Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-01-11
Too Late, or a Terrible Mistake.

"I can't understand what you see in
the fellow" Tom Carter said, testify.
What dc 1 see in poor Isolanl.
replied Florence Asgard. ''Why, see
genius of the first water. He may, as
you have limited, eat peas with his knife
but that is ignorance. In many things
he is thorough gentleman"
81 see," said Tom, in an offensive
manner, as he took off his hat, ''that
you will not see your protege abused"
"You are right" she sand, little
coldly. ''for L am very fond or him"
The whole trouble was this. The
Asgards had somewhere found this
thin, half-starved Italian, Isolani. and
had brought hin to their house and
cared for HIM until he could find some
thing 10 do. Tom Carter, whohad always
intended to marry Florence. did not
like the new addition to their household
and promptlyresented it. In fact, he
was absurdly jealous of the Italian 5
influence.
AS for Florence. she was too proud
to be dictated to, and SO they parted
not to meet again for many months.
Tom was of on a cruise in yacht try
ing to hide his sorrow.
On one occasion the owner OF the
yacht ran over to the pier, and while
there invited small party aboard.
lsolina, without his violin was with
them.
The italian recognized Carter at the
same moment and came gravely toward
him.
He did not seem to take notice OF the
curtness of the latter's "How dye
doY"
Carter saw him watching him with a
curious expression in which there
seemed to lurk question every now
and then.
Toward the close of the afternoon lie
chose an opportunity, when Carter was
standing little apart from the rest, 10
| address HIM directly.
You have-parden me-" he said in
his slow, broken English, ''you have
not seen Meess Asgard since you have
been back!''
Carter was silent for moment before
he replied:
mo-
"Meess Asgard is beautiful lady, -
Isolani went on slowly. "She is one OF
the most noble creatures God has made
And her uncle, too. They have been
the noblest friends to me.'' He
paused. You will not 60 again soon
to see Meess Asgard?" he said, simply
sit hurt her that you stayed away. She
loves you very much"
'Good God, man are yon craZy?'
Carter turned a savage face of unutter'
able dismay upon the Italian.
lsolani made little motion witt
his head.
NOT is true," he reiterated pia
cidly. You knew it, did you not
Oh, yes. She loved you very much
She never told any one, l think. No
| A woman like that never does. But
saw it; knew it. l loved her myself
as one May love Madonna, saint.
knew she loved you-yes. And yoI
loved her-is it not soP'
Loved herl Carter set his teetl
hard. A stiff breeze was rippling III
The sun was going down and u Ion,
track of shimmering gold lay across
the uneasy, leaplng surface of tn
water.
'Meess Asgard was i'll, for littl
whlle," Isolani began again.
"ill?"
"Yes. Not very seriously, 1 think
| would have liked to have gone to SCI
her good uncle and learn how she j
now, but my engagements here pre-
vented"
That nights boat bore Carter towart
the home of the Asgards. 1t was
O'Clock in the morning when he ar
rived. He began to count the tim
which must elapse before he could
with any regard for the conventional
ties present himself.
When he finally reached the Asgards
house he found the windows all barred
and he had some trouble in calling u
the housekeeper.
They have not gone to the coun
try?" he asked eagerly.
"Yes, sir. The young lady was no
feeling we'll and she had a relapse"
what do you meanP" ne cried il
agony.
THAT she is deadl'