Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-09-03
cannot forgive her yet 1 will try to


to her usual seat at the head of the ta-
bic. She poured out her fathers cof-
fee and bluught it round to him, and
put her lips fnndly to his forehead.
''Come, papa, you must take your
breakfast while it is hot. If you don't
make haste. you know, everything will
grow cold, and then cook will be so
! cross, and give warning, as she did the
last time You forgot TO eat her cut
lets.
He gaZed at her in wonder, but made
no remark ; and she coaxed him to eat
and drink as usual. But her own
breakfast lay untaSted, and no morsel
OF the roll she crumbled on her plate
found its way to her mouth.
The dreary breakfast finished, and
her father gone to the stable to smoke
his customary cigar in company with
his horse, Adahurried to her own room,
and there alone she at last gave way to
the anguish that was burning within
her. She had locked her door, and no
human eye could see her, and she wept
and Sobbed to her hearts content.
NO man shall ever marry me with
out knowing everything" she SAID at
last, as she drew her 1.-the figure up to
its fullest height and paced the narrow
limits of her little room.
The first knowledge of her mothers
disgrace was crushing but of her mo-
ther personally she had no recollection
whatever, having been separated from
her when still an infant; SO her spirits
quickly rebounded from the shock, and
she was almost like her ordinary self
as she followed Captain Gascoyne into
the drawing room, and, having carefully
closed the door, sat down by his side,
and desired, almost peremptorily, to be
told the history of her mothers sin.
Keep back nOthing-tell me every
thing !" she requested /; and he obeyed.
Nowhere throughout all her Majesty's
fair dominiOnS did the June sun shine
upon a loyelier scene and more festive
gathering than that at Townley Hall.
Sir John and Lady rownley's guests
were supposed To assemble at the gar
den-party at four o'clock but it was
quite an hour after that when Captain
GaScOyne and his daughter were an
nOunced.
She was very pale on this day. and her
smile, as she received Lady Townley's
reproof for her tardy appearance, was
slightly tremulous. But she recovered
herself in a second, and passed on with
light word of apology. She did not
like Lady Townley, and she resented
her ladyship's efforts at ''sweet cOnde-
Scension'. even more than her occasional
displays of chilling ha,aeur.
The windows of both dTawing-roOmS
opened on to the lawn, where the band
was PLAYING and the fashionable crowd
wandered TO and fro, or joined in arch
cry, tennis, or croqueJ as they pleased.
When Captain GaScOyne and Ada step
ped forth on the velvety sward, many
came forward to greet the beauty, who
was also regarded by all as the future
Lady Townley, for the young heirs at
tentions had been very marked Of late.
But, after while, each fell away-wlth
| meaning smiles many of them-and
Reginald at last found himself alone by
her side. They paced the length of the
terrace once, but Reginald resisted her
desire to stay longer amid the crowd.
"Haye you no pity z" he murmured
| teDderly. ''DO you forget that | am
not answered yet-that L am undergo
ing the tortures of suspense all this
time 2"
my answer, Ada! VIII you not let
NE have it 2" he pleaded softly.
1t occurred to her dreamily, from his
face and manner, that he entertained
but little fear as to what that answer
would be.
"My dearest, are you i'll ?'' he cried,
alarmed out of all propriety.
MY father proposed writing a reply
to your letter." she began very family,
and yet trying hard to appear as uncon-
cerned as usual; ''but | preferred speak
ing all that must be said and-and per-
sonally thanking you for your dattering
offer. Is not that the correct thing to
say ?" she asked, with something of
her old manner, while a rich color came
into her cheeks; but the playful smile
vanished again in moment. and she
continued with the same evident pain
as before, Certain family circumstances
came to my kpowledge-0aly this morn
ing. 1t is only right you should hear
them-at once, as they may make
change in your wishes-in fact, prevent
ANYTHING more between us. "
ada, what can you mean? There
is nothing you could tell me which
could alter my wishes or change my
love-" ne answered warmly; yet al
ready the troubled expression of her
face was being reflected in his.
at is something which is net my
fault, of which l never heard, as told
you, until a few hours ago." she went
on more eagerly. sit is about my
mother J"
Again she paused, still standing at
slight distance, opposite to him, her
face quite colorless again, while her
large clear eyes were fixed almost i'm
ploringly upon him.
81 thought my mother had died when
was'a baby / never remember seeing
her; she was never mentioned to me.
As far back as 1 can recollect L lived
in France with lady who afterwards
took me to Paris and educated me with
some other pupils. Ny father came
often to see me but he never spoke of
my mother, and l suppose L never
asked about her. 1 was very fond of
the lady lived with, and she quite filled
a mothers place to me. L was perfectly
ignorant of the fate of my real mother
until to-day"
'sShe has been dead for some years,
but not for so long as believed. She
was a convict ~
"A what, Ada ?"
s'Llsten to me! Don't touch me,
please, or say anything until have told
you all-the worst is over;" and the
girl smiled piteous wOe-begone smile
like the ghost of her former brightness.
"You know what she was ; L must now
tell you how that came to pass. Papa,
of course, as you are aware, was an Of
ficer in the navy. He was almost always
away on foreign voyages his wife was
of necessity left at home. She was
young, beautiful, and foolish. Papa
was not rich then, even as rich as he Is
now; his brother, who left him his
property, was alive, and papa could not
afford to allow his wife much but still
he allowed her enough, as he thought
She, alone at home, had false wicked
friends round her, who urged her to e1-
travagance of every description. She
ob@o,,a1 boarfiful draSSas and other