Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-12-15
mean no harm, only they are young and

mo, my dear, no." said the old man,
kindly. "You, at all events. have a
sentler nature and more womanly
temperament"
"What do you think?" exclaimed
Sophie, coming in the next morning,
dripping and radiant from her bath.
''Old Snuff Color is sickl The doctor
was there half an hour ago, and / just
saw the walters carrying in ice for his
headr'
'Some horrid feverl" cried Theresa,
turning pale. II mean to change to
some other hotel at once. Blanche
where is Blanche? Why, she's gone, 1
declare! How provoking when We are
in hurry to decide upon the matterm
1t was more than an hour before
Blanche FOllett returned, and when at
length she entered the room, Theresa
and Sophie were half through the task
OF packing their trunks.
"Blanche?n cried the former, petu-
lantly, "where have you been7"
sin the next room, with the sick old
gentleman, doing my best to nurse
him."
"Wellp" was the calm response.
"Are you mad?" cried both the girls
in chorus.
'No-only human. II 1t was my
father" added Blanche, courageously,
do you think should want him to lie
alone and unattended In a hotel like
thIsp"
LET him send for his friends" said
Theresa. sullenly.
"Who can tell who or where they
are?"
search his trunk-that's the way.
You all act like so many fools!n said
Sophie, sharply,
''I suppose they will do so if he does
not get better soon. In the meantime
he needs a daughters care-and the
memory Of my own dear, dead father
prompts me TO the mission"
Blanche, you are crazy!" cried out
Miss Dean. "Whst do you suppose
Mr.. Arch1eld would say to yeur rIsking
your life thus?"
Il do not think there Is any risk, "
said Blanche, calmly. Moreover, l
believe Guy would bid me do my duty
at any and all hazards"
"I'm glad my sense Of duty isn't
quite so superfine," said Theresa scorn-
fully You can do as you please, but
Sophie and intend removing at once
TO the Mermaid House"
"And If you are sensible you will do
the same" added Miss Dean
But Blanche shook her head.
NO" she said, quietly; 81 have
made up my mind.'
"Well, then," said Sophie, 81 wish
old Snuff Color would die and be done
with 1t. For It won't be halfso pleasant
without you, Blanche"
'Old Snuff Color" however, as
Sophie irreverently termed him, did
not die. On the contrary, after that
one day of peril the scales of chances
seemed to turn in his favor and per-
manent recovery set in.
"My dear" said he to Blanche Fol-
lett, ~ have much to thank you for.
Before yesterday l never knew the soft
touch of daughters hand upon my
brow, the music of a daughters foot
steps around my bedside. Nor shall
consent to part with them now. mean
to keep you always, my child"
Blanche colored and started at these
| IncomprehensIble words.
'Does he mean to adopt meP" she
asked herself. ''Or-nO, surely, that
cannot be possible-he is going to pro-
pose to me?"
But the old gentleman's next SEN
tence completely solved the riddle.
"For l do not think you have once
suspected, he added, with quiet smile,
that all your secret charitable offices
have been rendered to-Guy Archfeld' S
fatherl"
Blanche was more frightened than
ever. Surely the old man was insane.
"Mr. Archfield, senior, is In Europe, "
she said. hesiAatingly.
HE WAS. my DEAR" the old man an
swered, dryly, "but he returned on the
Ariadne, and Is here by your stis. |
telegraphed to Guy this morning;he Will
be here IN half an hour to confirm my
words. Little Blanche, Will you give
me daughters kiss now?"
"My own Blanche, you have won his
heart" said Archield. "The only
doubt l ever entertained about our
marriage-his consents solved at
last. He honors you as you deserve" "
And the prettiest Of all Blanche Fol-
lett's wedding gifts was the parure OF
diamonds given by her wealthy and &C.
| centric old father-in-law.
And Theresa Middleton and Sophie
Dean cried out in chorus, as they haf
before many time:
"Blanche Is the luckiest grill"