Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-08-05

times-for she was still young, and tn,
regrets of youth are hard to conquer
that chance word, such as the chilt
had now spoken, would bring with il
an overwhelming rush of self-pity. {
passionate longing for the JOY that haC
SO nearly been hers, when fate mysteri
ously stretched forth hand and snatch
ed 1t from her grasp. She forces back
her tears with great effort, dreading
lest Freda should see them.
Not tonight, darIlng," she says, n
answer to the child's request. ~ re-
ally have no time to talk or tel
stories with that paper for the Busg-
body only half done. | must fish III
the villain from the bottom of the well,
where L left him, and get Lady Isabel
out of the attic, which has Just caught
tire, in time to send off the manuscript
this week, or what is To become of the
new winter cloak and boots that you
begin TO want so badlyp"
And of Dolly's bonnet?" AIDES Freda
gravely, as she deposits that much bat
tered representation of humanity in the
muslin-cOvered soap-box that serves it
for a cradle, and pushes back her stool
from the cheerful hearth. "You know
you said that, if the Busy body accep-
ted Lords and Ladies, she should have
new one, and perhaps red cloak as
well. L won't speak again, mother till
you have finished But mind you make
them marry, and live happy ever after, ~
continues Miss Golden-Hair, who is a
somewhat severe critic of her mothers
literary performances. "All stories
ought to end like that, so that one may
feel satisfied and comfortable about
them when they are finished, you
knowl"
The mellow sunshine of an autumn
afternoon Is streaming through the
dusky pine trees of the Den avenue,
bathing their tall straight trunks in
liquid gold, and falling here and there
In slanting yellow rays on the silent
pathway so softly carpeted with brown
decaying leaves. There is suspicion
of frost in the clear air, Just enough to
make the scarlet jenkins of the robin
redbreast look particularly seasonable
and appropriate, as they hop about
cheerily, tiutterlng in their native bold
ness almost around the feet of rash
intruder bent most resol1tely on paying
the three bears morning-call.
"Will they be at homer" That ls the
question Freda has been asking herself
necessarily ever since she left the cot
tage, running with all her might along
the high-road till she reaches the tall
dark gates, the untenanted ivy-clad
lodge she knows so well. Once within
the shade of the avenue, all fear of pur.
suit is over, and she walks slowly, re-
her plans at leisure.
Her flight from home has been par
tIcularly well timid. 1t IS one of her
busiest days, when she is absent teach
ing from nine in the morning till seven
at night. Bridget also had been salts
factOrily disposed of. She had shut
herself up in her kitchen with her iron
ing directly after dinner, telling Freda
that she would not have finished all she
had TO do till tea time, and that she
must please to amuse herself as best
she could in the garden that afternoon.
FTeda was nothing iOath. HoTe was
4 glorious opportunity for the adyen-
ture she had long been planning, not
chance of satisfying her
burning curiosity respecting the in
mates of the Den.
81 shall be back before Bridget misses
me, and then can tell mother all about
i, ;" was her one absorbing thought as
he buttoned herself into her little we'll
worn jacket and crushed her brown fur
zap down determinedly on her wayward
Iellow curls. That she should see real
bears she, in her simple childish faith,
never doubted. Nothing but ocular
would ever have coz
yinced her of the disappointing fact
hat they were only men. after all.
Her heart gives quite bound of joy
yhen slight gap in the pine-trees, as
he hears the house, shows her that the |
,reat windows on the lower floor of the |
MYSTERIOUS dwelling stand open, and.
urther, that the wide sashes are only |
tep from the ground.
II can get in there quite easily" says |
Nreda TO herself, as she climbs the low |
noss-grown paling that divides the
venue from the lawn, waiting eau
iOusly for a few moments when she /
as done so, lest some apparitiOn too |
errifying for mortal eyes emerge from
he enchanted building and confront /
er. So far however there appears to
e nothing to fear An absolute silence
eignS around, silence broken only by
be twitting of the birds.
Before her lies the old gray house,
~, hn 1,nfr I
alf its frontage luxuriantly clothed in
he green and scarlet garb Of ivy and
Tirginia creeper. Large stone vases
lied with tawny-leaye4 geraniumS are
laced at regular distances on the broad
srrace that stretches beneath the WIN
ows, and there also few pigeons
90 and strut. Were it not for them
nd the column of blue smoke that rises
rom one or two of the twisted CHM
eys, the place might well stand for
ery model of the tabled palace where
ne Sleeping Beauty lay enchanted, sur
Ounded by her court.
Treasured by the stiffness that reign
round, Freda steals softly across the
Lwn, creeping cautiously over grass
nd gravel, until she can peep comfOr-
IDLY in at one of the open windows.
he room into which she looks is empty
le walls and floor are of dark shining
ak, and there is no carpet, few fur
lgs and tiger-skins lying about instead
q the centre stands large table drap-
l with snowy damask, on which an
ntouched meal is carefully spread.
lates are laid for three, and beside
lch plate, in lieu of tumblers is mas
We silver cup. At the further end of
le room an oak sideb lard groans un-
er a goodly display Of eatables-a
lightly round of beef, an uncut ham,
anne pies, c2kes, fruit, and cheese.
reda, contrasting this array with her
yn modest dinner of mutton-chop and
ce-pudding, decides at once that such
repast can be consumed only by bears!
small cheerful fire crackles on the
1de hearth, where are drawn up three
Ixurious arm-chairs, as though IN
aitlng for the occupants.
r ound the walls are arrayed sporting
-ints. whips, foxes brushes, and all
le usual paraphernalia of hunting
ans sanctum. The untouched meal
hut a very ordinary luncheon pre- |