Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-05-20
Their Visitors.

itor. Young Andrew Carten, who, il
was understood, would be attended by
his travelling servant or companion, Mr.
Bearsley. Mrs. Nation was widow
having married at an early age; hel
daughters were now but II and Is.
What brought Carten to the quie'
village home of the Nations the NAL
tons could not divine; the placidIty Of
their life in the New England town oi
Harper. they thought, could present nc
attractions to their foreign cousin,
whom they had known by report as a
wealthy son who had lately succeeded
10 his Inheritance.
Mother said Laura, the younger
daughter, 4 wish they were not com
ing; am afraid of Mr. Carten already.
| don't think it is right that he should
come here to mar ogir peace"
Yes, said her sister Annie, who had
Just returned from the garden; why
should man like that want to contem-
plate an American girl engaged al WORK
As I've been? Then that companion
suppose he has wig and quotes Latin
has thin legs and is afraid Of dogs.
Indeed, mother, they will both be dis
pleased in US
Daughters said Mrs. Nation, Mr..
Carten's father, though only a distant
cousin, was kind TO Inc, and had i
chosen to remain with my kin in Eng
land. I'd never have had to see myself
and YOU So poor as we are now. | mar
ried poor and tired my fortunes with
your father here alone
In the train approaching Harper sat
Carten and BearSley; the latter was
evidently nervous, as lie remarked TO
his companion:
'Cir.eu, boz, It is good of you to take
me here to see Mary Creston, or Mrs.
Nation, as she is now. If l find |
ought not 10 remind her of her former
love for me by revealing my identity /
can go away again and she never know.
II has been nearly fifteen years since
I've seen heT; maybe she has forgotten
her friend and Nations rival
Don't mention 1t, Tom,' replied Car
ten. For your sake, it's a small SER
vice, We will soon be there; let us
wait and see
Arriving at the Nations place at
night, only Mrs. Nation received them.
The EngliShmen were pleased, the sim
plicity and natural beauty of the sur
rOundiugs assuring them of complete
TepOSe, while Bearsley was more than
happy m finding Mrs. Nation still at
tTactive. Carten was not unhappy with
Laura and Annie, who in turn were
not so abashed after AL in the presence
of the EngiIShmen, who they had pre-
la. IRHi A
them, if not critical
At breakfast on morning soon after
their arrival, Carten suggested a fish
ing jaunt, which the young ladies were
inclined to accept upon Mrs. Nations
being prevailed upon to accompany
them. BeaTsley was delighted, and
nearly betrayed his feelings by famll-
iarly dropping the Mr.. in addressing
Jarten, and almost falling into the fur
ther familiarity of a compliment to Mrs.
Nation.
On their way to the river Mrs. Nal
ton found herself committed to Bears
ley's charge. whose greater experience,
it was argued, would be of much advan-
tage TO her. Their conversation turned
upon England as they sat watching
their lines, and BedrSley showed an ac
quaintance with her home scenes that
surpris d and = eased her.
Carelessly, Bearsley remarked: ID d
you know Thomas Welton of that e.
tiOn, a great friend of your Cousins
famIly?'
With a sigh Mrs Nation said Yes
and a blush with her inquiry as To what
l.ag,4.aa Of hot har- fR,Ya
est If not her deeper feelings.
Bearsley told her then that Thomas
was now Sir Tom; that after life spent
IN travel he had returned to his home,
where he lived alone. They say, too,
he loved once, years ago, a girl who was
Mary CreStOn; that for her sake lie viii
never marTyl' Bearsley added.
Mis-. Nation blushed still deeper and
said she had some knowledge of the
girl, and Bearsley, fearing he might ap-
pear too bold for one in his position,
desiSted.
On returning from their excursion
Mrs. Nation sought out Carten alone
and inquired as 10 Bearsley. Said size.
He seems not only intelligent in is
service as your companion. but gelI-
tleman in your own walk of life. Tell
me what is he-w,0 is hep
Il can only say, Mrs. Nation, that he
IS above his present position, that he is
a gentleman. Whatever he tells you
may be relied on, and you can take his
word as yOu would your fathers.
The time went 10y and the visitors
were within day of their leave-taking;
the girls were sorry. Bearsley, rs much
as his position allowed, was watcher
Of Mrs. Nation, and she, whilst amazed
at his presumption, could not actually
complain of attentions that were always
so defeTential and SO much in keeping
with his presumed station a attendant
upon their guest
At sundOWu of this evening of their
departure Bearsley sought Mrs. Nation
and suddenly addressed her: Mrs. NAL
ton, said he, two weeks ago to-day
thrust upon your notice recOllectiOnS of
one who once loved yOu-and whom
you loved-Tom Welton. | am Wei
tons messenger to ask If you love him
still. WeltOu has loved you all these
years; he knows your life, its hardslIiIs,
its pain and its care. Shall l take to
him message that will bsing him
across the seas TO yOu?'
Mr.. Bearsley, | do not understand
you. But That Carten told me | could
believe all you say, I'd fear to talk.
did love WeltOn. ] love him yet, but
he has not seen me for long while. |
am older now, and the idol of his youth
full fancy is altered.
Can tell him he may cOme?'
Yes SAID Mrs. Nation. with emo
tiOn.
Then, replied he, the message is de-
livered. 1t changes Bearsley INTO Tom
Welton, who is before you. DO you
know him? He begs you to forgive his
deceit, and to come TO his lonely life
forever. VIII you, Mary? will you?'
Mrs. Nation as Lady WeltOn went
with her husband to live near her Ma
tive home, and from closer proximity
we are not surprised at the more fire.
quent visits of Carten TO the Misses
Nation, and that there are rumOrs of
his engagement to the very one who
had thought she would be despised fer