Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-06-10
ing as well and happy as 1 could possl.


bly, desire to see her.
"Grace, what is that pretty little spot
there where the trees are?" Lettie
asked. as | drove her through the shady
and romantic lanes on our way home.
THAT is charming place, ;" replied.
You must go and see it. 1t Is Arlie
| Brake
''Arlie Brake?" she repeated. sT like
the name; it sounds interesting. Is
there nothing behind the trees, Grace
no house, or anything of that kind?"
NO." | nothing but trees,
and tall gigantic ferns and briars.
There are numerous rocks and hollows;
and | have heard some stories about its
being a favorite place for smugglers
having contraband goods to hide, but
whether they are true or not | would
not venture TO say"
How nicel" Lettie exclaimed, turn
ing round in her seat to obtain a last
glimpse of Arlie Brake as it was shut
| from her view by turn in the lane. II
am so fond OF dark mysterious places.
| should like to know whether there is
story In connection with it."
Il have never heard of one," | said,
as pulled up my ponies-Sir Edward
Melvllle's kiEd present to me-in front
OF our pretty rose covered porch. Earle
came out TO receive us, and very soon
Lettie and he Were chatting away as if
/ they had known each other all their
| lives.
When We were at school together, |
/ remembered that used 10 consider Let
tie a chatterboX; but now, as | sat at
tea and listened to her humorous de-
scription of her journey, | could not
| help thinking how pleasant it all was,
and how nice il must be To be without
a natural shyness restraining the flow of
a bright and happy spirit.
The next few days passed very quickly.
Lettie was delighted with the sea, the
cliffs, the over ershadowed lanes, and the
pretty walk round our cottage, and,
most of all, she was enchanted with
| Arlie Brake.
at is SO pretty, so romantic" she
said, as she seated herself upon moss
covered stone. al should like to spend
day IN dreaming here"
Il think girls are all the same, " Earle
remarked, reclining upon the fallen
trunk of tree and lighting a cigar.
''Grace would SIT gazing at the sea, and
never think of anything else, for a
whole day; and now you would like to
| come here and moon amongst heap of
trees and ferns and hollowsl Do you
think your incoming will ever benefit
any of your fellow-creatures, Miss Pres
| ton?"s
II do not know; it might. Who can
tellY" was the reply.
We'll, when it does, | will confess
myself Mistaken" my brother said
And now, girls, We had better make
| our way homewards; it is growing damp
| here"
And we very reluctantly followed in
his wake and wandered slowly towards
home.
On the day after our visit TO Arlie
| Brake sir Edward Melville fulfilled his
promise of driving over to the Clyffe
| for us, and We spent very happy day
with him and his kind, handsome old
sister at the Hall.
"I never saw more genial couple IN
my life.r I.ettie observed as We drove
home in the evening. .'It has been a
splendid day. and have thoroughly en-
joyed looking at Sir Edwards beautiful
collection of curios, dear, kind man
Grace, could dc anything for Sir Ed
ward Melville.n Lettie added in her
earnest hearty way.
Earle and | smiled at her. How lit
tie any of us knew then how soon il
would lie in her power, and hers alone,
TO benefit our dear old friend!
One evening, when Lettie had been
with us about month, she came TO me
and said
"Grace dear, will you come with me
to Arlie Brake? want some of those
beautiful feathery terms which grow by
the little stream. think they will look
SO pretty with the geraniums in our
hair tonight"
Earle was to take us TO the Redstone
ball. | looked up from the letter | was
writing.
Il cannot come yet" replied; "the
mail sails tomorrow, and Hastings
would think something dreadful had
happened if he did not hear from me.
Besides. dear, is 1t not too late now TO
go and get the ferns2"
Not a bit" she replied; sit Is only
eight O'Clock | should be back again
at nine, IN plenty of time to dress. l
believe the carriage is not ordered until
half-past ten"
"Well, Lettie, | will tell you what TO
do if you wish to get the ferns, and are
not frightened. Suppose you go to the
Brake for them by yourself; shall not
be more than half an hour over my let
ter, and | will follow you and he COM
pany for you home"
"a capital arrangement, she said
81 will start at once"
About half an hour afterwards was
walking rapidly after Lettie towards the
Brake. | thought it was rather strange,
when | reached the little wood with its
rocky hollows, its fair wild flowers, and
tangle of briars and ferns, that l did
not at once See my friend. L walked
on, expecting every turn iii the path
would reveal her to me, but she was no.
where in sight. looked AT my watch;
il was after nine; and the dusk and
shades of night were falling.
s'She must have gone home another
way l said to myself, trying valnly To
understand the circumstance. ut was
very stupid of me not to specify the d.
rection / would go. Perhaps she has
returned by Hollands Farm. If so,
She is at home now. and will be wonder
ing where am" And, with little
oniet smile to myself at our so COM
pletely puzzling each other, fastened
NV steps, and soon arrived at the Clyffe.
Earle was standing in the garden
smoking when pushed open the gate
and joined him. ,o,,
SLOW long has Lettle been backr" l
asked. :,
~ did not know she was at home, "
he replied. "When | ret urned, half an
hour ago, was told you were both out.
have been here ever since, and GER
tainly have not seen her"
| began to feel rather alarmed, and
ran into the house to make inquiries.
None of the servants had seen Miss
Preston, and she was not in the house.
| returned to Earle sadly frightened.
"Come with me to the Brake, y" L said;