Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-05-14

/ from Dolly as regularly as when she wa:
with Mrs. Lloyd. Was my beloved
sister growingdeceitful?
l kept all this from nv mother; but
grew more and more wretched ovel
Dolly's letters. A picnic would bt
'glorious. for Sir Charles was going
She had spent the whole morning
quietly with Sir Charles" Once he
was inuisposed, and she had ''nursed
him, played for him, sung to him."
Well, 1 could do nothing more.
resolved to say not another word about
him to anyone else. l began to dislike
the very sound of his name. or rather
the sight of it; and, when Dolly declared
L should like HIM as much as eyerycne
else did, made up my mind that
hated him. 1 wrote one more tender
appeal, which said was my last.
Every Tuesday, mother and I had
Dolly's letters, but one day there wa:
none by my breakfast plate as usual.
Mother,read hers.
dolly says she had written to you, u
she observed presently. ''How can il
be that you have not received it?"
Mistakes Of the postoffice are so rare,
we could but suppose she had omitted
to post 1t, by the next delivery. how.
ever, l received letter from NJ. Dacre,
containing an inclosure which turned
out to be letter to me from Dolly. A
few lines ran thus:
Dear Kitty had read too much
of the inclosed before 1 discovered the
mistake: If you receive a letter from
Dolly before this reaches you, you will
have discovered she has missent the
letters. | shall run down to Highwood
without loss of time"
had not received any letter then,
but by the second country delivery
came one directed to Jack at once.
The letter he had read began thus:
'All you say is useless, my darling.
l love Sir Charles devotedly, and he has
this day declared he loves me. You
ask mo, does he know / am engaged !?
l told him gentleman was coming to
see me; but he seemed little concerned
at this piece of information.
So far Mr.. Dacre had read, and the
mine was sprung.
/ locked my room door, and fell back,
despalring into an easy chair. 1 was
resolved to hide all from my mother till
Mr.. Dacre had seen Dolly. l hunted up
Bradshaw, and found that a train started
about four O'Clock that would convey
me to Highwood by 7.50. If Dolly
wrote to me at once l should get her
letter by Thursday; but of course L
should hear from Jack on Wednesday.
L dreaded every ring, every postman's
knock. All day Wednesday passed and
no letter arrived from my sister and her
lover.
On Thursday morning l ran down
when l heard the usual welcome sound.
On the table lay thick letter address,
ed in Dolly's handwriting. ran up to
mamma and gave her the one found
inclosed In it for her; then L sat down
TO read mine, after fortifying myself
with cup of coffee. L must give every
word of it:
"You are well aware that a cataStro-
phe has happened through my needless
ness. The best thing will be for me to
describe fully the whole consequences
of that misfortune. On our return
from the garden party on Tuesday, L
found a telegram awaiting me from
Jack-'Shall be with You by 1861 OF
course this awoke no fears in my mind,
for knew Jack might run down at any
moment the trains permit. Lady Milli-
cent sent me off at once to be dressed
by her artist-maid. What she made Of
me you must have seen to believe,
Kitty. l would not look at myself till
the whole process was complete; and,
when glanced in the long glass, was
really amazed at what L saw. 1t was
the result. l now know, of many dis
cussIOns between Lady Millicent and
this gifted young person. You may
imagine how 1 exulted in the thought
that Jack would see me look as he had
never seen me look before, for am SO
improved in health that my whole ap-
pearance is changed. Well, the bell
rang. Lady Millicent received Mr..
Dacre in the morning room, and came
to send me down at once.
81 ran down with my heart bounding,
l entered the room. l noticed Jack
give one start; but he received me in
such very un- Jack-like manner that 1
was terrified. Mamma Kitty2'
cried. Quite we'll when 1 left them,
said Mr.. Dacre; but when he placed me
in a chair, and took one opposite me, L
felt matters were desperate. What is
wrong?' 1 gasped. Dearest Jack, pray
speakl' sOnly an address, said he, and
put the unfortunate envelope In nay
hands. This contained a letter for
your sister, which L, perhaps fortunate
ly, read before l perceived the mistake.
have just seventeen minutes before |
leave for the return train, so if you wish
to say anything. let me beg of you to
speak at once
81 sank back in my chair and covered |
my face with my handkerchief. tremb-
ling with agitation. viii you hear
my explanation?' l stammered. Need
less; the letter can nave but one mean |
ing. 1 came to release you from your
with me. Did this scoun-
drel know you were engaged?' l cov-
ered my face again. To hear Sir
Charles North crlled scoundrel was
too much for me. l did not speak for |
several minutes; but time was flying
fast, and at length 1 said, if this in
truth our last meeting, grant me one
favor? Say that you will before, tell
you what it is. Of course it is rea-
sonable, honorable request that l wish
10 make; but 1 own 1t is one you Will
not like to grant, He paused a mo-
ment, and then said, Il will do what
ever you ask Il ask you to see Sir
Charles North He WINGED, but bowed
silently. 1 left the room to see the
oaronet. found him in his own room,
studying an immense book
put only the illustrations, believe.
,sked him to come with me to speak to
. gentleman who was waiting to see
lin. He fatty refused. Time was
-ushing on. 1 knelt by him, implored
lim. At last 1 kissed him, and he
Yielded.
"Taking my hand in firm clasp, he
descended with me to room where
lad left Mr.. Dacre. Jack stood, moody
md stern, pale as ashes, where l had
eft him. We entered. led Sir Charles
oward him. 'Mr. Dacre,' said L, let
ne present you to Sir Charles North,
,aronet;' Jack startled, paused, seized
sir Charles in his strong arms, and
brew him ont of the window?-no,