Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-04-11

beside her. girl in a white sun bonnet
and a hack gingham gown, a girl un-
mistakably erect and TRIM The pink
and white bonnets confronted each
other Two kindly dim eyes peered
out from the one. two sorrowfuI dark
ones from the other. Mrs. Pease had
turned with anger in her heart, when
she saw the girls pale cheeks and al
tered look, she softened-
why, abby, child, for the lands
sake, where did you drop fromP"
II come down to pick berries for
tea"
"How's your mother?" and the good
woman pus on her spectacles for a
closer Icok at her companion.
She's tolerably WELL" said Abby
II uessly.
Father weIl?' continued Mrs.
rease, regarding the girl sharply.
Pretty well.''
"And how are you. child? Seems to
me you amt a-lookln' very peart."
'I'm all right" said Miss Swift
promptly. "Huckleberries plenty this
year" she added.
''Orrin amt right well Jest now,"
said The old lady after pause.
The girls hand trembled; half the
berries she held fell on the ground.
whats the matter with himp" she
said in low voice. 81 hain't seen him
lately" she added, defiantly.
mo. l know you hain't." said Mrs.
Pease with decision. Whose fault
is't?''
'''Tain't mine." sail Abby, twitch-
ing bush toward her.
"'TaIn't his 1 know for certain, 8"
said the mother, rattlIng her tin pail.
a Ia sn- In fool of
anybody L ever see. There amt no
change in him. The gal that gets Or
rim Pease ill get dreadful good hus-
band. And the gal that trihes with
him ill live to repent it He amt one
to be took of an on like an old shoe,
l can tell you, Abby Swift: and the
time may come when he can't be got
back noways.n
"Who wants him back?' cried
Abby, her face in a blaze. Not I, for
One," and she burst into tears. Be
tween her sobs she managed to say,
You think-he ain't-the-trifiin'-
kind. i know-better. He's been-a
keepIn' company with me-and all-the
time e-he-cares-for- - another-girl.
He's goods said-soi''
Land o. Goshenl'' exclaimed Mrs.
Pease, nearly dropping her pail. 81
hain't never heard of no such girl.
What be you a-thinkin' of, Abby
Swift? It's you, and nobody else, he's
been a-follerin' after these two years.
Ef ever man was dead sot on hayin'
a gal, and that gal you, it's my Orrin.
Why, he'll smile jest to see your pas
oid white horse a comm down the
ruad-he's fairly tickled to death to see
that critter ambling along. There,
child, for the lands sake don't get no
such foolish notion in your head. Only
be good to him-I beg and pray of ye
to be good TO him. He's dreadful
tender-hearted and faithful, Orrin is"
and the old lady put her worn. thin
and on the girls shoulder, and looked
at her beseechIngly-
With a cry Abby flung her arms
around her neck and kissed her.
Good to- -himl'' she siid brokenly.
20 Lori, good to himi'' and then she
turned and fied as fast as she could go.
AT 6 O'Clock the huckleberry short
cake lay smoking, and literally sprink-
lei with sugar, on Mrs. Pease's tea
table. Orrin helped his mother to a
large slice. AS he handed it to her she
said:
II picked them berries over in Dea-
con Swift's pasture, Abby was there
a-plckln' too"
Orrin looked up sharply. "Was
she?" he said.
''She looks dreadful peaked" de-
clal ed his mother.
''Sick, motherg"
"Yes, real sick. l don't know, Or
rim, why she thinks so, but she's got an
idea that there's another girl you're
a-keepin' company with. 1 done my
70 har \
think likely you'd better kind o. ex-
plain to her yourself"
Another girl!' cried Orrin frown-
ing. 20 motherl"
There, eat your supper, and then go
over to the Center. 'Tsint best to let
such things spite your appetite"
''Save my supper, mother. I'm of
now "
"But, Orrin, a leetle more short
cake, do. Bless my heart, how dread
full foolish young folks is!''
The Swifts were all at the table, the
deacon, his wife, Abby. her brother and
the hired man. They looked up sur
prised when Orrin Knocked There
was no bouquet In his hand this time
as he waited in the dim, close parlor.
As Abby came in slowly he met her,
look on his face.
'.Get your nat and take walk with
me, " he said. gently, yet so firmly that
she never thought OF disobeying. With
out another word they left the house,
walked down the silent street past the
few shut up houses, and out to where
there was space and solitude. Then he
stopped and looked at her gravely.
"TelI me" he said, did you think
l ever cared for anyone but you?"
Her face droeped before his gaze. AT
last she nodded sadly
"For Heavens sake, who?" he de-
manded.
There was a moments silence between
them.
80 Abpy," he cried. "come and see
Emma Jane with me. Come now,"
The girl shrank away.
''No, no." she faltered. 81 couldn't.
You wear her flowers. You think
they're too fine for me. You"
.sYes, L do love her flowers. III
show you why l love them Come"
and he drew her hand through his arm
and he held it there
Still she resisted him. He stopped
short, clasping her reluctant hand
firmly, and said in a voice that shook
~ swear to you, my love. I've
never cared for any girl but you, only
Just you, Abby"
"Then why-?"
"Come, trust me, and III show you
why"
They walked along through the soft
evening light The hills lay bathed in
sunset splendor; above them shone a
strip of palest amber sky. Everything
seemed strangely hushed and peaceful
Even the village graveyard wore
sweet, restlul aspect as they passed
through its gateway. Over the quiet
sleepers the grass waved gently, field
aowers nestled lovingly about the head
stone, and wild strawberry vines clasp
ed the graves with clinging fingers.
In n distant corner a hemlock tree sigh |
ed above a little green bed, on whose
small slab was
EMMA JANE,