Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-10-13
A PROSAIC ROMANCE.

The Rev. Ssptimus Haslingdean,
having been escorted TO most coE-
Portable seat by an attentive guard,
having arranged his various belongings,
and finally unfolded his afternoon pa
Der, reclined against the cushioned
back of the compartment for mo-
nent, sighed gently as relief conse-
auent on the fatigue and bother of MS
dnYe, the trouble Of buying ticket
and seeing that he was properly taken
care OF. Then he learned his head out
Of the window to survey contem-
latiyely the busy crowd hurrylng and
bustling about. 4 crowd is always
more or less amusing to spectator of
rs movements, and the reverend gen.
tlsnan, Icing Of gregarious disposi-
ton, rather liked looking on at other
people working or playing, especially
vel conducted, respectable kind of
people, who did not render themselves
dssgreeable.--
The Rev. Septimus hoped he might
be fortunate enough to have his COM
pItment completely to himself, and
lad minated his desire to the friendly
guard. The carriages were rapidly
Hing, and the train would start in
snother five minutes, so he blandly
surveyed the figures fitting and flying
to and fro, gazing on their busy actions
with languid complacencY. He seldom
Travelled beyond the outskirts of his
own Arcadia, and objected strongly to
sneountering any discomfort on his
journey.
At his age-he WIS nearly 60, but
bis 6ressing-case, In common with his
numerous friends and few enemies,
told him that he appeared certainly
twelve or fifteen years less-when nigh
SIX decades have begun to whisper
unpeaSantly of aches and pains, bother5
and worries, II is most needful TO be
gently punctIlious as to personal COM
fort. Fate had been bounteous to the
Rev. SeptImua She had given him
al the welcome offerings she could
scatter at his feet--good looks, ample
fortune, circle of admirers, If not
dorers and worshipsrs, a sunlighted
path to tread on through life. He had
married a well lowered wife, who had
been moderately kind to him, but after
Zen or twelve years Of calm domestic
partnership had departed, leaving him
not utterly deSolate, inconsolable or
prey 10 despair. His only daughter
had married well in her teens; his only
son had received an enviable appoint
nent In India.
Nearly everybody was seated. The
hnal slamming of doors ratified like
musketry all along the line of carriages.
The Rev. Septimus gently shook his
newspaper, the odor OF the printing
INK being slightly offensive to him. At
home In the rectory the daily Journal
was always solic.tously aired before
being touched by the dimpied white
hands OF the perhaps too fastidlous
rector. With reluctance he had not
YET overcome even when alone, be took
MS spectacles from their case, wiped
ine glasses with a handkerchief fine
aha soft as snow, such duchess might
use, perched the gold frame ACROSS his
handsome nose, and meditatively re-
stgned himself TO scan the latest news.
rae had In one OF her teasing moods
nllcted upon her favorite the mortifi-
cs'ion Of wearing spectacles in mali
eiOu' sport, as frolicsoIne girls will
sometimes scratch their lovers with
NE thorn Of a rose. Ofttimes did the
iector think it was too bad when he
happened 10 see some wretched old
tArm laborer about 20 or 80 years old
itadlng without glasses" and with
manifest ease.
a soft, melodious voice said, 80 sud-
ueaiy as to startle him:
May come in here?"
lie looked up, whipped his spectacles
ulder the paper, and stared at the
s.pceaker, not only answering quickly,
Oertaln y" but rising and actually
Vpehing the door himself to admit a
aos beautiful girl, who sprang lightly
II :, and seated herself opposite TO him.
.ne rector liked beautiful, fashionably
a.tied girls, though he seldom enjoyed
T i4e good fortune of meeting them.
&c RANKED them among the agreeable,
sOlaelng things OF this dull life-lIke
.SseS' peaches, plneapples, Rimmel's
suVlcest perfumes, and so on. In
1iild, patsrnal way, he disapproved of
.Tuhg female persons trying to be
rs'ef, or Intellectual, or straying out
So 5ae The calm, sheltering precincts OF
oOnestic duties, a, he deemed 1t ne
,.sesSary to rebuke them for yielding to
ue temptation Of frivolity On the other
On ihls young lady was perhaps Is or
:; - years old, with a charming, frank,
81 salsh face. bewitchingly pretty, and
~ ooubt was as amiable as her looks
n;eeared her to be. Her attire. a master
r.sCe Oh richness in material, combined
os ~.n ehaste simplicity of design, SET
w ner beauty to the highest advantage.