Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-08-27
"Must ) on leave us, Effie ?"

"Must 4, on leave us, Effie ?'
Effie Treherne bowed her head over
her embroidery, blushed vividly, Won
dered where on earth ''aupt Jane" Was
plainly she was very much at home
amongst them-and finally glanced up
III mute appeal not TO be questioned any
further.
But Hervey Davenant was sitting by
her side on the sofa, effectually cutting
off her retreat, very grave, very reSo-
lutte, though not quite SO grirn-looking
as on that evening month before, when
she glanced up at him so curiously from
the rug.
Tell me, dear-must you leave us 20
he repeated more sternly. He meant
TO have an answer.
"No, mustn't {; but should" was
the rather vague reply, after much hes
itation and sundry glances in the direc-
ton of the door.
"Why should you? Are we not very
happy, Effie?"
"Yes but, but
''But what, dear ?n
81 wish you wouldn't ask me so many
questions, Mr. Davenant, the girl said
desperately.
II have just one more to ask, dear
only one," Hervey whispered, drawing
closer to her. Listen, Effie."
"Oh, no, no-please l''-and Effie' s
little hands were clasped over her eyes
in protest.
But Hervey drew them both away
with one of his and looked earnestly
and tenderly into her face. 1t was a
tell.tale countenance ; but Hervey had
watched 1t once before and misinter-
preted what it said /; he meant to have
plain answer this time.
"Lsok at me, Effie-look up into my
face and listen. L love you, my darling
Il love you. Can you ever learn to
care anything about me?" he asked very
slowly and earnestly.
'Oh, Mr.. Davenant, letme go! Please,
please"
Answer me iirst, dear. | must-l
will have a reply A.; have a right to it
Can you ever learn to love me, dear ~
"No, Hervey"-the reply came from
the depths of the couch whereon she
had taken NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
i know how already !"
"My darling''-and Hervey kissed
the golden head very tenderly-''my
own little darling !"
Presently Miss Jane entered the room
in search of her key-basket, and paused
i'll the middle of the floor in dumb
amazement. Hervey looked round, not
too well pleased at the interruption, ,and
Efiie seized the opportunity TO make
her escape.
"Oh, Jane, Jane, are you not ashamed
Of yourself? See what your match
making has resulted ini How could
you deceive your tru ting brother 50 ?''
Really, Hervey, never meant"
''No, of course not, when you said
one Of your schoolfellows was COM
ing
''I'm sure, brother, never said any
such thing - Miss Jane cried indig-
nantly. 81 would have said, if you had
permitted me, that one of my school
fellows had asked me to take her niece
for few weeks to avoid the attentions
of very Objectionable young man."
"And you ruthlessly threw the child
in the way of very Objectionable old
one How could you, Jane In es-
Gaping Scylla our Effie has fallen on
Charybdis with a vengeance! What
will her uncle and aunt say, Won
der ?''
"Why, that she's a very fortunate
girl, of course ~ Miss Jane replied
complacently. "But really, brother, l
assure YOU 1t was but a mere chance,
after all"
mo matter, Jane Pm not the first
fellow whose fate has been so decided,
and l have no intention of quarrelllng
with any circumsi ance that has given
me Ellie"
"She's dear good girl, brother, and
as nearly werthy of You as any woman
can be; but she's not so pretty as her
mother was," Miss Jane added reflect
lively.
Womanlike, the moment her point
was gained she began to regret it.
"Who was her mother, sister ?"
''Alics Leigh, sister to my dearest
friend at school. beautiful creature,
but giddy, Hervey-very giddy, and
fond to distraction of her own beauty.
She made what was supposed to be a
grand match +; but Mr.. Treherne failed
in business, turned out badly, and
treated his young wife shamefully. She
died of consumption, the doctors said
of broken heart, L say. Effie was
her only child"
"And she's like her." Hervey OBJ