Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-03-04

very tiresOme, for | especially wanted
Tile ferns for pretty basket | was busy
making for Mrs. Martyrs birthday.
"Di, my dear" remarked to N.Y.
self, having no one else to speak to, and
dearly loving the sound of my own
voice, ''Di, what do you mean to do |?
1t is not like you to care for a few inches
OF water and wet feet; BERTHE taught
you better than that, you know. No
one is about, and the keepers seldom
come here ; so here goes ~
And, ungracefully gathering up nv
skirts into anything but classic folds
about my knees, l carefully stepped
down upon the stones, singing to my
self some quaint Italian words / had
arranged for my own pleasure to the air
of the 'Blue Danube" l reached the
middle of the brook. wnen-I can never
tell how it happened-my foot slipped
aud tumbled headlong INTO the water,
burylng my face IN the ferns and mud,
and making splash that might have
been heard up at the Han. When /
tried TO recover my feet | found to my
horror that it could not well be done.
An intense pain and an inability to put
one foot to the ground warned me that
my ankle was dislocated. There was
nothing for 1t but to remain where |
was, in the fond hope of some pasSer- by
happening to see me. 1t certainly was
a most awkward predicament in which
to be placed. Here was a young lady,
the gOverness at the Rectory, seated on
a stone some inches in the water in the
middle of the brook in Seldene Park.
The intense pain l suffered from my
ankle made me feel inclined to cry !;
while the situation was SO absurdly lu-
dicrOus that for moment 1t overcame
all else and L burst into fit of uncon-
trollable laughter. To my great amaze
ment, | heard the laugh echoed from
behind me, and, turning my head, i met
the gaze of pair of bright blue eyes.
which were regarding me with merrl
nent that was evidently irrepressible.
81 hope you will excuse my joining
in your laugh" said the gentleman,
coming towards me ''but really / could
not help 1t /; you looked so funny seated
ia the water. May 1 ask if it is your
fayOrite seat ?n
Certainly not," replied ''but |
cannot well help myself. | have slipped
and spralned my ankle, and cannot
move"
''Oh, am so sorTyl Do allow me to
help you. | had no idea you were in
pain, or [ would not have laughed at
yog-that is, if could have helped my
SELF" he added, smiling, as he bent
over me, and, before l had any idea
what he was going to do, found myself
lifted up in PAIR of strong arms and
carried back to the bank.
Can you stand, do you think 2" he
asked, as he gently placed me on my
feet, and held me-
ION one Leg" said. "What di-
lemma TO be placed I'M What will
Mrs. Martyr think of me 2"
Think What can she think You
do not imagine she would suppose you
would purpoSely sprain your ankle, do
YOU? If you will SIT down here until
/ / return, l will run to the Rectory and
/ tell them, and bring Mr.. Martyrs trap
for YOU to return in"
EelpIng me to seat myself on the
grass, my companion assured me he
/ would lose no time, and left me to my
meditations. So | occupied myself in
wondering until the sound of voices and
/ footsteps gave notice OF the approach
of help. MIR. and Mrs. Martyr accom-
| panied the stranger, the gentlemen car
rying a small gate between them.
Now. Miss Cannon, | am sorry you
/ viii return in so undIgnifed Manner"
said the Rector; but it will be far the
I best and easiest for your foot. The car
riage would have been awkward to get
4 in and out of, to say nothing of the
shaking over the stones. If you will
let my wife help you to sit down on this,
we will carry you home without giving
you much pain
Nor did they; but it was very bad
nevertheless, and | was very glad to lie
on the sofa and let Mrs. Martyr apply
/ a cooling lotion to the swelled ankle.
That accident put stop to my out
door excursions for a long time, and |
was often Obliged to be left much alone;
/ at least, [ should say alone as far as the
| society of mankind was concerned, for
! L generally had two companions, blood
/ hOunds of very great value, belonging
/ to NJ. Martyr. These dogs took a re-
/ markable fancy TO me, and whenever
I they were unclaimed would be certain
/ to find ME out.
Nv captivity was cheered by good ac-
/ counts of Bertie's improvement, aud
now and then at rare intervals by
short visit from the gentleman who had
/ extricated me from my dilemma. His
name was Ross; and / had time to
notice, on his first visit of inquiry after
/ the sprain, what had been too much
/ distressed to remark on our first meet
| mg-that he was exceedingly handsome.
/ | grew to look forward to his coming
/ for with HIM came a vague feeling of
content, which had never experienced
I before In the presence of any one except
/ Bertie.
One day. shall never forget it-Mrs.
/ Martyn came to me when L was lying
on the sofa teaching Maud, for [ still
had TO rest my foot a great deal, though
able to walk little.
Miss Cannon" she slid, 81 want
YOU to be kind enough to let Maud have
a holiday for the rest of the day. Her
/ little friends from the Grange have
/ driven over TO ask her to spend tile day
with them, as it is one of their birth
days. dare say you VIII not object to
| being without such plague for once"
/ she added, fondly passing her hand over
/ the child's head.
/ The next moment ''the plague" had
her arms round my neck, and was
showering her thanks on my face for
my compliance with her mothers re-
quest. la another instant she was off,
with a shout of delight.
81 wish | could induce yeu to change
your mind and accompany my husband
and me tonight. dear Miss Cannon"
said Mrs. Ma tyn, sitting down by me-
1--WE do not like to leave you for
whole evening it will be SO lonely for
YOU. DOcome to the Selwyns' with usPp
'.Indeed | would-so much rather not"
I replied. II do not feel incliled for
/ dinner-party. You know how pleased
always am to avoid one if possible-I
d slike them 50 much. Do not give me
a second thought | shall manage to
pass the time very well. You know 1t
I is my evening for writing home, and [
must write to Ms. Tinley as well. Oh,
[ shall find many things to do ~
Il am only afra you may be lonely"
/ said Mrs. MARTIN. I'VE may not be
home until rather late, for it is very
long way from DraytOn. By-the-bye,