Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-02-05

to the language OF affectionate appro-
val
He said l should lie sorry; wonder
what he meant?' was Susan'S inward
inquiry, many times during the long
afternoon, which seemed as though il
would never end. At last, weary with
combating the troubled, self-reproach-
ful thoughts, that she could not Alto
gether silence. she threw down her
work. and sinking back upon the wide,
easy lounge upon which she was sitting,
fell aslee
Her dreams took the coloring of her
thoughts. She thought she WAS upon
vast, extended plain, red with blood,
End covered with heaps of the slain.
The fierce clash of the arms and the
shock of battle had given place to the
groans or the wounded and dying.
With trembling steps she moved here
and there, seeking, yet dreading to find
the form that had not been absent one
moment from her thoughts during a !
these terrible hours of suspense. AT
last she found him, with stiffened
limbs, pale lips and ashy cheeks, his
blue, sighrless eyes turned up to the
musky heavens.
The forehead of her upright one, and
Just,
Tired by the hoof of battle to the
dust
The sharp cry OF agony with which
she threw herself upon the dead body of
her lover, aroused her. She IA sed up
her head, and looked bewildered upon
the familiar objects around her.
Thank God, it was only a dream,
1, i'll. r.F
she went out upon the piazza TO get
rid of the heayiness and lassitude that
oppressed her. IT sun was down, but
the clouds upon the western horizon
were t-nged with crimson and gold.
John had promised to walk out with
her in the cool of the evening Had lie
forgotten it2 Or was he still angry
with her?
As these questions passed through
his mind, she heard the outside gate
open, and turned her eyes eagerly to-
ward the path that led to it. But it
was only her little brother Arthur. He
came running up the walk, nearly
breathleSs with haste and excitement.
oh, SUSAN he exclaimed, as soon as
lie observed her, the seventh regiment
is going TO start in the morning, and
the Ashland band will be here, and the
firemen are coming outl AMI only
thinkI Wyllis Burt isn't going after
all. John Albright has taken his
place and
But Susan was gone. With a face
from which every Yestige of color had
fed, she reached her own room. So lie
was going, she said to herself, and she
was the cause of it. If he had decided
that it was his duty to go, it would not
have seemed half so terrible.
She thought OF the strength and
nobility of his nature, the tenG erueSS OF
his heart. Never had he &c med 50
dear to her. Never had she realized
how much, or in how many ways she
| dream, and felt that it was a prophecy
| that she had seen him upon the field oi
| battle, as he would lay ere long.
And he was going without bidding
her goodbye. She could not have il So
/ She must see him!'
As she said this, she arose. and tying
on her hat, covering her light muslil
/ dress with a large dark mantle, stole
out of the house. She passed rapidly
along the nearly deserted streets, umtI
she came 10 the pieasin little cottage
where John lived with his widowed
mother. She had never been inside OF
it, but had often looked az it admIring-
ly, as it stood emOOwered in fruit and
shade trees, ToSe-buShes and clustering
vines, and never before without think
ing that some time II WAS to be her
home as we'll as hiS.
She mounted the steps, and rang the
bell. Mrs. Albright came TO her door.
Susan almost dreaded TO look into her
face, feeling that she might justly re-
prOach her with being the cause of the
loss she was about to sustain, the sup
port and championship of her only
child. But to her relief her counte-
nance wore the same kind and placid
look that was its prevailing expression,
though she seemed some what surprised
at her unexpected appearance.
rs John imp Susan inquiied, falter-
ingly.
Yes. He complaiCed of headache,
and has been at home nearly all the
fore.oOn. Come into the parlor, aud
I'll speak to him.
Susan rose to her feet as she heard
the sound of that step, along the hail,
and moment later, the door opened
and John entered. The cold. stern
look faded from lip and brow as lie
looked upon her pale, agitated cOunte-
nance.
What has happened, Susan?' he in
quired, in tone of concern.
oh, JohnI' exclaimed Susan, as
though you did not know, and that IT
was tue worst thing that could happen.
Not that L mean to reproach you, for l
know 1t is all my faultl'
1T may seem uumaidenly IN me to
come here unasked,' she continued,
raf I,f Oh,
but L felt as if L could not let you 20
away without telling you how sorry,
how very sorry am for " hat | said to
you this morning. That wherever you
20 you Will take my heart with you.
That if you are killed, l shall not care
to lIvel'
Here her head again dropped upon
his shoulder. The expression upon
Johns countenance as lie looked upon
the weeping girl, was singularly con-
hicting; the eyes had a ord of love
and sympathy in them, while half
pleased, halt roguish smile fingered
around the mouth.
so you really love me a littie?' he
said, making a vain effort 10 lift her
forehead from his shoulder, so he could
look into her eyes.
Il love you very much, John. never
knew how much until now,' she re-
Piled, still keeping her face hid from
him.
And you don't want me TO propose
to Miss Ward?'
90, John, please don't allude to those
foolish words said Susan, in such
tone of distress, that John was instantly
We'll, won't again. he said, in
very different tone. But, Susan, when
and how did you hear that L was going
away?'
Susan told him.
And did it never occur TO you that
have COUSIN by that name?'
Susan srarted bar AVA HaEhing uvfff,