Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-04-08


and feel his moustached lip pressed upon
the heavy brsids of my hair2 ! knew
not. | only know that hid my face,
and that neither spoke to the other un-
til we had reached the house, and no
had laid me gently down upon a sofa IN
the breakfast-parlor. Then i gathered
up courage to falter out my thanks,
and to raise my eyes again to his face.
1t was so set and white that l exclaimed
in terror
''Oh, Mr.. Vaughan, am afraid you
have exerted Yourself too muchl am
SO very, very sorryi''
Il am quite well, thank you," he
said, with strange smile, as he left the
room.
My sprsin proved to be anything but
ser Gus, and in three days | was able TO
walk about again. But those three days
had changed me from happy light
hearted girl to a sad aud sorrowful one,
for | knew that / loved Herbert
Vaughan. yet feared that | had given
my heart unsought TO one vino would
never return my love. Since that we'll
remembered day he had studiously
heart as best might, and laughed and
jested as of old, and none knew tho
pain | suffered or the tears / shed in
secret.
But one morning my cup of misery
overfiowed. Herbert Vaughan an.
nounced that he was going away-that
he would leave on the following day.
Going awayl / felt cold shuGder pass
over me, and, knowing that my face
was ashy pale, glanced up in quick
alright TO make sure that no one was
deserving me, and met the eyes of Her.
bert Vaughan fixed upon me, with a
look so strange that | dropped my own
in confusion, and the bright color few
back into my cheeks. Was it Joy that
shone in those luminous eyes? II looked
strangely like It.
That day was like some painful dream
TO me, and l was glad to steal away al
twilight to the old school-roOm to ease
my heart with weeping. took my old
seat and buried my face IN my hands,
whilst bitter scalding drops fell through
my interlacing fingers Suddenly an
impatient hand was laid upon the lock,
the door opened, and light springing
step crossed the floor. That light foot
could belong to no one but Flo.
She came softly to where | sat and
knelt down beside ME, putting her arm
tenderly about me in sweet. unspoken
sympathy. The gentle touch unsealed
the fountains of my sOrrow.
"Oh, Flo, Flo," 1 cried, gasplng and
sobbiHg in my wild grief, ''he is going
away Going, and may never see him
againi And, oh, love HIM 50 dearly!
Oh, Flo, what shall / do?''
The arm that enciTcled me drew me
closer. That strong yearning pressure
was not Flo's! All, could it be possl-
Die that had made d mistake-that nJ
unseen confdant was Frank? dropped
my hands in sudden terror, and lifted
my fearful eyes. to meet the earnest,
loying, tender gaze Of Herbert Vaughanl
My first impulse was TO fly; but his
strong arm held me close, and them
1 knew that Herbert loved me, and
had yed re from the first. but his hon.
ordble nature had prompted him to con.
ceal his affection, for he was poor. and
would not ask the girl he loved to share
his poverty. But that morning he had
received letter informing him of tie
death of his old great-aunt, bis only
relative, who had made him her heir, |
and had left him something more than
eight hundred year-Qulte sufficient
for us with our quiet tastes. And 50
he dried my tears, and it was a very
happy face which smiled at me from the |
mirror when | went up to don for the
evening the simple black dress in which,
Herbert told me, first caught his fancy
and won his heart.
1t is year ago that all this chanced,
and Herbert and I-wedded lovers OF |
six months date nOw-aIe going down |
again to Westbourneleas to spend our
Chrlstmas-tide and to congratulate Flo
upon her approaching marriage. For
Flo is engaged now to Charlie Nor
daunt, and they Will make, | think,
very happy couple-almost as happy /
perhaps as Herbert and l. And, as /
think this, l raise my eyes, and they |
meet my husbands dear, wonderful
dark-gray orbs, beaning with love and
truth, and he says laughingiy-
"a penny for your thoughts, dear"
And, when / tell him, he puts his arm
about me and draws me towards him as
be says
"Who would not be happy with such
a dear little wife as mine?"