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

room. The fire is burning bright!y
when enter, and things look cosy and
comfortable enough.
"Whst comfort it is. ~ soliloquise
THAT the CARPET and curtains are red
A room furnished i'll crimson can never
look very cold or cherries. wonder
what sort of man this Mr.. Vaughan is.
He must be nice, think, or Frank
would not like him so much. | wonder
If he viii admire Flo? She is so pretty.
l don't think he can help it. But then
L believe Herbert Vaughan is poor-and
| don't think Flo ought to marry poor
man. 1t would break her heart to be
always pinching and economizing and
trying TO make one shilling go as far as
two,"
And so, having tidied things here and
there, | trip downstairs again, and
meet my father in the hall.
well, little woman he says, as |
stand on tiptoe to relieve him of his
heavy great-coat, ''any signs of tea?''
"I'll go and make 1t now, father.
while you are warming your hands"
Presently we are all seated round the
early tea-table, chatting Saily of the
morrow which is to bring us Harry and
Frank. And then tell father of Mr..
Vaughan's visit, and he says
81 am very glad he is coming, Mar
ION; he has no home, poor fellow, and
there is no season in which that is missed
so sorely as at Christmastide.
nd ha raol1xr Ga-
father?" / ask.
II believe he has one. ;" is the answer,
but she is only an old greaU-aunt who
habitually resides IN France"
/ am very tired when l go to bed;
and when fall asleep | dream that /
am sailing, with my brother Frank and
Herbert Vaughan, over sea fair and
smooth as glass; but presently the boat
upsets, and | am struggling in the
water, and trying to save myself by
clinging with both hands to the great
mistletOe bough which Flo has hung up
this evening; and suddenly its leafy
sprays change into the dorsal fin of d
great dolphin, on which, in mermaid
fashion, | am riding-and here my
dream becomes confused, and l remem-
Der no more.
The morning was dark and lowering;
some snow had fallen in the night, and
the dull gray of the sky promised more.
Nevertheless felt bright and chcery as
l dressed quickly and hurried down.
stairs, met my father coming out of
his room as ! descended, and, putting
my hand upon his arm, detained him a
moment TO say Good morning, and to
ask if he thought there would be more
snow. His face grew grave as he an
swered that he feared there would, and
that. if so, Frank and his friend would
have an uncomfortable journey.
had already decided what should
wear. 1t was dress which Frank had
admired the last time he had been with
us. | put it on, and turned to peep at
myself in the glass. Yes, certainly
Franks taste was excellent. The soft
sweeping folds of black cashmere, re-
lieved here and there by crimson bows,
did really become me.
| fastened my simple white collar with
knot OF crimson velvet, and placed
similar but smaller bow amongst the
dark coil of my hair. And then /
peeped again into the mirror, and
thought-must l confess it?-that |
had never looked so well before.
| had Just turned from the glass,
when Flo entered the room, dressed in
a rich purple, which harmonized well
with her clear complexion and bright
brown hair.
"Why, Marion, how nice you loObl'
she exclaimed. "Mr. Vaughan must
needs admire you, if he has eyes to
see."
''I did not dress for Mr.. Vaughan,
but for Frank, said, provoked that
her careless words should have made
me blush, as | knew they had. but
they will soon be here, so will go and
take last look at their rooms"
| stayed a moment to arrange the lit
tie bouquet of ivy ana chrysanthemums
which decked the writing-table, and
then haStened downstairs. found my
father, Flo, and Gertie in the drawing
room, all engaged in reading. l imi-
tated their example-at least to the ex-
tent of taking up boOk-but | could
not fix my attention on the printed page
before me. They were forty minutes
behind their time now. could bear it
no longer.
Father" | cried-and the voice
seemed Unlike mine, it was so strained
and harsh-"why don't they Gomez"
My father laid down his book and
glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece.
As he did so the door opened, and our
servant Robert entered abruptly, wild
scared look upon his face.
~ beg your pardon. sir, " he said,
''but there's been slight accident upon
the line about ten miles above the sta
ton, and / thought you might like to
come back with me. The night has
cleared greatly. sir, and the snow has
almost ceased.
White as death, my father rose and
the servant to the door. L
think, in his stupoT Of fear and grief,
be would have gone forth into the bit
ter cold without extra clothing of any
kind. but that followed him, and in
sisted on his putting on his great-coat
and muffler. Thank Heaven, | could
still think for Others, though l could
not for myself
Then | went back 20 the drawing
room-to watch and wait and endure,
for, alas, women can only suffer, whilst
men can actl Gertie was crying quietly
Flo, her white face drawn and haggard,
sat staring straight before her, with
look of passive endurance and stony
calm in her large blue eyes.
Almost an hour passed thus. l had
counted the ticks of the clock-l had
,hiyered at every one of Gertie's long
trawn sobs-I had started at every
chance sound-I had battled with my
misery till it had grown intolerable.
rose. and passed awiftly from the room,
iown the hall, and into the oid school,
room.
The fire was burning brightly in the
yrate. and now and then cheerful light
eaped up and chased the fickering
shadows on the wall. l would not ap-
Droach the fire-it Was too gay and
bright to suit my sombre mood-Dut,
irawing a stool INTO the centre OF the
room, 1 sat down upon it and hid my
lace in my hands.