Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-10-06

able to circumvent him with her wo-
mans wit. Men have been so wont to
talk about woman's wit in the kindly,
patronizing tone they descant on ami
mails instinct. that it was high time
they should learn what a formidable
weapon it was. This was, in reality, a
heroic duel between the sexes. Knowl-
edge, enlightenment, perseverance on
the one side; tradition. intolerance and
brute force on the other.
Next morning Helen was up betimes
and out. In an incredibly short time
she had gained the casket of her treas
ures, the homestead of the Mugginses.
As she opened the little wicket gate, she
heard voices high in discussion, one of
which made her heart sink with sense
Of baffied despair. 1t was her rivals.
''Are you aware, Mr.. Muggins, that,
leaving out the comparative worthless
ness of the thing-the Natural History
Museum Is stocked with infinitely supe-
rior Specimens-are you aware that
your reprehensible conduct in thus pur-
loining this article has rendered You lia-
BILE to the penalties reserved for pilfer-
rant as the chopfallen jeremiah of the
precise form of the law, quailed inward
ly at this new feature of the case. Il
am not at all certain, either, that if this
Illegal proceeding of yours came to light
you would be permitted the option of a
fine. One months Imprisonment doesn't
sound pretty, ell, Mr.. Muggins? How
came this bone into your possession!
BY stealing. l presume the consent of
the lord of the manor to open the bar
row did not extend TO an humble unSci-
entific individual like yourself. Why
has it remained secret for so long?
Through your natural fear of detection
ard ultimate punishment. What is to
prevent me from handing both you and
1t over to indignant justice? Nothing. y
'sMr. Muggins, don't listen to him!''
cried Helen, swiftly entering the shady
tile kitchen. 'It's nothing of the kind.
And even if it was" incoherently, 'he
has made himself party to the fraud,
as lie himself wished ut first to purchase
it from YOU"
At this the stranger wheeled round.
Two handsome young people now con-
fronted each other like a couple of hun
cry dogs snarling over bone.
"You must recollect Mr.. Muggins, y
continued the girl, still addressing that
venerable parsonage, and ignoring his
companion, THAT you solemnly promised
me on no account whatever To part with
il till had seen you again. | have now
made up my mind that will give you
whatever you may reasonably demand.
| came here to-day with the strict in-
tention Of buying it,"
Are YOU aware, Miss Goring-I be-
lieve it is Miss Goring of the farm !
have the honor of address;ng-thaty you
are making yourself my partner in the
fraud YOU have just accused me OF - As
his gaze continued to rest on the lovely
flushed face below him, involuntarily
his voice softened. II was hardly pos
sible for young man of %, however
steelesl against substzffasisd weakness by
the isolation of studious boyhood, to
suppress a strong desire that this pretty
girl would transfer some of the strange
absorbing interest in prehistoric man to
one particular descendant of the 18TH
century,"
YES. Mr.. Muggins, am prepared to
give YOU as much as 10 shIlllngs for 1t. u
''In that case" rapidly rejoined Mr..
Carol, turning to jeremiah, Il, in ms
turn am equally ready to advance 4
sovereign"
And l." triumphantly, ''one pound
ten" The little hoard of seven gold
pieces almost exclusively reserved, with
one exception, for the use of the wild
ow'S family at Clifton, will be some
what lessened by such a proceeding.
However, in the cause of science should
Helen Goring object to wearing three
year old bonnet during the ensuing
winter? The boys shall lave their warm
coats as usual.
1.-TWO pounds"
Two pounds ten.
''Three pounds"
''Three pounds. ten," desperately.
"Four pounds.
-Four pounds, ten," chokingly.
s'Five pounds" briskly.
s.Six-six pounds?" with a catch ii
her breath like a sob.
''Six pounds, ten."
sSeyen pounds?r 1t was all gone now.
The last shining sovereign of the saw
ings that represented so many small self
denials and pnchings and privatlon'
had vanished forever. Farewell to Will
ter mantles and thick little Oyercoats
and small new bonnets; to the residue
that with careful management might
have paid a portion of the taxes OF the
house at Clifton! She felt like one OF
those mothers of old who passed theil
children through the fire to Moloch
Shivering, ragged, destitute, reducedto
state of genteel pauperism, still OF course
it must be of inestimable advantage tn,
Goring family to know-eyenl IN the com
narrative solitude of the workhouse x
which they may eventually come-tha
they are the joint possession OF a perfectly
unrivalled relic of the newer Stone Age
"Put me down for seven pounds, ten
Mr.. Muggins."
The aSed peasant, whose bleared eye:
twinkled with benevolent Joy at th'
utter darkness" of the whole buslnes
that was setting him up in afiiuence fo
the ensuing twelvemonths, waited IL
vain for another bid. The auction wa:
at an end. With high head but falter
ing step, Miss Goring marched out o.
tie cottage. The little garden and bar
bleached hill beyond, the azure dom'
and binding sunshine seemed one fan
tastic glittering blur as seen through
sealding tears.
The victor in this keen, brief contes
stood irresolutely looking after her
Somehow. for the moment, two big blu
ewes flashing up at him through storn
of tears appeared to he a more import
ant study than all the authenticate
specimens of the finest museums. Foor
pretty child Spelling the splendor o
those LIQUID orbs because she was denied
her latest playthlngi What cruel fate wa
il that caused him to wreSt this apple o
discord from her?
These novel disquietlng thought
ACCOMPANIED him as he strobe rapid.
hack. DismissIng them at length VIII
a 0uick sigh as he gained the summit O
the hill. he paused; and taking the bon
from the breast pocket Of hls coat, re
qaried it with tender smile of exult
ant possession. Presently, shading hi
eyes with one hand, the smile mean
While changing to a frown, he scanne'
- mora intently: then with Increasin: