Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-05-01
COUSIN RACHEL'S DECEPTION.

The chapters in the worlds unwritten |
history that show how destiny has
played the mischief with the best laid
plans of men and mice, form, perhaps,
the bulk of the work.
1t is not, therefore, without good
many pTecedents that / find myself
now, at the mature age of thirty, just
beginning new life, the enjoyable
conditions of which consist of faith and
hypothesis.
1 can only dImly remember my
father, who left my mother widow
when ] was but small boy. At the
age of fifteen, my orphan age was COM
p.eted III my mothers death, when i
Tell as ward to Uncle John Colfax-
The Will which thus transferred me,
with a few thousand dollars OF inherit
ance, provided for my education. which
was faithfully carried out by Uncle
John, who had always seemed TO look
with SPECIAL favor on me, perhaps
because had been named for him, and
was the last of his braGch Of the family
who bore the ColfaX name.
But Uncle John, though possessed OF
many excellent qualities of head and
| heart, was somewhat of An oddity In
| certain lines. as might be expecte1
from one who had lived over ffoiF5s
years OF old Eachelorhood-
Not having access to the unwritten
history before mentioned, am unable
| to throw any light on the early causes
of his complete withdrawal from society.
as tue world defines it, or why he had
with increasing persistency shut
woman kind as much as possible out Of
his life.
AS an occupation he had chosen the
manufacture of agricultural imple-
ments and machinery, and had made a
financial success of his business. He
! was respected as a leading citizen, and
had once CT twice drifted far enough
into politics 20 make his name known
IN the State, and show that be could be
a leader If he wished. Among women
lie was unknown except by name and
reputation, his business never bringing
him into contact with them. He Sim
ply ignored them. without explanation
o. comment.
For three years was away at school,
except during vacations, and Catholic
1 school lad been selected for me, am
now satisfied. because of its strict dis
clpline, and the unlikeltness OF my
there falling into the society o. girls.
Time dragged heavily during thest
/ Years. 1 dislIked the absolute seclusicI
from society we were compelled u
submit 10. | grew to hate the very
sight Of the two priests, as they would
pass up and down the walk inside the
space surrounded by high board fence,
. as they took their daily morning stroll
e shut in from the outer world At the
; age of eighteen l entered college
l where the requirements OF the cours'
S kept me OFT OF society for four years
/ was, therefore, at graduation, well
educated young man, but a socla
e ignoramus-
We'll, Uncle John,' l said, on ar
r riyIng home from college, my schoo
f DAYS are over, and all my money spent
0 What shall l do nextp'
i What do you want TO do?' he asked
: Il have thought the matter over FIRE
:, duantly during the past year, uncle
n replied, but have only decided that
+ dom want to go into any of the regula
Il professions. The honors of an education
t are found in that way, l suppose, bu
: my tastes don't run toward the pulpit
Il bar, med cine or the school ROOM The
e represent too much of hack life
/, SUIT nv independence. l would rathe
e 90 into some kind of business tha
81 offers less glory and more chances
; success
IS 'Them's my sentiments, Jack, uncl
remarked, and I'm glad to hear 70
lie sprak 'em. You're a chip of the ol
' CUlfax block, and have got through tt
> period of caiIow youth that wants ~lns
le for the azure very creditably. In til
. very pract ical world an ounce of goo
II sense Is better than a barrel of specI
lation about the unattainable. ha'
; tiled to shape your education 80 as
y, keep out the fire-flies of aspiration 4
u the far away beyond. Born geniust
70 may thrive in that realm; but II
/ Colfax blood doesn't run much to boz
geniuses; and there Is nothing that III
~ out a mans life quite as well as
n satisfactory success. You're old enoug
f now to begin to see into the real worl'
and understand what's worth an
- what's worthless. III you had bee
- educated in the midst of society yo
n probably would have absorbed Its fal
- notions before you could judge OF then
- There Is time enough for society ye
" 1 gave It up long ago, but L want 20
n to know it now. Don't let 1t run avn
with you, though; and. above all, Jacl
don't fall in love with some prett
in silly girl for several years yet. Mo
ye than half the civilized world are era:
o" over the subject of love and marriag
ar and one or the supposed great aims
al society is to gather the boys and gii
o. into the happy state; Just how hap
ey tho state is never appears In the mark
he reports; but those who look about the
rs can see ,hat, divested of Its advertis
glamour and its nallucination. marri