Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-09-26

home, but he could not; and two hours
later, when the twilight had deepened
into night, he went up the narrow foot
way and opened the door slowly, with
some misgiving in his heart
Lucia has not come in yet," said
Mrs. Earle, in reply to Ronald's in
quiry for her. 'fSEe said Mr.. D'Orsay
had asked her to come up to the hotel
to see a large painting OF his, after
school, and i suppose that she has
gone. She'll soon be back, though"
Edgar sat down and took up book,
but he could not read Then he lis
tened with apparent calmness to the
praises Mrs. Earle lavished upon the
artist. Thus two hours went by, and
both began to look for the return of
Lucia Every minute added a hercer
heat to the fame burning in Edgar's
veins. Let him see her once more and
he would restore her promlse-he could
not hold her by such an empty form OF
words.
At precisely nine O'Clock Mr.. Earle
came in, and, as usual If Lucia was not
visible, as he pulled off his boots. he
asked:
"Where's sis? Time she was back,
high tlmel'' he muttered, when he was
told. "Hadn't you better go over and
fetch her, Ronaldp" he asked, looking
at the young man, who sat on the
other side of the fire. shading his eyes
with his hand.
"He1l accompany her, of course, :"
was the reply, ill low, quiet voice.
In an hour or more Mrs. Earle began
to fidget about the room-to go to the
door aud look out, and peep restlessly
behind the curtains into the moon
lighted night beyond.
Its a shameI'' she said at last.
''Mr. D'Orsay don't know what pro-
prietry is in the country"
Lucia knows, anyway" remarked
the father. "But I'm too tired to sit
up; most 'leven." And the farmer
stupidity disappeared into his bed
room.
81 shant go to bed until she comes. -
Mrs Earle said, growing more wide
awake every minute. her thin, nervous
face becoming paler and more alive.
As for Edgar. he sat in utter silence,
a powerful dislike upon him toward
going over to the hotel and bringing
the girl home. She was acting of her
own free VIII, he would not appear and
force her to walk back with him. Let
her go her own way. But he did wish
she would not set gossIps OF the village
talking. He had received plying or
suspicious looks already.
The night wore on. The clock on
the church tower rang out one, and
with that sound the mother brought
her shawl and SAID:
''She must have fallen on the road
her ankle is not strong-and We have
LAT hAr CT nj
Edgar buttoned his coat, thinking to
himself, ''she would not be alone +"
But he could not bear this waiting any
longer.
The two walked hurriedly along
toward the hotel, which was nearly
three-quarters of a mile distant. They
did not say word; the mother looked
along the muddy road, as If expecting
TO find her daughter in those black pud-
dies that CLEANED so in the moonlight,
for a full moon rode calmly in the
heavens.
The hotel was dark: no light shone
IN any window. Mrs. Earle advanced
to knock, when Edgar took hold of her
arm, saying hoarsely:
"What are you going to tell themp''
ST shall ask if my daughter is here,
Oh IcDllcu-
with whom? What will they
think?" he asked, with white lips.
The mother started back, exclaiming:
my God. Do you mean to say
"That whatever the cause of this,
the accursed fools Will talkl'' Edgar
said in that concentrated voice that
means so much.
But l must ask for her," she said.
"Do not mention him." was the re-
ply.
After much knocking, the landlord
put his head out of the window and
exclaimed:
"Bless my soulI It's Mrs. Earle.
"What time in the evening did Lucia
leave here?" asked Mrs Earle.
The man replied with the utmost
surprise:
.-She hasn't been here at all. l saw
her walking across the fields with Mr..
D'Orsay this afternoon, but lie left on
the half-past five train. He's gone fol
good"
The two would not stay to answer
any questions that were flung down AT
them, but turned away and walked
rapidly homeward. The woman's fact
wore a scared look-a look that showed
that all her thoughts and hopes lad
been betrayed. made false in way she
could not understand.
But Edgar's face sh owed no sucl
appearance. The high and frank cour
| age always evident there was changed
to some dogged and relentless resolve
/ There was a dagger like CLEAN in hi
eyes, and his pale lips shut with firm
ness never to be relaxed or softened-
The two did not speak until thel
reached the farmhouse door; then
| Edgar said:
There's no train until six O'Clock II
| the morning." forgetting that morning
was near at hand. II shall go dowl
| to New York on that"
"Let me see you before you co." sh
said.
He bowed assent and walked away
In the dull gray OF the morning
Edgar stood with Mrs. Earle Th
latter held in her hand a note. whicl
she gave to the young man, saying in ;
whisper:
s'She left 1t in the hymn-book, 70
she knew l always read a hymn in tn
morning, but never at night"
The note was short enough. BY tn
yellow candle light, Edgar stopped I
read it:
"My heart, my soul, are not m
own. He has taken me to an enchante
land, and know nothing but my Low
for him. . my mother, forgive me
There is another whom / cannot ask I
forgive me; but even he would no
wonder, did he but know the powe
with which I love-the attraction c
him love. Though you cast me of
and l am unworthy, 1 am always you
loving daughter"
Edgar handed the letter back, say
ing:
az shall find him."
He turned abruptly away; he coul
not bear to look into that mother
; face
He strobe down the path and of
the depot, and in a few minutes WI
whirled away toward the city, whiC
he felt confident, held him for who
he was searching.
Once arrived in the city, II was n,
! difficult to find the studio Of an arti