Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-02-18

anori,n, .u' ihadam," he would reply
SSiigriIy' Il don't want to get rid of ny
T, GTSughters until they wish To Iaara
home.'' ou' vi their Old
Dut Lady Firth would pursa bor liz.
,Inu ,ha, .osS @ her head, as though to saw that
'Ills rndt was her affair, and that what She
unaertook . 10 manage she would carry
ouS' ana now Lydia was eighteen and
~ lUVeiy and winning that her mothers
"lioie Time was taken up in scheming
IoI ner advancement in life. notbinS
vas heid TOO costly, nothing too extrav.
dgant that could in the smallest degree
'Aeignlen her daughters beauty.
one ought TO marry a duke " she
sdiu one day to her husband.
Nonsense, Lettyl Let the girl
,uaiIf true honest man That she can
retort. "' i''
And Lydia with flushed cheeks would
declare that she did not wish to marry
any one, TO leave home and Jack and
would strive TO avoid wearing the hand
some dresses that she felt were utterly
uhsultabl- TO her age and position.
am not princess, :" she said once
rather petulantly; but Lady Firth ONLY
shoo1 her head wisely, thinking that
even TINS might be quite Ion the cards. :"
ince her first ball Lydia had had sew
eral admirers, who had haunted the
places where she was to be seen. and
who had bored her infinitely with their
absurd fiattery and exaggerated COM
pllments From these she would turn
with relief to Lord Sands, who never
wearled her III this fashion, but stroye
10 interest her by discussions on art and
poetry and all that is 70 sweet and WON
derful TO the mind of very Young girl,
~ on are almost as nice as Jack,n
she would say frankly-''you always
know what want and when want it,
- am your friend, was the invaria-
Die reply, ''and friendship has its pleas
ant duties. You know | have never
had sister, and you come In the place
Of what L have missed in that respect" -"
But at last there came crisis. One
Of her unwelcome admirers declared
his Intentions, and offered himself and
his very splendid income for the accept
hAANN VA AhC OAJCSl VI u-o dllcCLlOuS /.
and there was a very stormy scene,
when Lydia positively refused to see
him again, or TO give him the least hope.
For several days Lady Firth would
neither speak voluntarily, nor answer
her daughter when addressed, and at
last Lydia sought her friend in despair.
What am | to do, Lord Sands 2"
she cried appealingly, as, having told
him OF the whole affair, she turned
away, and bent over bowl of flowers
that stood Oh her work table.
He laid his hand for moment caress-
ingly on her hair.
Poor little child, scarcely know
what to say; but you We're quite right
be assured of that"
Yes, | know, but III the meantime
| AN very unhappy, and mamma's being
yeNed and miserable makes it worse
and all about that one stupid man ~
"Do not trouble, it will all come right
in time; these things will happen, and
tie poor fellow could not help loving
you. | wonder how it is that women
always despise man who loves them,
without having awakened correspond
ing feeling z"
"A man ought to know when he is
not liked, and ought to take a refusal
quietly" answered Lydia severely.
Il have a plah," he said a few min
utes later, after there had been silence
between them for little while "but
will write and tell you what L thought,
and you must decide for yourself
whether it be practicable or not Only
take care there is such thing as es-
Gaping Scylla and being engulfed III
Charybdis-
And then Sir John came in, and stood
talking to them, and soon afterwards
Lord Sands took his leave. But the
same evening groom came up with a
letter from him for Lydia.
She quietly put it into her pocket. and
made no comment thereon; but at
about twelve O'Clock that night, the
door OF the smoking-room, where JACK
was sitting alone, discussing the ftetd
and very long pipe, was pushed a III
tie open. and cautiously lowered voice
legged for admittance.
Come in, little One," cried JACK
cheerily, and Lydia entered, holding the
letter IN her hand, and looking very dis
turbed. ,...,.
:sMay [ come and talk to you a little,
lack y; she asked doubtfully.
sWhv. of course you may; 1t Is Ike
old times. your coming to have a chat.
You are getting proud, | suppose. Your
bead is turned with your numerous con-
onests. aud a quiet confab with one s
hrotber is tame work after all that sort
of thing" ., 90
tired - she answered apologetlcaily,
sinking down into the comfortable
chair that Jack had drawn Tor ward Ior
her. ..But | want your advice now.
please read this. and tell me whaG you
think of it - and she held out the iet-
ter to him.
This is what it contained
ssWy dear Lydia, Il am going 10
make a very strange proposition ana
i,afore making it, wish you to promise
that whether you accept 1t or not, our
eriandsbip shall remain intact. do you
ranamber our conversation at your nrst
hall. when we both agreed that niar-
riaqe WAS a necessity. and that love was
far surpassed by his elder and more so
her brother-frieLds dship? My opinion
iS nnaltered. and this is my proposition.
y Wiil Won take my name and be my wlie
in the ewes of the world, but In realily
INV yery dear sister-my friend III
,Tsre older. | would adopt you. as tiiat
would he less binding to you; put OF
conrse. as it is, that is quite out OF O lne
ouestion. If you decide to come 10 nle, me-
1oI need fear no unwelcome tehderness
~ aOu nv mart and YOU need have no more
If nv society than is agreeable you
Haya your brother and your SIX sisters,
and could always invite your own own
on Inssts Think well of all TINS oeIorf :
Son answer. | shall not alter. II IL
so',ld so have loved any one, it would nave
Zen Heen YOU. But | will not deceive you |,
NV feeling is that of rather i.;aI, lol nns
naSoa6tar2a IiS calm, protective aftectioil
na'iS .h'o, 7 swear shall never alter. II you
lave @ a preference for any one-n you you
Taal that some day you VIII ioye' anu
love ,ieeply, do not hesitate 10 s teii - on1 =.
~ rour ri hest friend-be the one 10 ruiz
your life. ,.,svar bsppens
ouiS "'" "KEITH."
..yh bwhew. "whistled Jack softly