Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-08-26


over the fact that he is likely to settle
down amongst us for good and aye. He
is occupied by some mysterious busi-
ness which takes him up to London
three days each week; for our village is
at convenient distance from London
only twenty miles.
1t is certainly provoking that he
should select the very spot on this wide
earth which we inhabit. WHAT can be
more awkward than to be continually
meeting a person in society for whom
yet whose position demands for him a
certain amount OF civility? | suppose
it is no great wonder that my father
develops liking for my enemy, he is
certainly far superior to the ordinary
run of men-in fact, were it not for bis
brutal treatment of poor Bonnie,
should doubtless think him delightful.
As il is, have occasionally to wear a
few flowers from BOnnie's grave when
am likely to meet him. They always
act as reminder. and quite prevent
me from oyerstepping the ''frigidly pO-
lite" in my manner towards him. Aunt
Ellen. papa's sister, fortunately comes
on long visit, so that there Is no need
of nv eXertIng myself in any way for
Mr.. Fairloughs s entertainment.
In October we gve our first large din
ner-party. For my own part think
dirner parties dreadful nuisance: but
both papa and Aunt Ellen approve of
them, and doubtless they are amongst
the necessary evils of this life.
OF course Mr.. Fairlough isl of the
guests. No matter what entertain
ment we give, 1t seems to me be IS first
on the list. / gather the last forget me
nots on BOnnie's grave, and very puny.
withered specimens they are. What
matterl fasten them in with their
hOthOuSe brethren. AS talisman, and
then face the enemy, feeling safely.
Are you gong to sing for us?" Mr..
Fairlough asks, coming over to my
side, shortly after he leaves the dining
room.
II really don't know; may" an
swer coldly.
81 suppose there would not be the
slightest use of my asking you?"
This he says interrogatively, and
with a certain amount of indifference
in his tone.
| make no direct answer, but remark
mildly on the heat Of the drawing
room.
''Do you find it warm? You seem as
cool as usual, -" he replies, with just the
slightest meaning in his voice. Then
he looks at me for few moments Gu
riously, and adds half smilingly, Il
wonder will you ever forgive me that
unlucky shot?"
Poor BOnniel' | murmur.
He turns aside his head for a sec
Ond, and | catch, or fancy / catch, the
werds ''lttle brutel" muttered from
under his mOustache.
You planted his grave with forget
me-nOts, didn't you?" he continues in
a banteTing tone, and with a lurking
smile on the corners of his mouth.
II did, though there was little need
to do so. | am not likely to forget the
parting present of poor cousin Tom"
lie turns round sharply, without the
ghost of smile on his face now.
II beg your pardOn-your cousin.
my cousin TOMB | reiterate hotly.
''He brought me Bonnie all the way
f'om India, at immense inconvenience
and great expense; no wonder that L
valued him!'
True; no wonder that you valued
timl" echoes Mr.. FairlOugh; and then
he crosses the room to Aunt Helen,
and speak no more with him that
evening.
/ think it would have been only po-
lite had he asked me to sing, after men,
tioning the subject.
After that dinner-party we see less
of Mr.. Fairlough for some time, and,
when he does by chance look in, he IS
far less CHEEKY than of old. My father
declares that he IS getting unsettled,
and predicts that he will shortly return
to the land where he amasSed his wealth
namely South Africa.
The winter comes down swiftly upon
us, and / coax my father into letting
me give dance. This being the first
entertainment given to my own liking
since my return from school, the event
full evening finds me naturally In a
buOyant spirits. am gOod-tempered
with everybody, even with Mr.. Fair
lough, when, after delightful vaise-
his most inveterate enemies must ad-
nit that he dances well-we find our
selves alone in the han, where a few
seats have been placed for weary dam
GERS.
Il hardly expected you would dance
with me when l asked you," he says,
in a low tone, glancing at me with a
half-smlle in his eyes.
81 could not refuse to dance with a
guest III my fathers house." L answer
with no thought of ungraciousness, but
merely to give him to understand that
there is nothing particular in my hav-
ing accepted him as a partner.
"Thank you," he answers stiffiy; and
then he is turning away, when |
falter--
"Mr. Falrloughl"
"Yes?" he questions, returning To
my side.
81 did not mean to be rude"
He looks down at me so strangely;
aud then Well, there is not the
slightest reason for putting down what
he said next-it cannot possibly concern
anybody. But this much must admit
just for the sake of truth and consis-
tency-we did not leave the hall for
fully ten minutes after he came back
to my side, and, when we did, ] had
promised to become the wife of Bon
MES murder r.
thought 1 should never lay that
little beggar's ghost," says Jack irrev-
erently, as We prepare to leave the hall.
"Yes-I feel most dreadful traitor"
l answer with sigh; but you see the
snow is on the ground now, and last
summer seems so very far away" This
sounds in my own ears as a sort of ap-
Ology for my fickleneSs.
81 don't think should have got quite
so desperate, or have meditated South
Africa again, had l known that Boa
ME was my only rival"
why, who else could have been l
ask in amazement.
81 dreaded a far more formidable
rival-cousln Tom"
The idea of falling in love with cOus-
in Tom seems to me an excellent joke;
and l cannot help laughing as ex-
plain to Jack that Tom has for the past
six weeks been married to an old school
fellow of mine who is now residing in
India.
So l am engaged to Jack Fairlough.
and on my finger there flashes an en-
blemstic diamond forget-me-not, whilst