Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-11-12

allowed such ideas to come into his
head. Vulgar indeed Why, she seemed
to him the very personificatlon of re
finement and of everything that was
womanly and graceful How pretty
she was-l he thought. as he lay back in
bis chair and conjured up her image in
his mind. What deep tender brown
eyes she had, what sweet tremulous
mouth, what lovely hair And he had
actually thought of this girl as if he
would be comforting favor on her by
asking her to marry him He felt that
he was "A horrible wretch, and ought no
longer to be allowed to inhabit the same
house with such Givinity-a divinity
against whom he had so treacherously
conspired.
The fact was that Henniker was as
much in love with Lily Maitland rs 1t
is possible for young fellow to be in
love with girl after only eight hours
acquaintance. 1t was quite case of
the bitter bitten and, as the days rolled
on and he came to know her better, and
the beauties of her character weregrad-
ually unfolded to him, he yielded more
and more to the influence that her
sweetness and grace were exercising
over him. And the fonder he grew of
the girl the more relf-reproachful he be-
came for his previous thoughts and de-
signs concerning her-untll at length
the matter preyed upon his mind to
such an extent that he grew perfectly
miserable. What Lily's feelings were
towards HIM he could form no idea her
manner perplexed HIM sadly. Some
times she would be quite frank and un-
constrained but Immediately he made
advances of equal cordiality she drew
back and became correspOndingly dis
tant. Once or twice he almost imag-
med that she avoided him and he be-
gan at length TO think that she disliked
him.
SO the days passed until Whlt-Sunday
was at haud. Those days had enlight-
ened Henniker very much as to Mr..
Maltland's true character. He had
been amongst his work people and had
seen how they all reverenced and re-
spected him, he had seen how consider
ate and thoughtful he was towards
them. and he had heard from the peo-
pie in the neighborhood of the Midlands
how good and unselfiSh he was. But,
more than all, he had been brought into
close contact with the man himself and
he had had time and opportunity to be-
come acquainted with his disposition.
and to mark the many little ways III
which his generosity and true nobility
of character showed themselves. The
result was total r-vulSion of feeling
. l. IL. oil.
plete aS that towards his daughter and
lie now condemned himself fol- having
so l'arshly misjudGed that gentleman,
and having allowed himself To lie led
away merely by speech ani manner.
1t WAS the evening Eefore Whit-Sun-
day, the time about SIX. lleuniker, who
had beer out rid dng, went 10 The draw
ing-room, not expecting To find any one
there, for Lily had driven into the town
TO make some purchases, and he hardly
fancied she could have returned yet.
He was mistaken Owever, for she was
SEATED before tile ire. and in 50 deep a
reVPrie that he nad to speak to her he
fOIe she became aAare of his presence.
Your thoughts seem to be pleasant
ones, Miss Maitland, II one may judge
frcm the expression of your face" he
said, as he took a seat near her.
She started violently, and hot color
stole into her cheeks. Hennker won
dered why she should blush SO much al
such apparently innocent words. II
was but momentary however, and when
the flush died away, it seemed to leave
her face paler than usual.
Thoughts at Wmtsuntide ought to
he pleasant, Mr.. Heuniker," she said !;
but don't know that mine were par.
ticularly happy. Did you enjoy your
ride ~
Very much Sam, as | think you
called him, carried Inc splendidly, and
had no idea the country about Man.
chester was SO interesting. 1t Is really
very pretty out beyond Cheadle."
Il am glad You liked 1t; you will, at
any rate, have one pleasant remembrance
of Manchester To carry away with you. +"
There was something in the tone in
which she said this, something half sad
and reproachful, that caused Henniker
to lose his head.
There is one remembrance that will
always be inexpreSsibly dear to me, " he
SAID, in low voice.
The moment he had spoken he felt
that he had betrayed himself. There
was no turning back now; come what
might, he must go on. n choking sen-
sation rose i'll his throat but he reso-
lutely forced it back, and steeled him
| self for the coming ordeal.
| The flush again rose to her cheek. IL
was impossible to mistake his meaning.
For a moment what he would have con-
strued as almost happy look came over
/ her face; but it passed away quickly,
and her features grew hard and set.
Il hardly understand you," she said
nervously and he noticed that, despite
| her efforts to remain composed, the
hand nearest to him was trembling viO-
| lentlv.
1.-The dearest remembrance / shall
have when | leave Manchester will be
of Yourself, he said. ~ scarcely in
tended to make this avowal so soon,
Miss Maitland but, now that circum-
stances have led up to it, it would sim
ply be cowardice if L did not speak
plainly. love you'll know that this
| is great presumption on my part, and
that am not half worthy Of you; but
indeed | couldn't help myself. 1t was
| impossible to be in the same house with
you without loving you. think have
cared for you from the very first day We
met but how great my love now is,
how deeply it is implanted in my ma
ture, can never tell you. viii you be
my wife, Lily, and let it be the sole OBJ
ject of my life TO prove it to you? oh,
my darling, if you only knew how much
[ love you, how passionately, since 1
came here, l have hung upon every
look and every smile you have given
me, surely your heart would come out
to me as my heart has gone out to you
viii you try to love me, Lilyf Will
YOU be my wife ?''
He had flung himself upon the ground
beside her as he spoke, and had clasped
her hand in his. For moment she
permitted it to remain there unresist-
ingly, while her whole woman's nature
seemed to respond to his appeal then,