Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-09-02

kindly and lovingly tried to reassure
and comfort me.
I'VE turned towards home. All our
brightness had fled, misgivings Tiled
ny mind, and our future looked dark
and dreary, such a nameles5 apprehen-
Sion hung over me.
Zone evening Mr.. Blackburn had
been more trying than usual, and / felt
could bear il no longer. | was excl
ted, Ill, and nervous; L had not slept
for several nights, haunted by his face
and hardly knew what said; my life
In the theatre for the last week had
been one OF complete misery. l began
TO lind that his strange gaze was hay
ing singular effect upon me. There
was horrible fascination il it, and do
what would, seemed compelled to
look at him in return. | thought,
Come what will, must put an end to
this, or | shall have brain-fever::' so,
finding him, as usual, at my elbow dur
ing long wait, said rather irrltab-
ly-
"ls there anything you want to say
to me, Mr.. Blackburn If there is |
wish you would come to the point, and
get it over.'
"'Can you ask me?' he whispered.
Have you not seen how L have been
striving to open my heart to you for
weeks past, but you would never give
me the opportunity? was afraid to
force myself upon you; only prayed
that one day you would invite me to
speak, as you have done now.'
"'Well, and what is 1t? Have you
discovered some fresh dreadful trick, >
as you call 1t, in ne?' l tried to speak
lightly, and to seem to misunderstood
off now, and went on
Don't pretend to misunderstood
Inc; you must see how love you, you
must know that I've loved you from
the first moment l met you. Your
triumphs have been my triumphs, and
my every thought has been devoted to
you; and so 1t shall continue my dar-
ling, until the end of my lifeI l will
not ask you to tell me in words how you
love mel know it, l have seen it in
your gentle compliance with my every
request, and in your sweet eyes, which
have always acknowledged my inau-
ence; but give me some sign that will
make me the happiest man in the world.
My life has been SO lonely and hard;
no one has cared for me since my mother
died, and that was when was little
child have felt what it is to live
only since you came across my path to
brighten and cheer me; now L know
what it is to love and be lovedl
''All this was spoken IN a low thrill
ling whisper; but his face was all aglow
with feeling, and there was fierce
look of passion in his eyes which made
me tremble. l wondered at the time
that my expression of horror did not
stop him; but he took no notice of it,
and was going on, when broke in
with
"'Mr. Blackburn, stop. for PHYS
sake; you grieve me terribly How can
you have made this unfortunate mis-
take?'
"Mistake, he repeated blankly--'mls-
take?'
".Yes,' said L; Il never thought of
your caring for me in that way. was
grateful to you for all your goodness to
me, and so l shall always be, believe
me, and | hope you will still continue
my kind friend
"'FIiendl' he interrupted f1ercely.
There can be no friendship between
you and me. Tell me at once, do you
love me? Or have you been trifling or
playing with me all these months?'
"He was getting fearfully excited
and his eyes cleaned, but he was still
whispering for fear of being overheard
imagined.
~ answered, as calmly as could
60 1T is best to speak plainly, Mr.,
Blackburn. | am most unhappy in
having Qnite innocently and unwilling
ly deceived you as 10 my feelings do
not love you, and never thought for one
moment that you imagined did
'''Then who is it you do lOvef' he
hissed. putting his face close to mine.
"'What do you mean?' said l, aghast.
Don't prevaricate,' he went ON.
l know you love some one. Miserable
fool that l am, thought the sweet
hight that shone in your eyes, was for
mel Who is it that has driven me from
your hearJ?' Then he continued more
softly, Il remember your standing at
the side the first time that l played
Virginlus here, and looking at me with
al your soul in your eyes, and crying
for me; no one ever looked at me in
in that way before. l am sure you loved
me then.'
81 remembered perfectly the occasion
he alluded, and was dlsmayed to find
how my admiration for his acting had
been misinterpreted. / was trying to
collect myself to speak, when, with a
low sudden cry, he stopped me.
"'Ah, you need not speak; know.
1t is young Westbrook who has taught
you to hate me. l heard him telling
you tales, false. wicked, calumnious
tales, about me; but, my darling they
were lies. all liesl Say you don't believe
them, and that you will love me again.
Don't break my hearth
There was treInor in his voice,
and his face was drawn with pain.
was faint and trembling, and was en-
deavoring to find some words TO reply
when shadow fell between us, and
looked up to find George standing close
to us, looking gravely and inquiringly
at us both. was SO overwrought and
agitated by what had gone through
that | thought of nothing but that |
was safe with him beside me, and, for
getting all caution, said
.''Oh, George. thank Heaven you
are comet and burst into violent tears
"There was pause for minute.
during which 1 tried to regain my CON-
posure. Then Mr.. Blackburn said
"'Y on need not answer my last ques-
ton, thank you; l know what you
would reply
His cold calm tone startled me after
his excitement of moment before,
and the awful expression of his face
quite chilled me; his eyes glittered. and
he looked perfectly demoniacal. Ishud-
dered, and turned away with George,
thinking 1t better to leave him to him
self.
"How we finished the remaining act
of the play cannot imagine. l know
he did not touch me, and scarcely look !
ed at me; but remember George took
me home after the performance, and L
frightened both him and the kind old
landIady by having regular hysterical
attack. Poor George waited until
had recovered, and then left me say