Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-01-13

would Gail at Laurel Lodge and exact
some information from Miss Danger
field, in spite of her deafness. He Sc
lected a time when he thought RhOda
would be away, and was accordingly
ushered into the presence of Miss
Dangerfeld, who received him cordially.
"You have almost deserted us, Cap.
tain Trevor" said she.
Il have been lately good deal en-
gagei," he shouted.
81 am very glad to hear it." nodded
the ole lady. "There is nothing like
being married and settled. And who
is the ladypn
''Confound it, she thinks l told her |
was engagedl" murmured the captain.
"How ridiculous.
When Miss Dangerfield made mis-
take, she always, like most deaf persons
adhered to it pertlnaciously; and the
| consequence was that, although Trevor
bawled out an explanation as loud as
he rossFr, he failed to remove the lady's
impression of Encouragement.
GLOW is Miss Lucie?" said he at
last, changing the conversation in de-
spair. Has she written latelyp"
''Oh, yes she is always writIngn
"The affectionate dear girll' ejacu-
lated Dick soto poce 81 wonder now
| if | could get her address in Paris out
OF the old woman? 1 feel sure, if 1
saw her once more, L could persuade
her to alter her mind" {"
But to ask where Lucie was staying
was an impertinence, especially after
Miss Dangerfield's annoying blunder.
No; he would have patience and wait
until her return.
"And when do you expect Miss Mer-
ivaile back?" he shouted.
"The day after tomorrow, most
likely.p
The day after tomorrow Dicks
heart gave a great bound. Why, that
was no time at ALI Gaily he took his
leave, and walked home In the best pos
sible SPIRITS.
He Allowed two days to go by before
he agsia visited Laurel Lodge.
81 will surprise her," he thought,
and, telling the servant not to announce
him, lie walked into the drawing-room.
Lucie-there could be no doubt that
| it was Lucie-was sitting with her face
| towards him, reading. She wore the
| same dress which he remembered she
had on when he last saw her, and she
sat in an attitude of negligent grace
very differently from the angularity and
/ bolt-uprlghtness of her sister.
"Is II YOU, aunt?" said she, hearing
/ him enter. but without looking up.
"Miss Merivailel''
She started and a delicate pink suf-
| Har ohna1-O hs,t Onru n
slant. ''Captain Trevor!''
1t Wis now Dicks turn ostart. What
/ had Lucie done to make her SO strange
ly like Rhoda? All, he could see it now!
| She had had her hair cut short. That
was all.
He took one step towards her. She
turned away from him for two or three
| seconds; and, when he saw her face
again, she too was wearing the odious
4 s5sae,l,sss ,sred glasses-
I ''By JCgs, it's the ether one. after
all! And yet," he muttered. Miss
Merivaile." he exclaimed aloud, in des-
/ peration, sin mercy's name. tell me who
you arei Are you LGcie or Rhodap"
"Both," returned the young lady
/ quietly. sit is only little joke, Cap
] tam IACNOA. AOi
YOU, but l could not resist refuting
practically your opinion that women
who interest themselves in public mat
ters could not find time for domestic
| duties.''
"And you have converted me en-
tirely. | VIII never again contradict
you on that point. But, RhOda-that
is. | mean Lucie-"
lie stopped. There was look on the
girls face which checked his utterance.
lie drew long breath.
Il see." said he bitterly. sit is an
honor did not expect, to afford you so
much amusement. Of course what you
said in your impersonation OF LucIe
Merivaile was also a joke. 1t was very
amnsing-oh, exceedingly funnyl
Rhoda Lucie- such was her full
name-remained silent. She had risen
while he was speaking, and was stand
ing with her eyes fixed on the floor.
"Good-bye." said he holding out his
hand.
She hesitated, and then held out hers.
Can you forgive me?" she muir
INJURED.
There is nothing to forgive" said
he simply. "You were quite at liberty
to jest, if it so pleased you. was fool
enough to be Geceived--that is ALL"
'Am the only one who deceivedp"
said she calmly, though he could feel
her fingers thTob as she asked the ques-
tioD.
~ do not understand YOU"
"Is it not deception when man who
is engaged to one lady makes love, or
pretends to make love. to another?"
He stared at her in Il bewildered
fashion, and then sudden light broke
in upon him, and he burst into shout
of laughter.
81 Sc now what you mean. Your aunt
told you WIS engaged"
''She simply told me what you told
her."
but 1 never said so. 1t was all a
mistake, caused through her deafness.
Lucie--I like that name best-were
you in earnest when you said mo 20
my question:
Yes; did not think"
81 should fall in love? Your jest has
ended seriously-for me-" he added,
with a sigh.
81 had hoped that Rhoda Merivaile
would have dispelled the Illusion" said
she quietly. 'She tried to do So"
'sAnd failed miseTably."
He was looking into her eyes as he
said the words, and noted an expression
in them which caused a flame of hope
to leap into his heart.
"Rhoda," said he suddenly; sup
posing 1 were to put to you the question
| asked of Lucie? Come-I will try
youj Will you be my wife?"
Shall l be intensely practical and
strong-minded in my reply" said she,
with glad smile playing about her
ips, land say, 'yes'f"
IT IS said that at least four hundred
and fifty thousand meteors fall from
the heavens and strike the earth every
hour during the year; and yet, when a
man goes home with damaged hat,
ana tells his wife that he was struck
by meteor, she will not believe him!
OAUGUTER lhome from SCHOOL,