly. but,
luckily. ii dol't matter; you can get rd
of her as soon as you please, and we viii
have the wedulng-when? l won't be
put off very long, my dear.
Daisy turned her face away to the
gathering dusk.
"Oh, Ralphl she cried, piteously.
BE contented to wait"
ITO wait What for? For Rick to
drink himself to death? For you to grow
old before Your time with the hard work
of taxing care of yourself and himi
Daisy, once and for all, you'll have to
choose between your sot of a brother
and me. If you ere bound to put him
first now ana for ever
The unfinished threat fell upon other
ears besides those 1t was intended to
reach. 4 dogcaTt rolled almost noise
lessIy past ON the thick green turf Of the
lane upon which the meadow bars gave,
and Dr.. Lloyd, lifting his hat to DAISY,
slot keen glance at the young fellow
standing sulkiiy at her size He was
gone IL a moment, but somehow Ralph
Armstrong experienced a feeling OF
shame which kept him for the time from
pressing wh4t he had been about to
urge. He turned and walked towards
the house with Daisy.
1t was a sbackly, tumble-down cot
taee, with moss ana lichen breaking out
in patches over the decayed weather
boarding, and cTeaking porch from
which the rustic benches had long ago
rotted away The picturesque aspect
of the old place had taken Miss Winter 5
fancy, and so little, fair-faced Daisy had
found the weekly addition to the sum
which she earned with her dressmaklng
was all that row went into her shabby
purse.
There was a mufiied cry Of ''Daisy
Daisy!' as those two approached to-
gether; then once, twice. the report OF q
pistol, together with the sound OF SHAT
tered glass. Was borne to their rs.
ITS Rick" cried Daisy, breathlcssly.
I L. 10 nd
talk to Miss Winter, Ralph, Till L get
him quiet again"
She was off as she spoke. Miss VIM
ter had come to the door, half IN alarm,
and looked inquiringly at Ralph as he
approached.
do you think he is doing any thing
reckless?' she asked.
Nothing worse than smashing WIN
dow or two; it's his favorite way OF call
ing his sister. Pity he can't put his
balls to better use"
Il wonder that you leave her to be
the victim of his whims, said the lady
with a straight look at HIM.
-.I?" said Ralph, with a shrug OF hls
broad shoulders.
Perhaps he did not mean to discialm
such an intention on his part, but II
locked like ii. How could he tell Miss
Winter that the only reason he had moi
taken Daisy away months before was
because Rick had outweIghed her hiking
for him? Ii was a sore subject with
Ralph at the best, not one he would
choose to parade to the word at large.
Two hours after that, Daisy stole out
into the moonlight, utterly wearied with
the scene through which she had passed.
All her efforts had been frultless to en-
uce Rick back to his bed. He sat on q
bench in the kitchen, limp and stupid
after that fit of violence, aad Daisy stole
out. as have said, to breathe the heavy
sweetness of dying roses, and brush then
dewy leaves with her heated face. The
shadows lay thickly upon the porch
but there was a STIR there, and Miss
Winters voice said, softly:
Goodnight"
"Good-night!'' returned Ralph. II
show you tomorrow whore the maiden
hair fern grows"
He came whistling down the path te
find Daisy standing by the gate.
well, little one, have you made NJ
your mind which one of Us you'll take?'
Ralph, you know that L can't leav'
Rick"
'It's him or me-" said Ralph, stub
bornly.
HE has no one else, pleaded Daisy
"Have L? There's no use arguing, 1T
got to be one thing or the other. wan
awife In my home, and if you won't 'hay
me maybe there are Others that VIII