Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-07-16

his clearly-cut profile in relief against
the gray stone. AS she paused, un-
certain whether to come in or to turn
back, Lancelot lifted his head with a
jerk, and exclaimed, by Jovel Miss
Tudor
''Sir Lancelot sleeping" laughed
Echo, mockingly-'His knightship in
a new aspect"
81 assure you, I wasn't asleep; Just
strolled in, and it was so quiet and sun
shiny that flung myself down on the
grass, aud cogitated, until heard the
gate opening" asserted Sir Lancelot.
Then they were both silent. A wild
paSsion-flower trembled in the sunny
glare shy little brown lizard darted
along the fence, and rustled into the
leaves to hide itself. The wind shook
lightly the purple blossoms overhead.
1t was all so still, SO bright-Echo was
vaguely touched and stirred without
knowing why. Such golden moments
come into our lives sometimes, and
often slip by unnoted. All if Lance
lot had only spoken then, what trouble
they would both have been spared.
"Echo," ne began in an agitated
tone, and suddenly broke off.
"Oh there is Nell good afternoon
Mr.. Verschoyle," she cried, and was
gone in moment, leaving him standing
disconsolately among the graves.
That very evening as Ecno sat alone
in the parlor, by the open window which
faced the street, she saw several men
coming toward the house. The room
was dim, and where she sat In the
shadow of the curtain. she could not
be seen but she could hear distinctly
what was said outside. As they passed
they were evidently rallying one of their
party on his devotion to some one.
| With surprise Echo heard her own
name mentioned, and then a voice
Lancelot'S voice-exclaimed inpatient
ly: Nonsense she is only a nice little
girl, very pretty, and pleasant enough
10 firt tCith, tChen no one better is pres
ent." Their voices and footsteps died
away in the distance, leaving the street
quiet and deserted. But Echo-my
poor Echo-there she stood, straight
and slim, with burning cheeks and
heaving breast, one hand grasping the
window-sill iercely.
The wretch - she muttered, be-
tween her teeth. ''To speak of me in
such way after looking and acting SO.
Stopl I'll be just the same as ever,
and not gratlfy him by letting him
think care enough about him to be
angry"
Next day, Lancelot came to take Echo
out rowing on the river, and outwardly
she was the same as when they had
parted in the churchyard /; therefore it
may be seen that MademoiselIe was an
accomplished actress. 1t was rather
| grey day, except when ray OF after
noon sunlight shot now and then
through the clouds, and as they stood
on the banks, Echo expressed a fear
that it would rain.
When they were launched aud row.
| ing up the river, the girl found that
her position directly opposite Lancelot
was decidedly embarrassing. owing to
his unpleasant habit of staring. She
was very pale, and was dressed all in
white, her long, bright, rippled hair
| floating loosely back from her face.
''How dreary-how desolate everything
looks this afternoon" said she, with
slight shiver. Gradually their conver-
sation flowed along, until they began
TO talk of the ancient days of jousts
and tournaments. "What cruel old
/ times they were," exclaimed Lancelot,
and npon Echo's saying that she did not
think them SO very cruel, he asked,
Gould you be sans merci' to your own
true knight, as some of the damsels
were ?''
.'Let any one prove himself false,
where thought him true, and then l
could be sans n,erci,'" she cried, sud-
den CLEAN in her dark eyes. "Besides,"
she added softly, Like the Lady of
Shallot, have no loyal knight and
| true.'n
''Do you remember who would have
been her knight, had it been posslbler"
he asked significantly.
81 remember only one, }" she answered
coidly, ''for whose sake a curse came
upon her,"
Lancelot spoke presently. ''May l
have your bouquet of forget-me-nots
to remind me of to-day? Darling
may not ?''
She flung back her golden locks. and
said, with solemn smile in her large
eyes, holding out the bouquet as she
spoke, "Take them, and keep them In
remembrance of the little girl who was
nice enough to flirt with, when no one
better was present."
Lancelot gave a sudden start, and
dropping the oars, caught her hands in
his. ''Good Heavens, Echo what do
you mean 2"
"Only that 1 am not the fool you i'm
agine me to be. Let my hands go, and
row me to the landing" she cried, and
Lancelot mechanically. obeyed.
As they parted at the gate, he began
passionately, "Echo, if you will listen
to me-
But he was interrupted by Echo's
voice, saying quietly, Goodbye Mr..
Verschoyle you need not try to ex-
cuse yourself"
"Ah perceive-'La belle dame sans
merci' is being enacted for my benefit.
Pardon me, if 1 say that little wo-
manly gentleness would not be unbe-
coming.n and he turned away. As he
spoke. the setting sun burst through a
cloud. bathing them IN its dying radi-
ance.
Next day Lancelot was gone.
Soon Nellie was married, and went
away to live ON the hill among the
roses. Life was very hard to Echo at
this time-to be forced to smile and
look interested, when she was longing
to steal away and be alone. One night
she could not sleep, so she rose, and GO
ing to the window, looked out on the
purple night, and at the starry sky.
Heaven seemed so immeasurably calm,
SO far away-ah should she ever reach
it 4? She felt very romantic and mlser-
able. and very much like "Mariana in
the Moated Grange"
The low of the cattle sounded from
the dark fields below, and just then the
bell of a far-off steamboat tolled sol
emnly through the silence, dying away
with the soft splash of the current
AGAINST the shore. "WithO,d hope Of
chance p, sobbed she, "Ah that is the
worst. How much better would it be
if 1 were lying in the churchyara :
and her eyes sought the quiet spot.
When we wish for death, we little know
| l-,o,, <t,a drood nreSpnco is to US.