Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-05-06


which made my pulses throb in an ut
terly unprecedented manner said softly:
Mr.. Overtonl = My aunt
Did not Sophie tell yeu that they are all
out? Charlie and Ned wanted to go
To the theatre. and aunt Lucy has taken
them. am so sorryl told Sophie to
say so TO any visitor.
"Sophie obeyed orders, answered;
''but unfortunately. cousin, l still re-
quire an interpreter"
She laughed little low laugh which
had learned in the short fortnight 10
think the sweetest music | had ever
heard.
sit is my misfortune, not my fault, "
| went ON. ''And | think, even II
Sophie's meaning had been plain, i should
still-on the strength of my relationship,
you know-have persisted IN trying TO
gam All entrance tonight; for L was
very anxious to see you. L have re-
ceived d summons home. l must go
back to England tomorrow"
| played my trump card boldly on the
inspiration of the moment, and, my
eyes being now accustomed to the light,
| saw that Phyllis turned pale and
caught at the back of the ve!yet-cOvered
chair near her.
Phyllis, my darling,"I exclaimed,
seizing her little trembling hands in an
instant, ~ cannot go without telling
you that l love you'll Can yOu-will you
give nae little love in return?"
/ do not know to this day what she
said-I DO not believe she said anything;
but her little head sank down upon my
shoulder as | bent over her. and, when
my arm stole round her waist, she did
not repulse me.
when did you first begin to think
about it?" whispered Phyllis shyly, an
hour later.
"When?" l laughed. 81 really can
not tell. l believe it was when you
stood forward so pluckily that morning
on the pier and saved aunt Martha's
clock from being pitched into the har-
Dor. That blessed elockl owe to 1t
the happiness of my life. ."
The dear old ClOckl' exclaimed
Phyllis. "We will never part with it,
will WEI shall always love that clock"
She FASTENED away when Mrs. Morti-
mer, followed by her boys, came tramp
ing up the staircase. and | was left 10
confront the hostess alone.
'Y Ou here, Mr.. OvertOnl' cried Mrs.
Mortimer, in surprise, looking round for
Phyllis.
Yes" | answered coOlly; 81 was
waiting for you Mrs. Mortimer. | have
been waiting long while
a -, B.rT ~ -k
exclaimed, as she turned up the duplex
burner.
The boys, hungry after their enter
tainment, had retired unceremOniOusly
to the dining-rOom.
"No; have not been alone" l re-
Piled; "Phyllls has been with me-" she
looked up quickly. "Phyllis has prom
ised 10 be my wife, Mrs. Mortimer; will
you give her to me?''
Indeed | wIlli' she answered, with
tears in her eyes. Eve have known you
only short time; but | have heard of
you often, and know that | can trust
the dear girl to you"
"And you have been mother to
her. | said gratefully. ''She has told
me all you have done for her."
Phyllis came down, when the boys
had gone to bed, to say good night
which l need hardly say was not good
bye-and then | went home and wrote
to aunt Martha as follows
Dear aunt Martha, i am quite
well. and propose staying another week
at Calais, unless you want me very
badly. And | have altered my mind
about the clock; l am going to under
take the charge of it, and of something
else toO--of my cousin Phyllisl Phyllis
declares she will never part with the
clock, and 1 delcare | will never part
with her; so, as the two must go to-
gether, what can do?
Seriously, my dearest aunt, wish me
joy. | have won the dearest, sweetest
little girl for my wIfe-as you will say
when you see her. And owe my treas
ure to you Yes, you have crowned all
your other goodness to me by this last
gift-fcr it certainly comes from you.
Send us your blessing, and believe al
ways in the grateful love of
Your affectionate nephew,
"HERBERT OYERTON.
an. B.-Phyllis has the OyertOn nose.
Five years later. Ny aunt is alive
and well. She confded to me, about six
months after my marriage, her suspi-
cions that the heart spasms were ''no-
thing but Indigestion" and consulta-
ton with specialist proved that she
was right. l believe that my wife was
responsible for the suggestion which has
renewed dear old aunt Margaret's youth
and gwen her new lease of life.
The clock stands on a handsome
bracket in our hall. Aunt Martha has
considerably refused to take back her
gift, declaring that, as she is an almost
daily visitor at our house, the treasured
relic is as much her own rs ever.