Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-04-01

should have been more astonished thai
was at the apparition of neat rosy
checked maid in orthodox cap and whit
frilled apron, who actually opened tn,
door in answer to the summons.
"You can bring in the tea now
Mary" said Mollie, with the new grav.
ity that sat so oddly on her small dim
pied face; and the vision disappeared
rubbed my eyes, while they al
laughed heartily.
"What does it mean? Am L really
dreaming. or has old Mrs. Baker beer
rejuvenated by your gOdmother'S
magic?"-Mrs. Baker was the ancient
who came for an hour or two every DAY
to do the hardest part of the house
work
Wasn't it joke?" laughed Mollie
delightedly. ''You did look so taken in
1t was as good as playl"
The entrance of that maiden with thf
tea-equipage prevented my further en-.
lightenment for the present; but later
ON | learnt that early in the afternoon
aunt Margaret and Mollie had started
on a mysterious expedition. which the
latter now eXpatiated on with the great
est glee. Their destination was a reg
istry-oflice. and there they were lucky
in finding a young girl with an excel
lent character, who took their fancy at
once by her pleasant face and neat ap-
pearance. Fortunately she was able to
enter on her new duties ar once, and
had been installed in Cinderella's de-
partment short time before my return.
There were still five days remaining
before Christmas; but they passed like
a dream. We could scarcely believe in
our own identity. A fortnight before
We felt utterly crushed under our trou-
bles; now We scarcely felt that we had
any. 1.-The last straw which was to
break our backs had, on the contrary,
charmed the load away. Aunt Mar
garet had taken the two invalids COM
pletely under her care.
On the morning preceding Christmas
Day we were all breakiasting together,
except mamma, when the pos mans
knock was heard. There was only one
letter. and that was lor Ethel, who
blushed rosily when she saw the hand
writing.
"Paul is coming to Bristol for a few
days, papa; he wants 10 know if he may
cali on u.s." she said shyly.
Certainly, my dear; shall be most
happy to make his acquaintance" re-
turned papa cordially. "When is he
coming DOWN."
To-day, | believe" said Ethel,
blushing more than ever. she asked
70 h inn -, hA
this evening""
"I'm so gIadl" exclaimed Mollie and
l together. ''Oh, Ethel, how delight
full for youl''
But Ethel, excusing herself with a
something about mamma,
beat hasty retreat.
''Who is this wonderful Paul." asked
aunt Margaret, THAT excites 50 much
''Paul is doctor-DOctOr Farrell
and he is engaged to Ethel, aud be is,
oh, SO handsome, and we've never seen
himl' explained Mollie breathlessly.
''Gently, Miss Chatterboxi'' inter-
posed papa, smiling. mo enc else can
get word in edge-ways. The fact is,
Margaret. there is no engagement at all.
They are both poor, and Ethel would
not allow him to tie himself down by
any promise to her. He was the assist
ant doctor at Marleigh, where Ethel has
been living these last three years; but
six months ago he passed his final ex-
animation with great success, and OBJ
tanned better practice in London. He
came that very evening. Just as we were
sitting down TO tea Ethel introduced
him with a mixture of shyness and pride
which was very pretty to see, and in a
very short time we were all quite at
home with him.
He was decidedly gentleman, every
inch of him, and very pleasant to look
upon, though by no means "a young
Greek god.'' . He was as dark as Ethel
was fair. with clear olive skin, dark
eyes. and a firm welI-cut mouth.
Ethel for the remainder of the even
ing was like aperson transigured. Mol
lie and / watched her In a kind of awe
struck wonder, and thought what a
thing it must be to be in
ove. When she was going to bed. aunt
Margaret kissed her fondly and stroked
The nuShed cheeks.
81 like your Paul very much" she
said kindly; she looks good and true,
lear, and worthy of our 'Blue-b bell -
for so auntie had named our graceful
Dlue-eyed darling.
After tea we all drew our chairs
round the fire to listen to aunt Mar
yaret's story. The curtains were drawn,
hn Pm nd ha
-uddy freight lit up our expectant
iaceS.
us it ghost-story?" asked MolIie
eagerly. SIT is Just the time for real,
thrilling, horrible ghost;" and she nes-
led on the hearthrug close to aunt's
,hair.
'I'm afraid you will be disappointed,
said aunt Margaret, smiling,
for my story is not at all horrible or
thrilling; but there may be ghosts in it.
mean to lay them to-night;" and she
sighed little, and looked wistfully into
he fire; then, rOusing herself, she said
)riskly, snow, before begin my story,
[ must make one stipulation; no one
must interrupt me, not even to say, oh,
.unt Margaret "-and she looked mis-
at Mollie. sis ita compact?"
"Yesl' we all cried heartily.
every well then-I will begin; but,
no In. erruptions are al
owed.
"There was once an old lady who had
ived fer many years abroad-no matter
Is to the exact locality; her children
lad died when they were very young;
ind, when her husband also was taken
rom her, she went back to her native
and. After thirty years of exile, she
elt an unspeaEable yearning to hear
,nce more the voices of her kindred and
ook again upon her childhoOd's home
But thirty years is half a lifetime, and
he came back to find friends and kin
lred dead or changed. Her old home
vas in the hands of strangers, and there
vas not face she knew in her native
YIllage. Sad and desolate, she went TO
he only relatives she had left, hoping to
ind among their large families some
me she could love, and who would take
he place of the children she had lost; !