Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-08-19

affinity between Mrs. I.atimer and me
yet she says at this moment:
"Do you mind our being thirteen?'
She looks up into my face III a charming
spirit of Christian forgiveness.
"Do you?"
''N-nO. They say, don't you Know
the first one who gets up will die within
ayear."
think to myself l have had enough
bad luck tonight to cancel misfortune
for many year.
81 shall not get up first,n says Mrs.
Latimer; ''not that think there is any.
thing in it; but, don't you know''-she
shrugs her shoulders with an affected
little laugh-''Miss BellaIrs WILDE
the trst." She says this slowly and
looks fixedly into my face.
Good heavens!" l cry aloud, is the
There is a sudden silence.
l see several people glanding at me
and whispering or shaking their heads.
The monster fixes me with his awful
eye, holding a gigantic plum half way
TO his mouth. The dean, disturbed in
his dinner, regards me with plous hor-
Tor. Evelyn's gentle eyes are fixed ON
me for one moment, startled and re-
proachful Why does not the earth
open and swallow me?
Like the sound of trlckling water in
the desert, the voice of Chalmer rises,
loud and hearty addressing the man OPP
posite to him. Every one begins to talk
again, and furiously do execrate my
madness.
But excitement and rage have upset
the balance of my mind. lose my COM
mon sense. The idea takes possession
of me that this night L must give my
life for Evelyn's 10y being the first to
rise. AT least the idea gradually assumes
this form. { will be glorious thing
to die to save her life. Will she be sor-
ry? Will there be tears in her lovely
eyes when she hears OF it? Will she
weep for me?
But heroes must act, not dream. l
fix ny gaze on her. At least | see her
trying TO catch Lady Burliston's eye.
The supreme moment has come.
NO! nolp | cry wildly; "let it be me
/ will"
L start up and she rises at the same
moment. Every eye is fixed on me in
amaZement.
Like flash the absurdity of my be-
haviOur appears 10 me. Ashamed and
confused. 1 rush 10 open the door.
Mrs. Latimer passes me with sickly,
slmpering smile. Miss Fortescue looks
straight before her. Last of all comes
Evelyn. Breathlessly fix my eyes on
her. The blue eyes give one grave,
reproaehful look at my flushed face and
then she averts her head. Evidently
she thinks am under the influence of
wine
Frantic, stung by such suspicion, L
regain my chair somehow. Savagely,
bitterly, do l attack MacPhoole on his
politics, always a grand vent for ones
temper. L dare not touch any more
wine; my brain is on fire already.
At last the monster gives us the signal
to go into the drawing room. Ladies!
What are ladies to me? There is but
one in all the world for me. and another
man will sit by her. But L go slowly TO
lhC dN llle lOoil anu llOiu NifClC
behold Lord MacPhoole on one side of
Evelyn while Chalmers stands on the
other.
go TO the conservatory to cool my
maddened brain There Is no light
except when the lightning flashes, and
no sound but the rumDling thunder.
Did the contemptuous fates ever toy
so with any man beforer Kneas, much
tossed to and fro by lana and sea on
account of the undying anger of the
cruel Juno, never suffered as 1 do.
The pangs of jealousy are sharper than
any darts,
Suddenly the drawing room is opened
and hear Evelyn's sweet voice sing
ing.
''Nought so stockish, hard and full of
rage, but music for the time may
change his nature" 1t calms me for
but jealousy is horrible curse,
a possession. | torment myself with
wondering who is turning over the
leaves for her. Then they shut the
door again.
Once more ponder ON my wretched
self, my atrocious folly, my hopeless
love. This gloomy train of thought is
by voice in the little room
1 shrink into the shadow of huge plant
behind the door.
Evelyn and Miss Fortescue come into
the conservatory.
''Is this the flower you meant, dear?"
says Evelyn, as they come to a stand
still before splendid Erica.
b.
think l may have this bit to paintp"
or course, Mildred; take as much as
you can possibly manage"
The flowers are gathered, and then
Evelyn says, looking straight into my
eyes without knowing it, "What is the
matter with Mr.. Trevor tonight.
There is a subtle something, almost |
In her voice that makes
NY heart beat with foolish joy.
Poor mani" says Mildred Fortescne,
With little laugh, and she whispers
in Evelyn's ear.
l hold my breath to listen. strain
very power | possess, but in vain, |
,annot catch a word.
EVELYN stands silent, looking down
or minute; then she says in low,
oft voice: "How do you knOw?"
4" | can see it,
For some moments, during which |
lardly dared venture to breathe. except
nee when it thunders, there is silence,
md then Evelyn speaks again, this time
With a sort of shy gladness. but are
ou quite sure?"
.Quite. Positive. You must have
cen it ages ago yourself, dear"
''It is only sheet lightning" says
evelyn. suddenly, ''let us open the door
nd look at it, L love lightning"
l tremble. They are coming nearer.
shrink as far back in the darkness as
nay.
With some difficulty they get the door
pen, for it drags on the floor. | can
ot conceive how it is l remain undis-
overed, for several times they seem
0 be looking at me. Then they stand
d the door step tarlking softly to each
tier. Evelyn's arm is around the
theirs waist. She looks so lovely, and
|, en- inacoessjblp that I cannot helm hut |