Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-01-16

her mother, should guess at the emo
tion she felt; as for Basil, she would
prove by her airy and serene demeanor
how easily she had gotten over the past.
The next morning, when Madame
Paritof was quaffing her matutinal
glass OF water. with the aid OF Sirop de
Groseilles and sundry grimaces at the
Pouhon, she was surprised to see her
daughter bestow gracious bow on
young man who was approaching, and
who, unlike the generality of their
acquaintances. had not first uncovered.
Down went Madame Paritoff's glass,
and up went her gold pincenez, just in
time to see Basil Twickenham color up
to the roots of his brown hair, and re-
turn the salute with grave dignity.
DO you see. mammap 1t Is Mr.
matter-of-fact tones. How funny to
meet him here again, Is it not?'
Madame Paritof gasped and clutched
her daughters arm for support, while
the latter gaZed serenely at the ap-
preaching figure; that blush was balm
TO her feelings, the sight Of her evil
IDENTITY made him uncomfortable-so
much the better; she would try and
make him more so.
The momentary confusion had, how
ever. died away as completely as the
blush when Basll stood by her side,
greeting her as calmly as though he, an
ordinary acquaintance, had parted from
her yesterday.
His prevailing sentiments were those
of astonlshment and admiration; aston
ishment that the timid, alfdeveloped
damsel OF five years ago should have
grown into this beautiful, queenly girl; (;
admiration not only of her person but
OF her manner, her possession, the
easy grace with which she conducted
herself under circumstances which most
people would have found embarrassing.
Madame Paritoff, however, could not
dissemble SO well, and was almost
offensIvely rude; after few moments
putting an end to the conversation by
drawing her daughters arm through
hers and walking away.
The Ice was broken, nevertheless. and
after few days Basil again found him
self on Intimate terms with the Pari-
toffs, Anna having made her mother
understand the advisability of proving
that they were in no wise heart-brcken
or even pilued by his behavior in the
past, and, further, announcing, much
to the latter's surprise, that it amused
her to see him again. To Basil the
renewal of acquaintanceship under
such altered circumstances was not
altogether delightful; he was more hurt
and annoyed at Annals airy concern
than he would have cared to own, and
his sense OF shame for the past was
second only TO the interest which she
now excited in him. They met fire.
quentIy and he invariably found her
charming, affable and amusing, but
apparently hopelessly Indifferent TO
himself. The consequences which en-
sued were those which he had least
anticipated at seven-and-twenty, after
I've years knocking about the world,
he fell in love over again with the girl
who had capuivated him when just es-
capped from college. Real love this
time, and all the more intense because,
humble and devote himself as he might
her cool reserve was impenetrable.
Matters came to a crisis one day
when he was sitting beside her, little
apart from the talkative circle, where
Madame ParItof reigned supreme.
The band was playing an air which
had been favorIte of the PaIitoffs IN
old times, and to which a friend VI
theirs had set some words:
"On dit. mon ange, je lie sails blen
| Que l'amour chauge-Oh men croi:
rienr'
So it began, finishing with the asser
tioa:
"L'amour qui change nest poin
l'amourl'
Basil had heard Anna sing 1t many ;
time in those by-gone days, and some
how, at the sound, his prudence wa
flung to the winds, and almost befor,
he knew what he was doing, he ben
forward and was declaring his love
Anna just turned her eyes toward HIM
without changing either her attitude
or the expression OF her face-at first
that is to say. AS Basil, however
losing his head more and more in hi
excitement, proceeded to aver that hi
love, though it had slumbered for {
brief space, was nevertheless arden
and true, and had been reawakened y
the very sight OF her, a smile ripple
over her face, which presently gave Wa,
to low burst of ecstatic laughter.
Pray excuse me- she said, endeayoI
ing to resume her gravity; Il really ca
not help tit is such comedyl'
Basil looked at her reproachfully, hi
J handsomesdebonaire face clouded over
a sudden pallor replacing the customar
warm brown OF his complexion.
That there should be any talk c
love between us-now,' pursued Anna
with an irrepressible quaver In he
voice, and the corners OF her mout
, still dImpllng with suppressed Laughter
1t Is too ridiculous, yoa knowp
why should 1t be ridiculoUs?' erie
, Basil. goaded into passion You love
! me well enough once
'Ah, onceI' she interrupted, her eyt
flashing for a moment; then, quick
' resume her former languid amusemen
Il did many things once 1 should NJ
care to do now; l wore short skirt
. and played with doll, and trundled
hoop-I have outgrown all these el
{ fantillages, you seeP
We'll, II the memory OF the past ca
( not touch you, at least l have rigl
! to be heard at present. said Basil, in
kind of subdued fury. If you, yC
seem to think that my love-our 10y
, Of old-was but child's play, at lea
) you must believe me when i say tha
T on my honor, 1 did not believe myse
. capable OF the passionate affection L fe
= for you now.'
: Il know he continued with ney
g A1y SSHo'ASA
, you was disgraceful-unWorthy of
/; gentleman-but l can only say that
, will never cease to regret it, that If yC
t will but forgive me, my whole life W
|, be passed in the endeaTor to atone f
= it. / know you distrust me now,
e have deserved it, but upon my soul.
: you give me another chance, you "
z find me a very different person"
o You remind me- said Anna, pla
e fully, of the youth who wrote to q
q object OF his affections that the feelin
of a man of 20 were very different
y those OF . boy OF 49,
p Anna, do not triae with me al
a more said Basil, his agitation increa
2 Ing as his hopes fell. Can not y
e forget the past and give ma straigh
e forward answer as between man a.
d woman? Can you, will you love me
:, littleg'
e She might have been touched by |
+ humble, honest pleading, the inten
n | INva -rhial, fhia TINA al Iaas