Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-11-10

4 Inllp STOOD aDaShed before the pur.- :
ty OF her gaze, remembering how he
had written poems to this girl and that,
and pressed pretty hands with a feryor
that now rose up to accuse him.
He sighed deeply, having in reality
nothing to sigh about, but wholly
unnecessary activity of conscience,
which Is often worse than its propor-
tionate degree of languor.
Philip had been two years in posses.
sion OF the mysterious, secret. laden
derby and five months married before
these circumstances found any relation
to each other. He was looking though
his wardrobe one day, and came
out to Myra with the hat in his hand
and, sitting down, began to tell her its
romantic history. Myra listened with
her needle suspended and her lips apart
her lips paling and flushing with warm
womanly sympathy. Her pretty eyes
filled with tears as she read the little
written scrap Philip placed in her hand
She went over it silently two or three
times, with very sad, compassionate
glance; then, to Philips amazement,
tore the paper into shTeds and threw
them from her out of the window. The
wind lost no time in carrying them
away.
'.Myrai" he looked almost wildly
after the tying pieces. ''What in the
world induced you to do that?"
at was the right thing to DO. dear, -
she answered. with quiyering lips. "No
woman should betray her heart in that
way. IL ever could be tempted to
forget.pride and dignity so foolishly l
would be obliged to any one who would
destroy the evidence of my folly"
''But supposing l should find the
owner-the person to whom the paper
was adressed?"
THAT isn't likely now, Philip; of
course, If you do find hun you can tell
him. But, Philip" looking earnestly
at her husband, ''if were you would
never tell any 0ae else. Such things
seem pretty and interesting; but they
are more than that. They belong to the
hearts deep experience, and we should
not hold them lightly to talk of and
smile at. For l think the poor girl who
wrote those impulsive words would be
glad to know they are destroyed. Be-
lieve me, Philip smiling at him gent
ly, women can judge for women. i
have done what is right"
Philips answer was his usual one
Myra looked particularly pretty, as she
did just now.
"You are an angel" he said, after
ward, land, of course, you are right;
but am thinking Of the mans side,
don't you seep That message belonged
to him, whoever, wherever he is, and
would never think of stopping it on its
way. To my masculine view, it seems,
don't you know, little like-like rob-
bing the mails"
at isn't like that at all" said Myra,
In mildly argumentative tone. 81
wouldn't do that myself. And, besides
if the mails are going to bring trouble
10 people, they ought to Be robbed-ths
sooner the better"
"Oh, my dear girl!'' said Philip
laughing.
Well, of course!' rejoined Myra,
decidedly. "But it is so hard to make
men understand things as they really
are. PhIliplr
"Yes, my love-"
81 want you to promise me that you
won't tell any one-any one-about tie
scrap of writing, unless you find the
the person for whom it was intended.
want you to promise this for this
poor foolish woman's sake. Won't you
dearest?'
81 promise-for this poor foolish
wouian's sake" said Philip, looking
down with rapture at her lifted eyes;
and he was nearer to the truth than me
knew.
One bright Sunday morning not long
after this, when there was cradle in
their house, and in it little golden
head, worth all the rest of the gold IN
the world, card was brought to Mrs.
Northam. 1t bore the name of Walter
W. Carroll. She passed it to her hus-
band with shade of annoyance on her
face.
"Ah, this is your old friend, Carroll,
1 suppose-the one you have spoken of
so often?'' he remarked pleasantly.
"Yes. l hadn't heard that he was
back from England, though" Myra
was running a brush over her hair, and
| looking at her face In the glass as she
spoke. 81 wonder if his wife is with
him? But what an hour to call! 1t
can't be half past 8.
Lucky we were ups" said Philip,
with laugh; ''or, rather, thanks to
that brigand and pirate in the cradle
there. He never seems to enjoy his
sleep until he has robbed us of ours.
Shan't 90 down and receive your
friend, if you don't feel quite ready,
Myra?"
ar am quite ready now, thanks,
said Myra, promptly; ''and don't leave
the baby, please, till Maggie comes up"
She passed Philip in crossing to the
door, turned back and kissed him, and
went down stair.
A tall, brown and bearded stranger
was standing in the parlor, looking at
the door expectantly as she entered,
both hands outheld in friendly wei
| come.
"Willl"
"Myrair
81 am so glad"
"Such a lovely surprise"
"Apd how have you been2"
"I heard you were married."
"And you never wrote.'
Who can reproduce the first hurried
words of greeting after long separa-
ton? Speech and smile, and blushes
and eager looks mingled inextricably.
Everything is trying to get said at
once. After a moment or two the
mists of feeling clear little; it is easier
to speak, but not so imperative.
Myra sat down by her friend on the
little sofa. The welcoming look had
not gone quite out of her face when
she said impressively:
"Will, 1 must ask you something
now. Do you remember the little hat
mark made you before you went
away? 1 put it in your hat myself the
night before you sailed" =,
GDo / remember? should think sol
But imagine what happened. The very
next morning 1 lost my hat. 1t was
knocked off my head and picked up by
another man."