Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-09-29


friends house, and they had all ella.
mored excuse and assent; and he had
begged for little table to himself in
an out-of-the-way corner of the draw.
lng.ioom, and spreading newspapers
there and large book-all out of his
black leather bag-he set to work stu
diously, firing remarks all the while
like stray shots into the conversation,
and paying attention to what everyone
was saying.
81 would do it in another room il you
would let me co." he said; shut as you
will not exile me-you are too good
shall be free and at your service in one
| half hour"
Mr.. Marsh carried on the talk about
stories from the point where his daugh-
ter had left it.
"Ahl" said that merry little man,
the kindly host, my Robin is not what
was long ago. L set beans to grow a
stalk like the famous Jack; and even
now, if will read story 1 like to be-
lieve it. Once in the SIX months, may
be, l get hold of enc worth reading,
and then all the men and women have
met in 1t live for evermore. What's
the good OF a story that fellow feels
Is hoax and a yarn? Now, there's
that book that everyone is talking of,
'Brightley Court that girl Ruth Moss
Is somewhere in the world; she Is living
like violet In the wood, aud the air is
better for her presence-happier- and
that's all one knows. Let us love
much because life is short; let us do
nnnnh hanaaraa Ttxa&
girl Is alive for me now almost as much
as Nelly there and my Mary. She mar
rles no one in the novel; why, there
isn't fellow ever met fit to put his
hand under her foot to send her up 10
the saddle. beg your pardon, Harry,
but you don't mind. don't think you
are GOOD enough for Ruth either.
"All right. sirl Shan't break my
heart for that" said Sir Harry. "I'd
rather have a real live girl than a
dream, though it is a very true charac-
ter-very real-veryI In fact Ruth
Moss reminded me of somebody L have
met. Have you read 'Brightley Court,
Miss Fairfield?"
Nelly had not; Mary had suggested it,
and she had rejected If as too unroman-
tic.
"AhI you should read thatl" cried
both the men in duet-Mary's fathe
and Sir Harry Give.
WHO is it by?" said the voice OF Mr..
Gobblecock,
"Hyacinth Grey"
Mr.. Gobblecock, with a grunt, re-
turned to his papers.
"a lady, should think" SAID the
young baronet.
"Ah! Pm sure of it. Who else could
have told us about Ruth's dresses and
the color OF her hair? Yet there's an
amazing amount Of knowledge OF
horses in that book, and Of barrack
life," said Mr.. Marsh. land Hyacinth
Grey mas one novel about London city
life, and another about yachting"
The voice of Gobblecock interrupted.
I'm my time at school Hyacinthus was
a Greek boy, but these ladies that write
novels don't trouble their heads about
classical accuracy"
Soon he wrote long letter, sent it TO
the post, folded his newspapers into the
black bag, and came with thousand
more apologies, and made up for his
absence by talking with the volubility
of dozen. HIS stories made every
bodylaugh; his gentieness with the girls
made up for his lack OF good locks; his
talk of foreign cities made them wonder
how las our friends beyond the channel
would say) be was most at home when
he was abroad. In a word, Gobble-
cock was a pleasant man, good com.
pany-a success. Even Hubert came
back. heart-aches and all, and joined
the circle. And then tue candles
cleaned round the drawing-room, and
Nelly looked her prettiest, and Mary
Marsh was her sweetest, and Robin
was his noislest. Harry Gives was
pleased with himself and all the world;
Hubert was only heard once Overheard
by Nelly to murmur to his sister that
he wished Harry was ''far enough;"
Mr.. Marsh made happy paterfamilias,
and felt like boy again when be de-
tected Harry Give waiting on Nelly,
and poor Hubert getting angry. In
short, 1t was pleasant family circle,
and Gobblecock had become favorite
with everybody, except little Robin,
whose mind had been disturbed about
Bluebeard.
At Darkleigh Court the ladies had
always an hour to themselves, while
the men finished the late evening in the
or at the billiard-table.
Tonight Nelly took up the book that
was the talk of the season, and read a
few chapters while Mary worked.
Presently Mr.. Marsh came in. 80 |
glad you are reading that, Nellyl 1t Is
beauty and poetry frOm cover to cover, |
no matter what it talks about-the |
hunting field, or the camp, or the bar
rack yard, or anything"
Mary did not look up from her WORK, |
but she said geutly, ''Hyacinth Grey's
books are all delightful. He must be
man with noble mind"
Mr.. Marsh paced up and down the
room thinking; his thoughts had darteo
off to subject nearer his heart.
81 wonder what that boy OF mine has
on his mind?" he said. "He stumps
about over my head, UP and down, up
and down, till 2 and In the morning.
| wish you would find out what Is
him. Mary. Poor Hubert!
II worries me to think he may have
some trouble and won't tell me. Find
put. if you can"
"He has little sitti1g-room too In
the west tower, has be notr" Neliy
asked. when Mr. Marsh was gone.
.,The light is burning there till every
..,,xbt bava lookad ont and seen the