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

You were born TO good luck, Pris-
ella said stout Mrs. Hackett, as she
accepted a cup of fragrant tea from
the hand of her niece You know /
always said so from the time you were
a baby
Priscilla Carew looked around her, a
faint smile on her lips; the room was
small, the furniture old, the floor COW
cred with a rag carpet, very much the
worse for wear. The damask on the
tea table was the last of her mothers
welding set, and had been darned III
every direction; and the only comfort
inle chair was big wooden rocker
! with a faded patchwork cushion
stuffed with ducks feathers The
room had a coy look, however, for
Priscilla was a born housekeeper, and
about her always reigned order and
cleanliness. The cook-stove was as
bright as i daily POLISH could make it,
the row of bright tin pans Oh the
dresser shelf were without stain, and
the old dresser itself was white with
innumerable scrubbings. In the family
sitting-room beyond the andirons be-
fore The fireplace shone like gold, the
bricks were newly Redeemed. and al
immense bunch of feathery asparagus
filed the empty s.race, for it WAS only
on state occasions that a fire WAS
built there. The floor was covered with
4 plain. dark, thTee-ply carpet, to buy
which Priscilla had made many sacri-
fees OF youthful inclInations in the
way of cuffs. collars and ribbons a
round table stood IN the centre OF the
room, and on il were the family Bible,
two small albums, a copy of Shake
speare and a large lamp. There Were
half a dozen wooden chairs against the
wall and a settee covered with a ere
tonne cushion On the high mantel
were a pair of vases, A china shepherd
esq, a cup and saucer that had belonged
TO Priscllla's great-grandmother, and a
small basket of wax fruit under glass
case.
I Prisci'la's gaze took in every article
of furniture III the two rooms, and then
. her eyes rested on her mother, faded,
weary-look ing woman. whose life had
been one long struggle with care, pri
walton and hard work. Priscilla always
felt little bitter toward fate when she
thought of her mother. 1t seemed
hard that even now, in her old age, her
mother was obliged to toll, and to turn
every penny before she spent 1t.
Il never t, ought myself very lucky,
aunt, SAID lGlScllld-
That's because you ant of the
thankful Sort said Mrs. Hackett.
You'd find plenty o. girls willin' TO
step into your shoes, now you're to
have old Matthew Pounce's fortune.
oh, very likely, now.' said Priscilla.
/ But don't be too sure that III have
the fortune, Aunt Hackett. The will
may be found after ALL
iva lyags
everywhere for it. Simpson was up
there a-searchln' before the breath was
fairly out of the old mans body. Pity
he died so sudden. But perhaps it's
| better for you, Priscilla, that he did,
for he might "a cut you out o. your
fortune What are you going to dc
J first, Priscilla?'
Il am going To wait until the fortune
is really mine before 1 do anything
Amt Hackett. Meanwhile l shall
teach school, as usual
We'll, If you amt the queerest! You
don't seem u bit set up. Some girl,
would IA gone clear out o their heads
over such luck. But maybe you're
right to hold on to your school; 70
Uncle Eben says it'll be some time be
fore the estate can be settled I'll look
for you TO make 4 gool match, now
Priscilla
A sudden flush dyed Priscilla's cheeks
scarlet. Her thoughts flew to JOIN
Morris. Would he he considered goot
match? Probably not, for John had
only his farm and stock, and II repor
did not speak falsely, old Matthew
Pounce had been worth SlU0,
Time had been when Priscilla, plan
nlng for the days TO come and sure o
Johns love and that he would som,
day ask her 10 be his wife, had though
of the comfort her mother would enjo,
at Cloverdale Farm, her working day
over forever But now it was of Mat
thew Pounce's big stone house that sh
thought. II she were indeed heIress t.
Sl0u, 900 she would not care TO live a
Cloyerdale Farm But would Johl
consent to share her wealth. Woul(
he, for love of her, give up his inde
peudenceT These were questions Sh
could not answer.
She walked to the garden gate will
Mrs. Hackett, when that good dam
went away, and stood there looking on