Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-02-25
TaE BRAss-BuUND CHEST.

Flakes OF snow were hurTying through
the air and falling on the chrysanthe.
NUNS ana faded hydrangeas in the gar.
den at Fendall Court. Snow was a
rarity in this lumid, mild South-of-Ire
land climate, and the feathery atoms
huttered about as if all astray, and
seemed as shy of lighting on the trem-
bling last tokens of the autumn as the
frost-tOuChed flowers were loath TO re.
ceive them.
a bright pair of eyes watched the
gathering storm fron a window set
deep in the stone wall of the house.
Though Gladys Luttrell was eighteen
years old, the sight of the falling snow
was still fascinating to her.
- will go out and make a pile of
snow-balls 10 attack Rex as he comes
through the gatel What fun ~ she
exclaimed, flying away TO her little room
TO make ready Tor the adventure.
One farewell glance in her mirror
showed her bright gray-blue eyes spark
ling with pleasure, the delicate color OF
her cheeks heightened to rich bloom,
and her gOld-brown hair straying in
rayishing little curls and tendrils be-
meath her fur cap. With her lovely
fresh face - glorify it, her dress. with
its many u disguised darns, seemed the
perfection VI a costume. AS she left
the room she picked up from the sofa
a little muff made Of pheasant s
breast, and pressed it TO her lips.
The foolish little girl frequently
wasted kiss on this muff, for Rex had
shot the pheasant to make 1t for her,
and had had it lined with a soft white
rabbIt-skin. A trimming of pheaSants
feathers adorned the tight-flttln9 jacket
she wore, and concealed all the shabby
edges, giving her quite the aii OF Rus
sian priacess-so Gladys said.
She hurried down the stairs, and out
into the long winding avenue, amid the
fine old trees Of which she soon van
ished.
"Well aimed, you saucY mink y pres
emily exclaimed a clear fresh voice ana
Rex FendaI stopped for an instant BE-
tween the headless stone lions guarding
the gateway to get rid OF a liberal
handful of snow which some rosy I'M
gers had sent flying down the back OF
his neck. You shall pay penalty ior
that, miss, when have had time to
think of the punishment | can lnflict.
REX. your laugh IS only on your nps,
and your eyes are quite sad what IS
the matter, dear ?'' Gladys asked, let
ting the remainder of her snow-balls
fall unheeded to the ground. before
you saw me l noticed how serious you
looked
You are right, Gladys. l have got
the very bluesr kind of 'blues;' and,
since you have surprised part of my Sc
cret, may as we'll tell you all.
Gladys's arm stole through her low
er's; and together they began slowly
retracing their steps TO the house, Gladys
burying both hands in her mutt and nx-
ing her eyes sOrrOwtully on the road.
Three months ago." began Rex, q
fellow in Rockdale told me story upon
which | Was fool enough 10 rebuild all
my half. dead hopes. He said that ne
had received through friend IN Amer
lea news which he thought would prove
to a certainty the death of Herbert
Fendall. | investigated the matter
eagerly and joyfully enough, as you may
imagine but found the whole st"FS
as baselPss and visionary as the thou,
sand and one others which have mlsiea
US. / made a solemn vow to myself
that if this last quest ended in nothing,
l would abandon all hope OF seeing my
self rIghied in this country, and wouio
seek new career for myself. am go
ing to Australia -"
''Oh, Rex -
If the young man had declared tnaV
he was going TO take his own lie,
GLADYS could not have exhibited more
distress.
"And you could go all that long
journey away from me ?" she SAID re-
prOachfully-
''Gladys. don't make it harder Tor tne
than it already is ~ exclaimed hex
with a catch in his voice. MY oar
ling, it Is for your gooI that go! "e
can never marry on the miserable piV-
tance that / get here. whereas In Aus
tralia l could in a few years MAKE
enough to buy the dear little cottage
we so often talk about /; and You couiu
have the pair of ponies with rougn tslis
and names which you declare you dream
Of so frequently"
''Or perhaps, if you made fortuhs;
we could continue to live at fenuaI
Court, restoring only little OF II, you
know said Gladys. entering INTO tne
spirit Of hsr lovers project WIZ sui