Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-05
A GIRL'S FOLLY.


A small, superior cottage of bright
red brick, sweet scented woodbine trail
ing over its rustic porch, a green lawn
before it surrounded by flowers, and
charming country landscape spreading
ont in the distance. Inside, In Its small
but pretty parlOr, on the red table-cover,
waited the tea-tray, with Its cups and
saucers. The window stood open to the
still. warm autumn air, and the French
porcelain clock on the mantelplece was
striking FIVE.
A slender girl of some twenty years
came in. She was very lovely. But her
bright, blue eyes bore sort of weary or
discOntented look, and her bright brown
hair was somewhat ruffied. She wore a
print washing-dreSS of black and white,
neither very smooth nor very fresh, and
a lace neck-collar fastened with bow
Of black ribbon.
She had made an appointment to meet
Reginald Eavasour, a rich young gem
tleman who made her acquaintance,
down by the willow walk, and her lover,
Thomas Watkyn, had told her he could
call that evening. Just before he left
she said:
MAY ask you to do me little fay-
or, Thomas:"
What is it?" he repeated.
''lf you would not very much mind
going home by the hill and would leave
this note at Miss Ferd's. l particularly
wish her to have it this evening""
He paused for an instant, not reply
Ing. She went on hurriedly:
81 see that is dlsagreeable to you. l
have offended you too much"
Not that" he answered, holding out
his hand for the note. But can hard
ly spare the time for the long way this
evening, as have to call al Killick's
for my father However," he said no
more, but took the note.
"Good-bye, Thomas"
''G0od-bye."
''I'm GLAD he took the note! shall be
safe now."
Miss Alison Reece was a clever young
lady. The direct and near way to Mr..
Walkyn's home would lead him past
the willow walk. She had devised this
lmpTompt note TO her dresSmaker in the
afternoon to prevent his taking that
usual route. Had he seen young Vava-
sour cooling bis heels within the pre-
cinctS of the willow walk lie would iG-
evitably suspect he was waiting TO keep
lovers tIyst.
Alison was busy in the kitchen next
morning when she heard her mother
open the front door and some IRE come
In. 1T is that chattering Mrs. Ben
nett, )" thought she, as she dried the tea
spoons.
Allison, come here, called Ii moth
er, in quick voice.
She went to the parlor Just as she was
her sleeves turned back at tie wrist,
a large brown Holland apron on. VeIy
pretty she looked with it all. But it
was not Mrs. Bennett who sat with her
mother; it was venerable. white-hair-
ed old gentleman-Mr. Watkyn, the
elder.
~ am come to ask about Thomas, I"
said he. Il believe he came here last
night, Miss Alison; at what time did he
leave your"
A provision struck her with sort of
terror that something was wrong" He
left me quite early" she faltered.
well, he has never come home"
Not come homer' she said, with a
whitening face.
Il sat up till one O'Clock, and then l
thought the mist must have kept him;
that he had stayed at some friend S
house. knew not what to think, and
that he would be home the first thing
this morning. But we have not seen him,
and | cannot hear of him."
Mrs. Reece was impressed with the
frightened, guilty look that Alisonlcould
not keep out of her countenance, and
began to feel uneasy.
Cannot you tell what time it was
when he leftyou?" she demanded stern
ly.
at was after dusk. 1t was just after
sunSet-before the mist came on. 1t
must have been near O'clock"
(which road did he take?" pursued
Mrs. Reece. And very reluctantly Ali
son answered, for she foresaw it would
bring on further questioning:
The long r0ad-round by the hill"
Round 10y the hil?" echoed Mr..
Watkyn, in alarmed surprise. why
did he take that way?"
Alison flushed ard paled alternately;
her lips were trembling. The fear creep
ing upon her was that he and young Va
vaSOur had met and quarreled. Perhaps
fought and injured one another fatally.
In these dread moments of suspense the
mind ID apt to conjure up fsr-fetched
and unlucky thoughts.
81 asked him to 20 around that way"
she replied. in a timid tone Il wanted
him to leave note for IRE at the dress
makers
Old Mr.. Watkyn sank into a chair,
putting his hands before his troubled
face. Il see it all, - he breathed faint
ly. He must Lave fallen down the
Scar
Alison uttered a scream Of horror.
Deceived by the mist, he must have
walked TO, near the edge" continued
the old man. ''Heayen grant that it
may not be so. but l fear it. Vas he
mad, TO attempt to cross the plateau on
such night?''
Catching up his hat, Mr.. Watkyn
went out swiftly. Mrs. Reece grabbed
her daughters hands. They were icy
cold.
ALISON, what passed between you
and Thomas last night?n
Don't ask me, mother. Let me fol-
low Mr.. Watkyn. | cannot rest indoors.
Oh, 1t cannot, cannoG be as he fearsl"
Not one step until you tell me what
passed. "said the mother firmly. There's
more In all this than what greets the
eye.n
He asked me to give up talking to
Mr.. Vavasour.
And you refused. Well?"
HE told me must choose between
them" " continued Alison, bursting into
Iears. ''Oh. mother it was all my folly,