Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-06-06
Her Lovers: or. Father and Son.


had fallen in love with his nurse, Dor
cas- Wynter, who had brought him hack
10 health again after he broke his leg
in trying to run away from school.
No one who had ever seen the young
lady's beautiful face wsuld have been
surprised that a susceptible youth
should fall in love with her. She had
beed a governess once, but was now an
assistant nurse in DIR. Delfer's infirm-
airy; pretty girl Of nineteen and all
alone in the world.
Guy was very sorry when his father
came to take him away from the in
Urinary; sorry to leave Dorcas, whom
he.had firmly made up his mind to marry
when he was of age. Mr.. Paley was
surprised to see the charming young
lady who presented herself to receive
his thanks for having been kind to his
son. He had expected a woman of
forty with double chiu- Guy was
delighted when the doctor suggested
his nurse should accompany him home.
81 am sure boy with your appetite
don't need a nurse any longer" said
Miss Sophronia Paley, who was Guys
aunt. She has been here month,
and
But she's not to go away for all
that, Aunt Soph," said Guy, who was
devouring roasted chestnuts like "a
dragon. ASK papa. She's to be Mrs.
Paley one of these days, and"
''Mrs, Paleyl'' Aunt Sophronia
turned green and yellow. "It's come
to that, then, has it? Well, I've ex-
pected it this some time. And all I've
got TO say is
''Seven years from now," said Guy
with his mouth full OF chestnuts, 81
Will be twenty-one and she will be
twenty-slx. Not enough difference to
signify. ARd," he uttered with a grin,
as his aunt hounced wrathfully out of
the room, you'll get your walking
ticket, old lady, when Pm married. I'D
as soon have a deaths head and bones
around the place any time"
lie was sitting curled up in the
easiest chair in the library, reading a
book, half an hour afterward, when
the door opened and his father came
In.
Something In the paternal glance and
movement struck the boy.
"Aunt Soph is going TO marry some
old fogy or other, and the coast Will he
clear"
80 you know all about it, Guy7"
said Mr.. Paley, laughingly.
About what. slrI"
about my engagement.
The book fell with crash to the
floor.
Your what. father2''
'tAt least you told Aunt Sophronia
about 1t. Well, I'm glad you are
pleased, my boy; and DOrcas says she
shall always love you as II you were
her own son. As general thing, /
don't approve of step-mothers, but you
and Dorcas love each other SO dearly
that. Why. Guy, what is the mat
ter7" for the boy had rushed out of the
room with an odd suffocating-
ton IN his throat.
He met Dorcas coming in from the
garden, with a bunch OF scarlet holly
berries in her hand.
"Dorcas," he cried-"Dorcas, you
are as false as the serpent-woman. You
beau
She comprehended him in an instant,
though his voice was choked into
silence.
She flung away the scarlet cluster
and put her arms tenderly about him.
"Dear Guy" she whispered, Il love
him; but If you are unwilling-if it
takes away any of the home-feeling for
yOu-lL Oull IcuudlnS lOI yOu w soy
so. and"
Her voice died away, her head
dropped on his shoulder.
There was an instant's silence, and
then Guy said bravely.
swell, so let it be. My father Is a
trump, and you are the only woman
alive who Is worthy of him. And L
suppose people would say six years
was too much difference IN our ages
although how they're to get over the
fifteen years between you and father I
don't know" he added, with rather a
forced laugh.
And then and there Guy Paley learned
his first lesson in self-abnegation.
Dorcas picked up her holly-berries
and went to the library. where her
promised husband stood.
81 have Just seen Guy" she said.
''Isn't he pleased?'
"Yes. think he is" hesitated Dor
cas-. "Guy is a strange boy-a noble
creature. L am not sure, Horace, !"
she added with a dimness in her eyes,
that 1 would have married you If l
could not always have had Guy with
me-"
"And my true wife will be Guys
true mother!" said Mr.. Paley, drawing
Dorcas tenderly to his side:
n