Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-02-11

l could not pay.
NO, ne replied humbly; but |
thought you could cut it shorter
m not IN the habit of cutting NV
words Short | said stIfiy. There, :
nothing for you to laugh at lanes
brown Natures made you quite ugly
enough, without pulling faces at your
oettsrs T! Just you send that message
Oh at oncel l don't begrudge the
money!
50 paid my half-crown, and if 1
dld ring the money on the counter as if
was proud of It, where was the barmp
was proud of il for | had earned il
and hoped it would bring my dear
young lady's pa, which was the only
lhlng she wanted 10 make her happy.
had said come at once, because
you see, Rachel, wanted him in time
tor Christmas Day and, if he was a bit
frightened, he would be all the more
ilkely To hurry himself. L thought
that, If L once got him to the house, it
must be all right. Surely he could not
bear malice with that infants fingers
curied round his They were wonder
tul fingers, were that baby's; they were
so long that they touched your b art.
and SO tender and clinging that they
made you feel ashamed OF doing wrong.
IL thought of all this as hurried to
the railway station to inquire when the
trains came in from Exeter. There
would be one III an hour but of course
that was of no use TO me and the next
reached Seaton at i've O'Clock, which
would give the old gentleman plenty of
time TO get my message before the train
left Exeter.
As | went home, my heart beat
rather violently, and | had to remind
myself that L had battled along all alone
since your uncle's death, and that
could surely face one old gentleman,
even If he had grindstone where his
heart should have been. So l plucked
up courage, and went home and did my
work but must own that | began to
feel uneasy when the clock struck four.
All the work was done then, and Betsey
Jane was as clean as if she did not
know what dirty work was, and had
never heard of black leak. | told her,
If gentleman called, to show him into
the dining-roOm, and then to come
quietly upstairs and tell me that | was
wanted. L told her, too, to keep the
kettle boiling for, with a young baby
and an angry old gentleman, you never
know bat what YOU may want hot water
sudden-like. Betsey Jane promised to
attend to what said, and l shook my
head at her as | left the kitchen-not
that | was yexed with her, but it was a
way L had got into, for the girl was
often provoking, especially on busy
days; and l wonder that | bore with
her as did.
"When l went up to Mrs. Bayley's
room, it was a pretty scene. The fire
was burning brightly, and it threw
soft warm glow on the young mother,
as she sat in my best chair, with baby
on her lap. Her husband was irving to
ruin his eyes with book he was read
ing by the freight. L never saw such
a man for books he could not rest un-
less he lad one in his hand. I'm as fond
of books as anybody, and think nice
shining row on shelf is a pretty orna
ment but don't hold with handling
them too much, for they always make
my head may. | think look In at the
shops - especially the bonnet-shOps-
rests you as well again.
"'How are you getting on, ma'am ?
| asked.
"'Very nicely, thank you. | am very
comfortable, Mrs. Robinson Mrs. Bay
ley replied, in her pleasant gentle voice.
"'And the little darling?'
"'Do YOU mean me, Mrs. Robinson?'
said Mr.. Bayley, getting up, with
smile on his handsome face.
mo, sir; you know 1 don't; and |
wonder at you having such nonsense in
a sick-roOm. You might know betterV
~ can't help it, he said, laughing.
Look at them both /; don't they look
famous to-day? / feel in such spirits
about themI You and | are capital
nurses, Mrs. Robinson
"'Well, they certainly do US credit
to-day 1 have come TO stay for an
hour or 50 ; and | wish you would go
for walk, sir. You have not been out.
Yes. do, Vincent, urged Mrs. Bay
lev: = brisk walk Will do you ever 50
much good /: and you know l shall be
all right with Mrs. Robinson
s.Yes, indeed, there is no doubt
about that ! You have been kinder TO
her than her own relatives have been,
and heaven will bless you for your good
ness to usp said Mr.. Bayley, turning
TO me.
Il should have felt wonderfully lifted
LID by his words if it had not been for
that five-o'cIock train, for l had never
before seen Mr.. BayleySo deeply moved.
"At that moment the darling infant
woke I'D. and, man-like already, he
could not wait an instant for what he
wanted and in attending to him L for
got all about outside wrongs.
".You are putting on his best robe,
Mrs. Robinsonl' said his mother, whose
bright eyes were watching every move
ment.
H'Well, if he's not to be dressed in
his best, ma'am, on Christmas Eve, n's
a pity u,.
s.She smiled, and said twas all right;
but she thought | would have saved the
rooe until the next day.
"sThere.' said |, when L had dressed
him in his best-'he does look bonny
ANYBODY who sees him must think 50 ?
".Yes,' she replied, in rather sor-
rowful voice; and j knew she was
thinking of her father.
s'Just then Betsey Jane tapped at the
door, and knew he had come. Baby
was as wide awake as possible, and
staring at the fire so thoughtfully, as Ii
he knew a great deal, if he only chose
to mention it.
"sCome in, Betsey Jane. L ana want
ed, suppose?' ,
a.Yes, ma'am-in the dining-room-,
".Then come and take baby, and
stay till come back Twill answer the
bell if any one rings, 50 you need no'
leave the room
"Then / went downstairs, opened
the dining-room door, and marched IN,
irving to recollect that the house and
furniture were all mine, for 1t would
never have done to let him know that
nv heart was beating as If had a