Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-04-03

her firm, decisive footballs, and in my
dire apprehension of what was coming,
[ forgot, for time, to groan.
'Richardl - Richard Millerp She
PRONOUNCED Il e first name 'Ree-char-
r-rd' in her anxiety to let me know
which one of the 'Millers' she was
addressing-'Whose likeness is this?'
Mine said I, with Washingtonian
love for Yeracity that bodily fear could
not entirely Danish.
'Hear him, motheri he owns that this
is his picture!'
The old lady had by this time Sc
cured her specs and was examining
the photograph with care and dellbera-
tion.
'Sallyl' said she. This hyar is
/ Deekl'
of course it Is. 1 know lt-and he
owns it, said her daughter, bitterly.
And now, sir, will You tell me who
! that--that woman iS?'
Certainly! 1t is my sister,
What a chorus of denials went up at
this statement. Even kind-hearted
! little Molly Joined IN with the rest,
and informed me that l ought to he
ashamed of myself; to which L humbly
assented.
Just then the old lady made discov-
cry.
sally, what is this writ on the back
hyar?'
Ever thus through life, January
Goth, 1ST9,' chorused three feminine
voices.
sWhp, SallyI' added Kate, solemnly
and slowly. You had only been mar
ried little over two years.
l glanced at the clock again.
| Twenty minutes after eleven. Oh, for
the power of Joshua not TO make the
sun stand still, but to shove it ahead a
few notches.
January twenty. seventy nine,'
mused the old lady. Sally, whar's
yer memmyrandy?'
Yes, your diary put in sister Kate,
get it, quick
Let me save you the trouble said l,
resolved to confess all, and then throw
myself on her mercy. L can not bear
to witness your distress when l can
explain all with a word but she
wouldn't listen to me at all, and had
to sit on the bedside IN silence and
watch her turn the leaves OF that con-
founded diary.
September October - Nov - Ch,
here 1t is: January the l9th-January
both. 'Rained all day. Made pair
of pillow slips, and slammed my new
deIain dress with the old one. L hope
dear Dick will come to see me to-
night Oh, pshawl that is 1877. Let
me see. Here is 'I9, Janury 2Uth. Baby
had the Group last night. Mother
thinks he is bad off, Wish Dick was
here'-and here the little woman
threw the book down, and burst out
sobbing as though her heart would
break.
oh, Dick-DickI To think that
struggling on alone-here by myself
and our little darling baby at deaths
door-everything to see after-and you
off there with herl'
The last word was a scream which
brought me to my feet in alarm. Mrs.
Miller was evidently approaching hys-
terics.
'Oh-h-h dearp she continued. 'If
had only died before L saw that picture
standing there with his ar-r-rm
around--'
BY this time l had reached the mid
die of the room, where, coatless, in my
stocking feet, and my head swathed IN
a red handkerchief, 1 was vaInly striv-
ing for a hearing. Finally Molly took
pity on me and interceded in my behalf.
1t is only just to hear what he has
to say, Sally
Nothing that he can say will have
the slightest effect now,' sighed Mrs.
Miller, now totally exhausted, and
reclining on rug with her head sup
, ported in Kate's lap. Speak on, sir.
L am sincerely sorry that this has
ever occurred L began. 1t is all the
result of very natural mistake. L am
not your husband, as you suppose
l could not continue, for my voice
was drowned in a scream.
| gI 70 4aT1
, me this before my mother and my
childI Oh, you unnatural mOnsteTp
1 could see that another paroxysm
was coming on and fed. Not through
: the hall, for she was between me and
the door, but the entrance to side
room was handy, and L made use of it.
L found myself in a little apartment,
about eight feet by ten, evidently used
! as a sleeping-room by the hired-help,
. when such was required In the busy
r crop season. The only articles were q
bedstead and chair, but III one corner
sat pair of gum boots, probably LETT
by the last occupant, and over the bed
, hung an antiquated specimen of al
, army revolver. This last L took from
. its nail and mechanically turned in my
. hand, much as blind man might have
/ handled a book, not knowing whether
1t was Shakespeare or the Bible.
Suddenly l heard the voice of that
awful boy again.
'GoodyI Goodyi We're going to have
chickin' for dinner
No attention was paid TO his clamOr
. and he proceeded to explain at the toI
: OF his voice.
y .'Cause daddy's got the 'volver and
he's goin' to shoot our old rooster,
Z know he is
Oh, what a wealth of undying love
was expressed in the hOrrid cry thai
q burst from my much-IDiured, but for
0 giving, wife,
' Quick. girlsI Quickl Don't let hin
!. do I'll He'll kill himself. Dick, Dick
Don't do itI'
as some vast tidal wave might sweel
down upon a vessel at anchor, smother
ing in its overwhelming torrent, anC
> bearing the shattered remnants back Il
3 It's ocean lair, SO this half-frantic
n wholly-terrided group of females in
q vaded the sanctity of my last refuge
Loving and sOlicitous arms were about
a my neck, the revolver was snatcheC
a fron my nerveless hand and hurried
through the window, and L was dragget
' back into the larger apartment. Liter
4 ally, was IN the hands of nay friends
For a moment L think L was hal
= insane from the tumult and confusion
and fought like tiger to be free, bu
q each of my loving sisters clung to a
arm, Mrs. Miller's blue lawn sleeve
n were encircling my neck with suffOcat
a ing pressure, the old lady had N
h around the waist, and L was compare
lively helpless.
:. AS we were Waiting past the ope
~ door, some one dashed into the hal
and I caught a glImpse of a familIa