Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-07-23

ASA SaS "tA, a. AAhO NOa os wv CAehNSS ~
grass are alike-different, yet scarcely
known apart. You are taller, | think,
by the merest trifle, and she was the
paler; but you are her sweet self. To
find her again in you-ah, L am con-
stantly afraid you will fade into No
thingness and leave me more utterly
alone than everl jamie, it does not
grieve You to hear all this? You look
troubled. darling"
"Only for you, Arthur" she answer
ed eagerly. sit is because can guess
something of what is coming. wish
oh, l do wish that it had been different,
and that you had married her and been
happy all these years 7"
He put his arm round her with fond
protecting look.
''She would have loved you dearly,
jamie; but you are all to me that she
was, my darling-and how much more
will you be in the happy years to come,
my own little wife ?''
Tell me the rest," was her whisper
ed response.
sit seems strange to think of it now,
but l remember L was disappointed in
her at first. She was not IN the least
pretty, and her cheeks had not your
wili-rose bloom. a pale uninteresting
schoolgirl, was my verdict as | watch
ee her playing chess with her father
that evening. My first lesson came
next morning, the first day of that won.
derful summer. She knew nothing of
erly; but one could not be with her and
not feel the better for her sweet pres
ence. | had no sister; l had never
known my mother; the women l had
mixed with were commonplace femi-
nine mortalS. In Nellie | saw reali-
Zation of my ideal of perfect woman
hood. Pure, tender, true as steel, she
was too good to live"
''Since her death | have never men,
| toned her name to any one but you, my
darling" he went on, after moment.
But l want her to be a memory in
both our lives, that you may fully share
my thoughts"
Thank you for telling me-" was the
low remark. ''PleaSe go on"
'There was man living near-he
| had the house at Woodlands, where
| your uncle Jasper lives now. He called
constantly at the house after Nellie
came home, and, from what happened
afterwards, know your father encour-
aged his visits and gave his full consent
to his engagement to Nellie If he could
| obtain her concurrence. But at the
! time | scarcely realized his existence !;
and it was just the same with Nellie,
| We were so happy together she was
constantly in the school-roOm with the
/ boys, who adOred her, and she would
| Join us in our shorter walks moreover,
there were my painting-lessons, which
/ threw US much together. l cannot un-
derstand even now how they were so
| blind. So the summer went on, till one
morning, as l was sketching with her
- Do you know the old bridge just
beyond the park!"
at was swept away in the flood ten
years ago, and papa built new one. y
| You shall see my picture of it when
we 90 to London. 1t was a capital bit
of work for beginner, and Nellie and
used TO sit down in the meadow by
the river-bank Just where the sweep of
the three arches could be best seen. This
was our last visit, for the picture was
finished; and l remember she was look
ing at il. very proud of her work, when
told her what we had both OF us
known for so many Happy summer days.
And that evening, when the lessons
were over, went to her father in the
library and made my confession. Oi
course | knew he would be angry
expected that; but he would not listen
To me-he was like mailman. Do you
know cannot go into the library nov
without a vision of him standing up al
the end of the great table shaking his
hands at me in blind rage! His daugh'
ter was promised to man who could
maintain her-he meant Mr.. Scott OF
Woodlands-she was not for pennies:
adventurer and he ordered me from
the house. l left that night without
seeing Nellie again but l wrote to hel
from the village before L went up tC
London. had an answer-a few hasty
words begging me not to write again
There were marks of tears on the page
her gentle soul was not bit to bedl
such trouble. l went to London, hall
wild, without any fixed plan and JUS
as things looked darkest great stroke
of luck befell me. L was offered an
appointment in Rome with capita
salary, the only conditions being that
should be ready TO begin my duties In
month and bind myself to remain IL
Rome for four years. L accepted thu
offer at once, and came down here t.
fetch my wife. / watched for her OF
Sunday afternoon, for she always Wen
To church alone and came home acros
the mark. 1t was just here that l me
her. poor darling, looking so sad, be
face robbed of its bright bloom. w
mad a long talk, till she grew frightened
, for fear of being missed and hurrie'
away-but not before she had promised
to 90 with me to Italy"
The artist stopped here with a sigh
and then, looking at jamie, said. witt
, a smile
sYou think she was wrong P'
"Oh, IL don't know Please tel
= me the rest"
"Ah, you do think it wrong, and 8
, did Nellie but, when put it all be
fore her. she could not say me nay an
we settled that she should come to m
Cousins house in London, be marrie'
| from there, and then go straight to Ii
/ ally. She took one of the servants int
her confidence-it was necessary to d
: that-and on the day appointed she let
! the house just at dawn-left it, as sh
' thought, for years. l was waiting TO
| her in the park and we walked acros
the moor to catch the first train at Ry
3 lands. and so reach London by eigt
] o'clock. Fancy, darling, what a wal
r that was for her, leaving her home llk
: a criminal, expecting every moment
! hear the sound of her fathers angr
t voice behind herl But we got safely t
: the station and started on our iourne
. without having seen face that "
q knew. Once in London, Nellie's spirit
d rose /; and she felt safer when my des
old cousin Anna-whom you mustlov'
e Janie-received her with eager we
= come. We lad some breakfast. or +;
= ther drank some coffee, for we coul
T not touch any Of the dainty eatabl'
| II