Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-11-19

hearts content off duck anu peas WITH
gooseberry tart as sequel for he was
English IN his tastes, and had no fancy
for long dinners of kickshaws. Having
dined, the Secretary of State made HIM
self comfortable In an armchair with a
bottle of port at his elbow. Through
the open window he could admire the
slopes of his park, richly tinted with
the rays of the setting sun I; and watch
the clouds group themselves in glorious
masses of orange and scarlet to grace
the pageant of the suns departure and
herald a splendid morrow. On the lawn
Lord HuXmouth's daughter, Miss Rig-
erdale, was gamboling with her big re-
triever, Lion, whose shaggy muzZle she
was pelting with rose-leaves. This COM
blnation of beautiful prospects sent
Lord Huxmouth into gentle sn0OZe,
from which he awOke every two or three
minutes with start, to brush flies away
and murmur benson on those insects.
Seeing her father asleep, Miss River
dale-a pretty brunette of eighteen
said to her mother: ''Mamma dear, it
seems to me that Jeremy is late with
the letters. l will go down to the bel
vedere, and see whether there are any
signs of him on the road, for l am anx-
ious to know whether the mOdiste has
been able to match my Chinese blue
silk
''Very well, my dear" said Lady
HuxmOuth, buxOm lady, who had
been half-doZing on garden-seat
''your father is impatient for the mail
too, as he expects letter from a young
man who is to be his new private secre-
tary-Mr. Pleasby's nephew"
SIS that young Mr.. Pleasby whom
we SAW play at Lords i'll the Oxford
and Cambridge match, and who batted
SO we'll ?'' asked Miss Riverdale de-
murely.
"Yes, l suppose SO he is very we'll
conducted young man, AMI his uncle IS
proud Of him."
And is he to be papa's secretary p
"Yes. Mr.. Pleasby promised he
should write and send his testimonials
but that is mere form, for your father
has made up his mind to take him for
his uncle's sake.
Maud Riverdale tripped off lightly
with her dog, and sang to herself as she
went. She knew far more about llar-
old Peasby than she pretended, for she
had seen pictures of him in the Illus
trated papers, and had heard his uncle
describe him as a merry fellow so that
she was glad of his coming, for Lord
Huxmouth's last secretary had been a
dull youth, who never smiled and was
always studying blue-books. Crossing
the lawn and entering an avenue Of
leafy lines, Maud made her way to a
belyedere which stood on the outskirts
of the park and commanded view OF
the fields and highroads for miles. As
soon as she had attained this cOign of
vantage, she saw a sight which struck
her motionleS5 with surprise.
Staggering across bayfield,, IN wild
Zigzigs, came Jeremy, the hall-pOrter of
Lord Huxmouth's town house, with his
arm and eye bandaged as already de-
scribed. Beside HIM walked gentle
man in a long gray overcoat. who was
, making ,r..hs a 4 bag which .leTeIey
fiourished over his head out of arms
reach. As the pair drew nearer Maud
heard Jeremy crying yehemently: ''No.
no ~ The stranger expostulated, and
their dialogue, growing louder, became
distinctly audible, when Jeremy, all
unconscious that he was seen by his
young mistress, tottered against the
wall of the belvedere, exclaiming: "Lor,
how drunk aml''
Come, give me that letter." said
Harold Pleasby mpatiently. "l've
told you all about it, and you shall have
tive pounds if you render me this ser
vice"
"No, no, sir" maundered Jeremy =,
you're a gem'man, | know: you've
made me very drunk, and you've given
me sovereign for kicking me down
stairs. A duke couldn't have behaved
handsomer but l can't give you any
of my lords letters.'
81 shall have to take the letter from
you by force if you don't" said Harold,
who was angry.
swell them shall-hOllar, sir, "
drawled Jeremy, with hiccOugh.
You'll never lave heard such hol-
laring as I'll set up if you try to touch
that ere bag"
At this moment Lion, whom his mis-
tress had with difficulty held in by the
collar, broke growing from her hands
and leaped on to the windOw-sill, where
he barked furiously. Harold, looking
up, saw pretty girl cycling him Sc
verely, and one may judge of his NOR
tification when she addressed him in
bold language, which showed that she
thought him a common thief: "What
do you want with my fathers post-bag
slr 7" she asked, speaking loud because
of the dogs barking.
81 really-a-b beg PARDON" STAN
mered Harold, who had turned crimson.
"Are you Miss Riverdale ?''
"Yes, l am," answered Maud, start.
ing and blushIng In her turn, for Har.
old had barred his head, and she recog.
nIzed John Pleasby's nephew.
"Well, Miss Riverdale, must throw
myself on your generosity" said har
old desperately. 81 have written Il
Lord Huxmouth and enclosed by mis-
take letter not intended for his eyes. y
'Why don't you tell my father so
and he will return you the envelope un
opened, }" replied Maud quietly.
, "To he sure might do that. l haC
. not thought of it," faltered Harold
"If you will allow me I'll come through
the gate ;" and he came.
But now an untoward incident oc
!, CURED. Jeremy, in his shame at be
holding Miss Riyerdale, dropped tht
| post-bag, and Lion, who had leapet
through the window, picked it up anC
decamped with it. This intelligen
dog had been taught to carry all sort
, of things; and appearing to divine tina
, there was some dispute about the bag
he probably thought to content all par
ties by making off with it as fast as h
: could to the hall.
Dear me, what a mishap! Lion
Lion ~ exclaimed Maud, clasping he
hands but the dog paid no heed AM
; galloped all the faster.
"Well, I'm done for ~ cried Harold
i with forced resignation; ''and it serve
! me right"