Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-07-15

Id
a sleepy voice remarked
\ Gu have kept me waiting long
time, Frank
Absolute amaZement bereft me OF
speech. | never mOyed-only looked
down out of the corner of my eye al
the soft little mass of hair showing
quite plainly In the moonlight.
''Do you hear, Frank1 I've been
fast asleep.
II m-yery sOrry-reallyl" stammer-
ed ], with an insane feeling that must
say something
"Are We gong home, FrankP"
~ eS-y yes-that is I'm sure you'll
excuse me-
Up started the head from my shoul-
der. \ small astonished face and two
Wild flashing eyes were turned full up
on my guilty countenance; then, before
could move or speak she let down the
window of the brougham and called to
The coachman 10 stop. Quick as light
nlDg, she jumped out, and stood in the
mOunlIt ROAD small slender figure
with a long CLOAK half covering light
summer dress, two white fists clenched
at her sides, and eyes looking-well,
worse than daggers-bOwie-kn and
stilettoes, AT least-at me.
There Was nothing for it but to Jump
out too. AS l did 50, she went back
step or two, as if recoilrng even then.
Embarrassed as | was, noticed how
gracefully she did it.
Upon my word, beg your pardon!
| really DO, by Jove!'
nd Ia 70 L 70
dare to She paused a minute, her
indignation literally choking her. Then
she turned to the coachman-"Wat aters,
how on earth did this person get into
the brougham?"
with your PERMISSION" L said
rather Eaughtily, believe-'I will
tell my own story. Doctor Fairholme
is compelled to stay up all night with
my friend Mr. Castlemaine, who is
very i'll. He knew that had ten miles
TO walk, and kindly offered me his
brougham TO go home in"
lit was ineXcusable.
at was," | rejoined imperturbably;
lit was most ineXcusable of him not to
mention that there was lady in the
carriage. Had l known it L should
never have intruded. And now, hav
ing explained my presence here, | will
hasten TO relieve you of my company"
| was quite astounded at the dignity
which | infused into my manner. l held
open tie carriage door.
will you resume your seat? You
need not be afraid of walking past me, p"
| added, as she drew back once more
and hesitated an instant
She tossed her small head little de
liantly. Womanlike. she would not
own herself mistaken. Without a word
she took her seat in the brougham and
allowed me to fasten the door,
'Drive on" said to the coachman;
and the horse started once more.
was very, very tired-i began to
realize now how tired-as | dragged
my sore feet to milestone at the side
of the road and sat down thereon.
/ listend TO the sOnhd of the depar-
ting wheels. How long sound lasts
in the dead stiffness of a summer night
| could almost have declared that those
wheels were approaching, not recedlng.
The sound certainly was louder. !
raised my tired head; the brougham
was returning! As it stopped | rose to
my feet The window was let down,
and a little bare hand was stretched
out TO me.
"Will you get into the brougham,
Mr.-I | think was very rude; ]
shall be only too pleased to drive you
home, if you Will ferget the way |
spoke
Il am sure | don't wonder at your
being angry; YOU must have been sur
prised,"
Il was; but please get in"
| did not hesitate-l was 50 done
up" She made ME sit beside her; and
1 was only too content to be once more
in that comfortable nest, with chance
of getting home again by midnight.
For a short space of time We were as
mute as two fishes. Certainly 1t was a
very queer position. A young lady and
a young man who had never been m-
trOduced to each other were staring in
the dark for ten mile ride side by side
III a brOugham. Presently the pretty |
little head was slowly turned for the
purpose of taking furtive survey OF |
me. Somehow | felt exceedingly shy |
at the thought of such an ordeal. shut |
my eyes and pretended to be asleep, |
feeling all the time that the other pair |
of eyes large and bright, l knew, |
though / did not see their color
were taking stock of Inc with interest. |
Ny companion did not move from /
her nest in the corner; but her eyes !
were, | know, fixed upon me as she /
asked
Are you great friend of Mr.. Cas-
tlemain'sr" |
"Yes, suppose L am," l answered
"we were at school together"
"lndeedl Do you live near here?"
Yes, at Neither Hall. My name Is
Shirley"
"Ohr'-a great deal of surprise IN
fused into that ''Ohr' "YOu are Mr.. |
Shirley of Neither Hall?"
Yes, believe So.
WAS it your wife who left cards on |
Frank last week?'
"No-my mother. | haven't wife
I'm not married."
Il think, :" she remarked, after a (
pause, THAT Miss Castlemain Is very
pretty: saw her in church on Sun /
day"
'Were you in church on Sunday
never saw youl'
81 think | saw YOU, though; know
you by your hair"
| laughed. Jerry was always chat
fng me about my ridiculous hair; 50
did not mind. But, as the thought OF
Jerry again rushed across my brain, II
seemed TO shut out everything else. l
should be so fearfully lonely without
himi
81 do feel sorry for you," said the
sympathetic little voice. "Don't trouble
to talk if you would rather be quiet,
lit Is 40 trouble to talk TO you," L
answered promptly: but don't seem TO
be able to think or talk about anything
but poor Gerard just now."
Talk to me about him then-teil
me how the accident happened"
Thus encouraged, L launched out, /
and told her all about it; l gave her An
account of our shooting, our riding,
our yachting, and all the fun we had
.N