Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-07-09


Hackett's substantial figure had disap-
peared in the dusk.
Priscilla had talked very little of
Matthew Pource's fortune, but she
had thought of 1t a great deal, and had
made vague plans for the future already,
though in the great stone house Oh the
hill the undertaken and his assls ants
were yet busy.
Matthew Pounce had never married,
and Priscilla was the only child of his
only nephew, and the last OF the line.
But she had never looked upon herself
as the old mans heiress. He had been
cold, grabbed and selfish, and had never
been known to do generous or kindly
act. Priscilla well remembered the
day, ten years before, when she had
gone to the stone house to ask aid for
her dying father, who would never
have made the appeal himself. 1t had
been refused in no gentle terms.
I've never asked anyone to help me,
said the old man. and l started with
out a dollar. What one man can do
another can. When a man 5 down il 5
his own fault, usually, no one TO blame
for it but himself, and he can't expect
other people to suffer for his faults.
Ny money was made by hard work,
and | amt goin' to squsnder il. You
won't get a cent of it now, nor after
Pm gone. Don't expect it; you'd only
be disappointed. My Plan for disposing
of my money has been cat and dried
for twenty years.
The cold, heartless words came back
to Priscilla now, as she stood at the
"a in the dusk of the June evening.
the fragrance of roses filling tie air.
Matthew Pounce was dead, and no will
could be found. If he ha ed intes-
tate. as seemed to be the case, Priscilla
would have everything
'It's only on mothers account I want
it, she thought. Poor mother! She
won't know herself as mistress of Uncle
Matthew'S big house
She heard the sound of horses hoofs
on the hard road and looked up eagerly,
her color Frightening, as she saw John
Morris on his big black mare Diana. 1t
seemed at first as if he did not intend
to stop, and Priscilla's heart turned
sick with disapp intment and surprise,
for John seldom passed the cottage
without pausing for few words with
her at least.
But just beyond the gate he pulled
up tie mare with jerk.
i hear you've come in for big for
tune, Priscilla, he said, as he swung
himself from the saddle. Il suppose
ought to congratulate yOu.'
Wait until the fOrtuue is really
mine, said Priscilla.
'Oh, there seems 10 be no doubt that
you'll have it, said John. gloomily.
And L can't afford to wait, for prob
ably / shall leave here in day or two,
The color died out of Priscilla's face.
For moment she could not utter a
word.
Only that I've had an offer for th4.
farm. and think III take it. | want
TO try ranch life in Colorado. Cicely's
2oIng TO be married next month. you
know, and there'n be nothing 10 KEEP
me here
lie did not look at her as he spoke,
hut kept his eyes on the ground.
Priscilla said nothing in reply. She
WAS asking herself what coulI be the
cause of the change i'll her lover. She
could not understand it. He was
usually radiant with good humor, and
she had expected to talk freely with
him of her changed prospects. But his
air of gloom and the GOODNESS of his
manner did rot invite confidence.
Her :Ieart was very heavy when he
had ridden away again, and she washed
the supper dishes and put the kitchen
in order for the night, she was scarcely
conscious OF what she was doing, So
occupied was her mind with thoughts
of John Morris. IL WAS almost year
since lie had begun to he attentive 10
her. He bad met her often a. she WAS
leaving tire schOolhOuSe at four O'Clock,
and had walked home with her, leading
his horse by the bride, and saying all
sorts of pleasant things, which, while
neither brilliant HOT witty. made Pris-
cIlla's heart beat fast, and gave her the
assurance that she was beloved.
He had made practice, too, of COM
ing to tea on Sunday evenings, and
la ely had referred more than once tC
his dread of being very lonely when
Cicely should be gone, and only Old
Sarah Cole left to keep him company.
And Priscilla had fondly imagined
this was the prelude to asking her Il
make Cloverdale her home.
Seems to me you're awful quiet this
evening, PRISCILLA said her mother,
who was knitting by the light of :
kerosene lamp. You don't seem bit
pleased over your fortune
Her fortune? Priscilla had, in hel
misery, forgotten all about that. What
did it matter if she was rich or poor il
John Morris was to be hundreds o.
miles away from. her. roughing 1t on /;
Colorado ranch!
She cried herself to sleep that night
and dreamed that she saw John Morri
married to Colorado girl, who wa,
terribly old, and ugly. and walked will
limp.
She was reminded of her dream the
next morning when Cicely Morris stop
ped in on her way to the village, eager
to talk TO Priscilla about Old Matthew,
money.
1t was Saturday, and there WAS NJ
school, and Priscilla was at home, busy
making cake. 1t was jelly cake, and
tie jelly was laId very thick betweer
the thin loaves-just As John liked il
For Priscilla cherished the hope thai
| John might come TO tea as usual the
next evening.
You don't look bit like an heiress
Priscilla said Cicely. You're as sobe
| as an owl.
What ought to do?' asked Priscilla
We'll, / don't know exactly; l neyel
SAW Ill heiress before. I'll read up OF
the subject and let you know. Are yol
! going to the funeral this afternoon
But of course you are. Everybody
gong; everybody except John. He ha'
gone to BarnesvIlle, and won't be bacl
till night. L shouldn't wonder if h
were counting AmeliI Bacon
The knife with which Priscilla wa
spreading jelly dropped to the tabl
with a clatter- She pulled open tn
| tahia drauer and hauf nyer il ur g