Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-02-26
RETRlBUTI0N.

1t is necessary t. anticipate our
story. The following little incident Is
the keynote u all That IS 10 follow, So
We have no hesitation in asking tie
smallest poss'b g attention. while we
endeavor 10 describe a scene which has,
of course, occurred over and over
again. and will keep on occurring 10
the end of lime.
The engagemt Mt between Lily Payne
and BERTHE Richardson was certainly
no ret All the world acknowledg, d
| 1t. AID though, of course, every indi-
vidual member of that great faction
had something or other to say, not
quite complimentary 10 one or the ether
of the principal people IN question,
still, IL was pretty unanimously agree
! that both might have done much worse.
The worst part of the business, how
ever, WAS that il was absolutely neces-
sary that some time must elapse before
the marriage could actually take place.
Here was a very far sample of the
truth of the saying that evils usually
accompany what the world calls long
engagement
When the young people first spoke OF
love, all was couleur de rose. Not a
day passed without dreams of everlast-
ing affection. BERTHE never considei ed
the day happily spent unless he had
an opportun iy of a whisper with his
fair one; and Lily used 10 boast that
she invariably cried her eyes OUT when
something or other prevented their
usual daily tete-a-tete.
Bat it was impossible that this kind
Of thing should last forever. They
both love one another very dearly, of
course. But BERTHE, in the course of a
year or so, used TO delight III magnify
ing the smallest grievance and began
to be horribly discontented with what
he called the exigencies of fate;;' while
| Lily, charminsly interesting IN an un-
usual pallor, dear girl, felt much
vexed that everything was not turning
out as well as it should, and accord
ingly displayed just the least possible
amount of temper. BERTHE pretended
to he jealous, while Lily obstinateiy
determined 10 try the high and mighty
line.
There had been a ball in bloomsbury
Square, to which, of course, both the
young people were invited. Lily fool
ishly thought that little harmless
| filtration would Instantly bring her de-
voted one 10 her feet; and just for the
sake of an experiment she, for the first
time, had the courage to attempt thi:
very hazardous expetient tor patching
up all past quarrels, and As a means
for understanding one another better
In the future.
The ball took place. Lily was radi.
ant and acted her part to perfection.
BERTHE, doubly Indignant, Oh account
of little quiet bantering he received
in the cou sc of The evening from his
| l.fr h.. in, f,,I
not an enviable frame of mind
The next day they met; and BERTHE.
who had steeled himself for the attack.
began the conversation as follows:
We'll, 1 really don'L think, Lily, thai
you acted quite considerably last eve
ming. You may be tired of being Con
;inuslly chaffed about young Richard
sor,' but L hardly think it looks well
TO attempt a downright Irritation in my
presence
Lily pretended to be entirely discon,
certed; and, playing with the fringe OF
a sofa cushion which was conveniently J
near, she answered, without the shadow
IF hesitation:
We'll, and what can it signify tt
your'
signify to me!' said BERTHE, hardly
able TO control himself. why. whal
can you be thinking about? Do yOU
mean to say that every one in the rOon
last night did not know as well as pos
Sible that we we're engagedp And ye
in the face of all this you dance repeat
edly with another man, and make your
self as conspicuous as possible
My dear boy,' repeated Lily,
smoothing down her fair hair, and
looking quite wicked in her quiet com
placency, now don't lose your temper
Next, let me tell you, once for all, thai
| never have been, and never intend tC
,e, tied to the bottonhole OF your coat
enjoyed myself thoroughly last eve
ing. and / am not going TO turn mysel
into siaid, easy y-going piece of ma
chiuery for You or any one else.
advise y u, theI efore, TO out your in
Dig grafton into ysur pocket, and to be
n I'VE yourself, ror once, like a ratlona
being
Lily, this is not the way TO talk K
me. L am afraid you have forgotteI
all our happy days, and are quite de
termined 10 annoy. me as much as ever
You can
All l ask of you is t. be consistent
and not to put yourself out at trifies-
1t Is not a trifie,' said BERTHE, 'ant
what is more, Will not allow it,
ALLOW it, indeedl' replied the young
lady, in the slightest posslble tone ol
sarcasm. Il am not aware that have
ever consented 10 be dt the beck anC
call of Mr.. Herbert Richardson
Do you mean to say, Lily, that you
want our engagement TO come to al
endI'
That matter L leave you to decide
yourself. l can't help your bad temper
but l am determined that l will moi
have it vented on me-
Very well,' said Bertie. Il have nc
wish 10 bind you to a promise which
jyou are evidently anxious to break
M;ss Payne, l have the honor to visit
you a very good -moIniug.'
He seized his hat and stick as hs
. spoke and walked Indignantly out Of
tie house.
. And so the lovers parted. Both knew
rs well as possible they were equally III
lhe wrong, and yet neither of them had
the courage TO put pride out of sight
aud live III so much as to secure al
inevitable reconciliation.
Berthe grounl his teeth, and walked
!, feIcely away, angry with himst If, and
miserable at The consequences of thi:
little scene. Lily rushed of 10 the
piano, and pretended to sing; but the
tears started TO her eyes, and she wa:
cJWpeLed 10 retire TO her own room