Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-04-18

X.
ing sung themselves into heaven fo- a
while on Haydn's exquisite strains.
'Wayzel-WetzelP how do you pro-
nounce Il? His first name is Gustave
isn't 1t prettyr and such a voicel
Dear me, 1 grudge to let him gol Don't
your"
Yes"
''Do you know, l think he has rather
a struggle to get along. Musicians
usually have; but, then, being a single
man, he ought to be able to MANAGE"
Are you sure he is single MANI"
Miss Prot asked. in an airy tone.
'Oh, yes. At least, OF course, did
not ask him point blank, but l said to
him, iokingly, that if he intended to
advance in music, 1t was lucky he had
no wife to hold him back; and he said,
Yes, 1t was lucky Oh, he must be
single; but then, he is very young. He
Is only "a -
Marie sighed, but said nothing. She
was %, with a heart that had Just
learned to throb like the heart of Is.
The scale OF fortune, we are told, is
often turned by feather, and this pro-
position was very forcibly demonstrated
for Marie Prot, one windy autumn
evening, not long afterwards, as the
together. She was walking with Lucy
Crumm, as usual, and behind them,
arm in-arm, came the bass and tenor
(Mrss Roberts, the alto, had said good
night and gone of in the opposite
direction with her little brotherl; Miss
Prot was listening with her ears to the
voice beside her, and with her soul To
the voice behind her, when suddenly
away on the wings OF the wind went
her long brown feather, wrencEed from
its fasteuings on her iaunty hat; away
away, careering and whirlIng out of
sight like a living creature that had
found all at once the freedom of its
wings. Marie uttered little half
laughing cry, and started on the chase,
but the tenor darted by her like a
dash, and soon distanced her, as the
feather distancei him. Marie did not
slacken her pace, however, and as
result, when the feather was at last
captured, they found themselves face
to face, laughing breathless, under a
street-lamp, and more than a block
ahead of Mr.. Aiken and Miss Crumm.
What more natural than that they
should walk on together, slowly, or
that Mr.. WetZel, seeing her out of
breath from his late exercise, should
offer her his arm? There seemed no
valid reason why they should dissolve
this pleasant companionship when the
other two caught up with them; and
from this time, instead of putting the
ladies In the street car at Twenty
third street, Mr. Aiken walked with
Miss Crumm TO her home in Twenty
tfth street, and Mr. WetZal walked
all the way across town with Marie
Pirot.
1t wa. a wretched night; the rain
fell in torrents, a chilly wind was blow
Ing the streets were wet and dismal,
and Marie Prot was walking under an
umbrella with Gustave Wetzel and
clinging fondly to his arm. The rain
was binding her somewhat, but her
tears We're binding her still more
furtive. bitter tears, such as women
often weep, unknown to all the world.
The crowded street cars passed them
every minute or two, but Marie had
refused to ride. This was the last time
they would ever walk togethlr-the
last of many, many times. 50 could
not afford to shorten these few sad
moments of parting and farewell. He
had come to the choir that evening
only to tell them that he had been sud-
denly called back to Germany and must
sail in the morning; but he had staid
and sang over with Marie some of the
old duets. and now they were walking
home together, slowly, through all the
storm, by the way they had learned to
know so well
At first few words were spoken be-
tween them Marie felt only the un-
reasoning love, the delight of contact,
the bliss of this dual solitude, encircled
by rain and storm and darkness To
her it mattered little what they said or
where they went, so that III y were to-
gether: and tomorrow was pushed as
far from her horizon as II It were
twenty years away. But all the truth
came back on her like a shock when
Gustave's voice said:
~ must thank you, Miss Pirot. for
the kindness you have given to me
alwayS-to me. a stranger; shall often
think OF your loveiy voice when l am
far away"
1--WE have indeed had pleasant
times" she answered. bravely and
clearly. after a moments pause. but
why need you GO If you have been
happy-here2 All, you-you have not
many regrets. You are glad, l thinkr"
Indeed am glad" and glad his
face looked-eXcited and eager. ut Is
a grand opportunity that now oilers
You can understand. if one has been
planning long, and waiting, that one
might be glad TO see fuliillment near"
"Yes." said Marie That one word
only, and IN her voice was the huski-
ness that comes with tears
"Ah, well, see my way now, clear,
he continued, gayly and brightly All
unconscious of the mute tragedy that
went on beside him, lie poured out the
story of his dIsappointments In the
past-of his plans and visions for the
future. Marie listened silently. IL
seemed each moment that the TIDE OF
her emotion must burst all bonds aud
carry with it the tine reserve or her
nature, its womanly dignity and pride
She called up all her strength at last,
in a desperate effort
~ must leave you here" she said.
stopping suddenly at corner. III
have SONS business TO do Will say
good night and goodbye l hope you
may have pleasant journey"
.sBut surely notl 1 cannot leave you
I'm this storm. Let me escort you where
you wish to go-so dark, and such
rainp'
~ have my own umbrella here
She raised II as she spoke. Ihank
you, very, very much, but l prefer to
20 alone. And you know" smiling
strangely at him, II shall have TO do
without your escort altogether after
this. You have been more KIND
She broke of suddenly, and ousied
herself with the fastening OF heE CLOAK.
then held out her hand. ''Good-oyes"
she said, abruptly.
Goodbye, Mss firot, IL IL must oe
so-it you wish it.
.Oh, yes. Parting, L think, should
never be prolonged. 1 hope you Will
have a good voyage. L hope you VIII
be always happy. Goodbye, Gus
tave." -,
from his and was gone, 8 dark, hurry
irg shape. down the lighted, ram