Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-10-15

crate to Australia, q" he said "Richard
is strong fellow, and will do well on
sheep farm"
"To Australia ~ echoed Grace In
CONSERVATION. "Do you mean that
they should stay there all their lives Z"
"Why not ? They have come utterly
to grief in this country, and may get
fresh start out there"
"And Rosy 2" Grace was about to
say. but checked herself. Her child
was about to be taken away from her,
probably for ever, and she dared not
say word to save il. The poor little
waif seemed doomed, anyhow, to a life
of neglect, for even If it remained IN
England with the Tooses what chance
was there that these lost people would
give it fitting education No more
shocking dilemma ever stared mother
IN the face and Grace could only re-
fleet, as she wrung her hands, that the
retribution for sin, though it may be
delayed, comes with a crushing force.
Roland went off TO his study to write
some letters, and Grace repaired to the
drawing-room, where she sank moan
ing into chair; she dared not even
cry, lest her husband coming in should
ask what allied her. She could only
stare with haggard eyes through the
windows on TO the park, where the yell
low autumn leaves were littering the
grass, soaked with rains from a leaden
sky.
Suddenly she saw the dismal figures
of Richard Toose aud his wife coming
over the lawn side by side. Martha was
crying; Richard. gesticulating with a
big umbrella, appeared to be scoldlng
her. 1t WAS evident that the pair were
going TO the Hall TO try and pTopitiate
Mr.. De Roy about the license. And 50
it proved, for they presently rang at the
door and were ushered by the servant
into the magistrates study. Hereon
Grace's heart leaped. Anything was
better than the unknown, ana
the unhappy mother hoped for
moment that the Tooses might
obtain their pardon and turn over new
leaf. So she waited with anxious throbs
i'll her bosom.
She waited a quarter OF an hour
then another-then ten minutes more,
ttAA az ouNC lluCOu5 lCdl u1ftdC
her spring up; what If the TooSes
should try to cOerce Mr.. De Roy by
telling him of the secret in his wife's
life and demanding hush-money? Grace
tottered into the hall and heard sound
of loud voices. Curiosity prompted
her TO listen, but as the words reached
her indistinctly, she stole on tiptOe to a
room that adjoined the study, and was
only separated from it by a dOor-cur-
tain. She arrived just at the end of a
loud alteration in which Richard, his
wife, and Mr., De Roy were all three
taking part at the top of their voices.
Hitherto the ToOSes lad apparently
had no intention of betraying Grace,
but the secret came out IN an outburst
of Richards wrath.
swell, squire. oi want a thousand
pounds, or OH let all the village know
that your lady was married afore she
took you, and that our orphan Rosy Is
her child"
"What 2'' thunderei Roland; and il
was evident that he had made threat
ening gesture, for Richard shouted
''Hands off, squire oi be only tellin
zee the truth. Ask moi old oOman."
"It'Strue, squire, " screamed Martha,
thus interpOlated land it's tonne ZEE
knowed it, for oi wOan't keep the child
no longer
speak, then," said Roland hoarsely:
''but speak low. and conceal nothing"
Grace fell on her knees. She was
like a passenger on board ship which
is going to wreck-honOr, happiness,
her very life were all going 10 be dashed
to pieces She could not hear what
was being said; and perhaps she lost
consciousness for time, for when she
could next hear, the confession had all
been made ; and it was her husband
who was speaking, sadly and gravely:
Say nothing to soul about this and
you shall be well paid" he said to
Richard Toose. "If you speak you
shall not have penny. Now CO."
a few minutes later Roland had left
the Eall in his dOg-carf, and half an
hour afterwards that vehicle returned
without him. Grace, sending out to
the stables to inquire of the groom
where his master had driven, learned
that Roland had gOnet to Mr.. Sweeney's.
" ldllCl III
goes to my parents instead of coming
to me. All is lost, then. tie
means that we shall be separated.
OH merciful God, have pity on me-"
And she cried as if heart-broken.
III.
Twilight had come and Grace sat IN
the drawing-room with no light but
that of the Pickering fire. She hugged
her boy, who was sleeping in her arms;
and her tears trickled over his baby
face. She had made up her mind that
his father would take him from her. and
that she would be driven forth as an
outcast-a mother, childless and home
less. Her only hope i'll the world was
that her mother would assure Roland
how she, Grace, had wished to tell him
the truth, but had been prevented and
that Roland would be touched. But
what a slight hope was that
4 sound of wheels was heard in the
avenue it was Roland returning home.
Grace started up clasping her boy to
her breast, and listened. She heard
voice in the hall-her husband 's-but
there was another voice blending with
it, a laughing child's voice like Rosy'sl
Could il be hers s-but no; Grace
doubted the evidence of her senses.
The door of the drawing-room opened
and Roland entered carrying Rosy.
Roland ~ cried Grace, staggering
forward, and her husband caught her
in his arms.
my darling" he said, "the Tooses
are going to Australia and L wish to
adopt their orphan will you be its
mother? | viii be her father"
Grace was going to speak, but Roland
checked her with kiss on the lips.
'Hush !" he whispered kindly.
And this was the only allusion which
| this true gentleman ever made to the
secret in his wife's life.
Thibetans.
Some of the customs of the Thlbet-