Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-10-27
A MISUNDERSTANDING.

a MlOO OADGlAD1 hND1NO.
$50 sOrTT, my DEAR" said busting
little Ms. DOrman, when she had emu
uersted her guests to her friend, Miss
STYLES, who Lad just arrived. 80
sorry about ALEC Thornton, know you
don't like him-bad taste, by the way
but ! make my parties as l do my
cake, Just by recipe, and that says
| don't mind conflicting tempers. The
mistake IS all my dear, stupid husband g
| stupidity. Alec was to have been in
party number two-got him changed
| With YOUR great friend, Fem Triplett;
couldn't gre him up, though, after it
was found out, you know-spoil our
numbers-must have men, you see
great nuisance. very sorry, but you
won't mind hope; nothing to do but
let him alOne-0ther women all want
him: you are getting your knot little
too low, dear-there, that's perfect;
| you are pale and tired after your jour
Dey-nO, right in this chair, while i
get glass of wlne,' and the erratic
Attle hostess was out of the room and
hack before Miss Styles realized fully
that she had been little faint and fol.
lowed Mrs. rOrman's directions to take
chair.
Don't go down tonight, my DEAR"
that lady said in conclusion; ''the men
have been out all day. and will be un-
usually stupid. Fem Triplett Is clever
enough, but he hasn't a cent on earth,
you know, the others suit perfectly,
some witty creatures, picture of hunt
iag-'a gun with ball at one end and
fool at the other'-all but Alec, that
i. as you don't like him."
Mss Styles had not interrupted her
friend !.ut new she put put a OBTAINING
hand as the iatler was about 70 leave
her.
''Catharine," with little hesitation
in her voice, AZ couldn't get a train
hack early tomorrow morning, could
II"
"a train back? A train back2"
Mrs. D.rman could but repeat the
words, "a train back? Why, Mary
Styles, what is the matter? A train
back? OF course you can't, and if you
could you shouldn't take it; houseful
Of people here expressly to meet you,
tOol' she exclaimed, with real annoy
ance in her tone. "What can be the
matter?n
Nothing" the young lady began
slOTly-"nOthiDg-eXcept-"
Except what2"
The answer was very womanly one,
recourse 10 a delicate lace handker-
chief.
See how age IS telling on my nerves.
the young lady said after few min
utes "a bit of bad news and half
days journey can knock me up like
this.''
Poor Mrs. Dorman looked utterly at
sea as TO where the bad news could
have dropped from; she had surely told
none.
81 have not seen Alec Thornton for
Ten years" Miss Styles began slowly,
''and you must hear how 1 saw him
last We were engaged for one happy
month in Florence. l believe l really
loved him and thought that he loved
NE; why else had he sought me? He
DID not need my money; and 1t had not
then become the fashion," she said a
little bitterly, ''tO admire me. A little
misunderstanding, growing out of my
possessing a photograph CT an English
man whom Alec disliked very much,
ended Ike most lovers quarrels. After
few days cOldness we were reconciled
and exchanged pledges, blue vioIetS for
aim, tOT NE white ones. l keep mine
as a commentary on human natures
fidelity. We had made friends one
moTning-that afternoon when going
70 drive with mamma, wishing to give
sun greater proof of my submission, l
leit on the gallery table, where he
would. If coming in my absence, be
sure TO see them, genuine woman's
note OF submission, the photograph
over which we had quarreled l gave
lhst so he might destroy it if he liked,
and 10 my sacrIfcal pile | added another
testimonial or my fidelity, trio OF blue
vo!ets taken from my belt. Since
mat morning / have not seen Alec
thornton; he left Florence the next
day"
Giving no reason?'
None save a few words written on
se Dack Of my note. The significance
o. my action, he said. was unmistak-
able; he bowed to my decision, and
SINCE be could not so suddenly face the
inevitable with fortitude he must bid
Ue az indefinite farewell"
Little Mrs. Dorman was quite breath
iess with interest and astOnlshment.
And YOU have never had any
turther solution"
None; TO this day l have not solved
LIS cowardlce. He might have brayed
tne honest confession that he no longer
ioEed NE, ana | should have survived
~, size said IN bitterly sarcastic tone.
l have forgiven him." she added,
waving hand as if dismisSing the
ssuolec., but my memory doesn't lose
~ Teeth with years, as Mr.. Lowell says
~ Us does, and ] much prefer not meet
aug alec Thornton."
=, u, my dear, OF course, of course,
us so perfectly mysterious. Can't
u understand it, always liked Alec, has
Hat sort of suppressed sorrow air, so
interesting, Maybe there IS an expla-
natiOn.n
There could be none, would not
aear .sa OF It." Miss Styles said quickly.
40, 1t is perfectly plain, he never
.o'ed Inc, and had only used the photo
graph as pretext, which l was too ab-
SoIoed to see until too late. We have
aall! now, though knowing the same
ggs3Op!e, y avoided each other successfully. |
tne question is, shall we not continue