Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-03-17
THE STORY OF 4 SUMNER.

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THE STORY OF \ SUMNER.
Iwopdcr il any one in the world WAS
svsr 50 haupy as 1 WAS on the day that
Nh SEYMOUR asked me to be his wife?
TaT a long tim | had known that he
iarsJ me-lt least had allowed myself
.,wouIar sometime; # such supreme
b9rpines could be in store for me; but
an fbis day my vague hopes had all
Saan realized. and had the proud con-
ssi5usuess Of knowing that out Of all
tba world he had chosen me. Maggie
a6air. l knew that it would be a grand
I19frb for ne. that he WAS the owner
"a large property, and was the young
souiIe of the neiglbOrhO0d; but, If he
had been pennilcSS and unknown, |
think NY love for him would have been
inst IS great and my triumph in having
won him as perfect
Il vas night, and had gone up 10
nv own room, and was leaning out of
M window, looking up at the far
bright stars, while the wind of The soft
s7rlug night blew into my face. l think
there is something solemn in a great
roy; and felt almost depressed as
stood there quite still. with the scent of
tie flowers coming up from the garden
beneath. and the moon shining down
On the quiet scene. What If ANYTHING
should happen 10 Hugh or me, anything
that should separate US? The thOd sht
struck ne Ike a knife; and just then
an owl flew past, hoOting dismally, and
turned away shuldering. Was it
an omen Of evil?
All. that was happy time, those
long bright spring days, when Hugh
and were always togetherl We neith-
erof US had many relatives 10 whom TO
1l the news, lie had only an aunt
and two cousins, and l had only my
mother. Since was Il little child she
and had lived at FerDside Cottage.
How heartily she rejOiced with me,
How lovingly she entered into al our
plans for the future. and with what
tenderness she advised me as TO how
was TO act when no longer under her
control No one can ever be to me
what she was; and now, when l have
lost her. : feel more keenly every day
that her place can never be filled up.
But Inever thought then OF the pos
sibility of any sOrTow coming to me;
nv whole soul was given up to the JOY
Of the moment.
Every morning l watched from the
window the approach OF the tall gall
!ant figure and handsome face of my
lover; and then our days were spent in
ina delicious dreamy idleness, some
times wandering through the fields and
woods, or sitting under tree while he
read TO me and l worked,
His chief pleasure was to take me to
his own home and show me the stately
house where l was soon TO reign as mis-
tress. never felt so Insignificant as
in the grand Old rooms and in the
gloomy picture-gallery, where the por-
traits Of the SeymOurs of long ago look
ed down in naughty disapproval, it al
ways seemed to me; on Hugh's choice.
Hugh, are You ever sorry that | am
such little thing?" asked him one
day, as we stood before a painting of a
court beauty of the reign of Charles II,
whose proud dark eyes seemed to look |
at me with unutterable disdaIn; and |
his only answer was to draw me to him |
fOndly and whisper
"My Maggie. TO me you are more |
beautiful than any other woman in the |
wOrld;'' and was content.
1t was about a week after this that /
Hugh tod us his aunt, Mrs. Hilliard, |
and her daughter Blanche were COM |
ing to stay with him for a few days.
Il did not know you expected them,"
said rather Teproachfully, for l felt |
hurt that he had not told me.
Nor did l." ne answered, laughing. |
I'm fact, they asked themselves; but /
OF course my aunt knows she is well |
come"
He tried to speak unconcernedly; but |
l, who knew him so well, saw that he |
was not pleased, and felt secret salts
faction knowing it.
Twas beginning to find out what l
had not discovered before-that l was |
horribly jealous, that the idea of any |
other wOman's sharing Hugh's society |
or receiving any OF the sunny glances |
OF his gray eyes except myself was tor
ture to me. How bitterly L repented of |
ny overweening Jealousy when it was |
too late no one can ever know but my |
self.
The guests were TO arrive on Satur-
day evening; and l first saw them IN |
Church on the following day. 1t was a |
glowing day in June, the rich foliage |
OF the trees standing out distinct and
still, without q breeze to ruffle it,
against the dazzling blue of the sky, |
and the chimes of the Sabbath bells |
sounding clear and sweet in the dis
tance. The church was small old |
fashioned building covered with ivy |
but with glorious staiHed-glass win.
dow that l had loved from child, and |
mat even now filled me with wonder
ful peace whenever l Looked at it.
The OrganiSt was playing as we en-
tered, and the solemn music stole into |
my heart Ike b.lm and drove out all
The jealous fears that had been troub- |
ing me. As | rose from my knees,
turned my eyes towards Hugh's seat,
and almost started at the dazzling
VISION that met my view.
Standing beside him was the most
beautiful girl had ever seen; her tall
supple figure was dressed IN white, and
tbe robes swept round her like the
robes of queen. Her dark clear.cut
lace was turned to me. and the bril-
liant eyes seemed to pierce me through
and through. For minute we gazed
at each other, as if fascinated. l saw
that she recognized me. and 1 noticed