Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-05-28

the garden, wrapped in shawls and
cloaks, looking, l doubt not, a very
fragile and insignificant piece of hu-
manity. The resident medical officer
comes forward, and with him a man
tall and broad-shouldered, who, though
weak and languid now, would In full
vigor be the ideal OF a soldier and
hero. Doctor Browne introduces him.
MAJOR McDonald-Miss Rose Nor
ley. She does not look much like a
Zulu chieftain to-day does she, Major?"
The young Doctor laughs and chats
for few moments, and then strolls
away towards the mems convalescent
ward. Major Mcdonald, who is sit
ting beside me, now bends forward.
Miss Morley, "he says earnestly, 81
have to thank you deeply for the cour-
age which saved me from taking either
your life or the nurses, or both. L do
not ask your pardon for l have it
here :" and he touches his breast.
What does he meanp Is my rosebud
next to his heart AS his is next to mine?
1t cannot be. am only silly girl Of
eighteen, and he is thirty-six ,and gal
liant soldier, above all such sentiment.
! blush and fal.er something stupid, and
we enter into conversation. How diff
ferent it is from the twaddle of Louise's S
silly Baronet, and from that of the
''horsy" Marquis live in fairy-land,
from which the nurse rouSeS me, to say
that tea is ready.
L see no more of Major Mcdonald
that day but on the next and the next
he sits beside me on the seat which,
though somewhat worm-eaten and
brittle, seems to me, since he is there,
glorious enough to be resting place
for demi-gods. How / hate the wet
days which come now and then, and on
which l cannot see him How l dread
the time when 1 shall be pronounced
free from infection, and shall be COM
PEELED, after few weeks spent at the
seaside, to go back to the dull loveless
life of so-called pleasure 1 sit drear-
lily in my room one wet day.
mo visitors" says the Doctor, COM
ing in-''not even Doctor Trail You
are not SO fortunate as your friend the
Major. He has Mrs. Mcdonald with
him."
a great surging comes into my head,
a blindness before my eyes.
"Mrs. Mcdonald !" say, in surprise
There Is mischievous twinkle in the
Doctors eye.
''She is a beautiful woman" he says;
''and it is only natural she should come
to see him, is it not 2"
"Oh. yes ,''-and [ laugh idiotically
and talk SO gaily that the Doctor stays
for what to me seems hours. "Will he
never go ?'' ask myself.
He rises at last, runs down the stairs,
and L hear him whistling Nancy Lee''
as he crosses the lower corridor. rise
and look out of the window. The rain
has ceased; but everything looks damp
and dreary. l call myself ugly names.
Fool, idiot. weak, contemplate,
mean-spirited wretch, to love a man
whom 1 have known only fortnight
just fifteen days! No, don't love
him !" say fiercely. ''It is only a
fancy which will pass away when /
leave this place, and have other things
to occupy me-"
And yet, and yet know it is no fancy,
but the love which can never pass away
while earth shall hold. me. And he
he had 10 right to act as he did, since
he was married man. He even told
the Doctor he was single, and the nurse
said 1t WAS on the board containing his
description. True, l was a fooll i
took fancy to him from the first night
| saw him but it was only fancy, and
he famed it into love. His voice soft
ened when he spoke to me, his eyes
lighted when he looked at me. On,
cruel, cruel
Well, | shall despiSe him; and take
kind of fierce pleasure in thinking
how shall show him that do.
1t is fine the next day, and go out in
the afternoon. resolve to be dignlfied
at least, so far as my five feet two, my
slender figure, and childish appearance
will allow me-and 1 saunter down the
walk slowly with my head in the air. 1t
is all thrown away so far as Major
Mcdonald is concerned, for he is Lot
there, and, Notwithstanding my con-
tempt for him, my silly heart sinks.
At last he comes striding down the
path, with eager eyes and Outstretched
hands.
81 am glad to see you again." he says
warmly. How dull you must have
been yesterday ~
'sOh, not at all 7" l answer frigidly.
Doctor Browne sa. with me for long
time, and was SO agreeable"-this with
enlpr6SSemCnt.
Il am glad" he says but somehow
he does not look so. II had a very well
come visitor, who stayed nearly al
day - and he smiles.
"Yes heard your wife was with
you."
He fiushes, and looks bewildered.
suppose he is surprised that L have dis
covered his treachery.
WAS 1t not pleasant to see my wIfer''
and he laughs as he says 1t.
at is strange say coldly, "that
she allowed you to be brought here, and
never came to see you before"
"Very," he answers driIy. "Bnt
you see she was In Naples still it was
remiss on her part--very. You would
not act so, would you ?-and he smiles
down on me.
Is he enjoying my misery? Hateful
idea!
eOh, don't know !" answer reck-
lessly. II dare say 1 should get very
tired of my husband, and should be
very glad to get him out of the way for
a time"
A panied look comes into his face.
You don't mean it ?' he says earn
estly. "You are not girl of the period
| i cannot believe it."
"Yes, l am," 1 cry fiercely. II could
not care for any one much-unless In
deed he were rich and titled; and then
l should lo,e only les beaur yedmr de 50
caSsatte. don't believe in sentiment.
We walk in silence, and sit down II
silence. At last he asks
"Where do you go when you leave
mere ?'
''I don't quite know" l say drearlly.
"My aunt says she will take rooms FOL
me in some place"
"She will go with you ?"
sNo, 1 must go alone-at least,
shall have only maid"
go aloneY How old are you 7 Oh
excuse my rudeness, but you seem
mere child ~
A child Is that how he regards me
draw myself up, so as to look as tai
as possible.