Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-09-18
MY FATHERS DESTROYER.

MY FATHERS DESTROYER.
1t was a soft, balmy evening in June.
The full moon shed a flood of mellow
light over every stick and stone, until
old, familiar objects shone with a magic
beauty, and the sleeping earth became
very paradise of loveliness. Now and
then some wakeful bird broke into a
subdued twitter of joy, and gentle
breath of wind just stirred the leaves
into ianguid, fitful rustiing; all else was
hushed and still.
Suddenly the clang Of the bell in the
old church tower broke upon the
silence. 1t was striking the hour, and
solemnly tolled out twelve; but l could
not think of sleep, for the blood
courSed through my veins with all the
Wild joy of a happy passion. On that
very eve l had held beautiful Viva lie
Ray in my arms, and heard her wins
peTed confession of love. 1 must think
and think, before | could sleep, mus
calm my ecstacy of bliss; that was all
l could see clearly.
| turned aside into the garden.
There, seated meath rose-embowered
arbor, L Tehearsed again and again the
scenes OF that happy evening. Again
felt my sweet love tremble in my arms,
and again 1 heard the murnured words,
Yes. i love you. Seldom Oh, the
thrill of joy that filed my heart at the
remembrance
Then | fell TO dreaming of the future.
Having won my peerless Viva's love, L
feared no opposition. We were equals
in position and wealth, and our parents
were on most friendly terms. l was just
planning a bridal trip 10 Europe, " hen
an uncanny feeling that some one was
near woke me from my blissful dreams.
Mechanically L directed my glance TO a
large syringa bush that STOOD opposite
the arbor. Something peculiar about
its shadow caught my attention.
Breathless, L gaZed intently at il. Yes,
there was man standing there. He
evidently had not seen me, shaded as |
was in the arbOT, but was listening for
any suspicious sound before making a
stealthy advance upon the house.
My first impulse was to order him off
the premises, but rejecting that he was
most probably a burglar, and well
armed, l kept silent.
Five, ten minutes passed away before
my neighbor stirred. Then he silently
stepped out into the gravelled walk.
His face was distinctly revealed in the
bright moonlight.
Dark hair, blue eyes, long nose, scar
on right cheek, l noted as / made a
rapid survey of his features, Good,
think l shall know you if ever l see you
again, my fine fellow. But what on
earth do you want? You are no com
mon housebreaker,' for his whole ap-
pearance was totally different from that
of a thief.
Even as L thought this, lie quietly
vanished up the walk.
Felt slippers, l suppose; he knows
his business, L soliloquized, as L made
a rapid detour across garden and lawn
TO the front door.
1t was unlocked, and the hall lamp
was burning brightly. though the
church bell had struck three. At the
sound of my step, my father appeared
in the door of his study, which opened
directly off the hall.
Is tie back of the house fastened up,
father?' 1 aske1, at the same time lock-
ing the front door behind me.
Yes, L suppose SO, Seldom; why do
you ask?' he replied.
Because l saw man hiding IN the
shrubbery as l came in l answered.
Did you see him plainly? What did
he look like?' Queried my father with
some agitation
Yes, 1 saw his face IN the moonlight.
He had dark hair, blue eyes, long
nose, and a scar on the right cheek. He
did not look like burglar, but more
like professional man. say a lawyer, ,
i concluded. But let US go over the
house together, and make sure that the
fasteQlQgs are all secure.
Silently we made the circuit of the
doors, and saw that each one was safely
locked and bolted. As we returned to
his study, father remarked:
Il wished to consult you tonight
upon an affair of much Importance, but
it is too late now. However. L shall
slip paper under the door OF your
room which l wish you to look over
before you come down in the morning,
as L want your opinion on the matter
as soon as possible. 1t is not quite pre-
pared yet
'If you intend to sit up later, let me
stay with you,' L said anXiously. That
fellow whom saw may make some at
tempt against the house tonight
No, go TO bed, my boy, father an
swered calmly AS long as my lamp
is burning no burglar will attack US. 1
have some more writing To do, and your
presence would only disturb me- II l
am later than usual in rising in the
morning, don't let them disturb me. 1
lost good deal of sleep with that last
fever patient, and would like TO get
little extra rest Good night
All right, L replied. Good night
My father was a physician with an
extensive practice, and since my motI-
er's death he had kept very irregular
hours; so thought nothing of his re-
quest that he should not be disturbed