Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-11-07
JULIET. THE ORPHAN.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

"Well, Juliet, what are you calculat-
ing to do9" said Mrs. Murdrignt.
cts time to make up your mind about
something, you KNOW" briskly observed
Miss Juniata Jessup.
Juliet May lifted her heavy head, and
looked at them with vague surprise.
"Dos" she repeated. "What's there
to do9 l don't know what you all
mean"
She was dark, large-eyed girl with
checks as pale as a calla-leaf, Spanish
luxuriance of jet-black hair and slight
figure, which seemed to be bound by the
weight of her deep mourning. Mrs.
Murdright was tall, masculine woman,
with iron-gray hair and a square chin.
Miss Jessup wore spectacles and moved
around in an active, jerky way, like an
extra large-sized canary bird.
sits a week tomorrow since your pa
was buried" added Mrs. Murdright.
Juliet WINGED
eyes," she said; ~ know it. Oh,
papa! papal"
''There, there" said Miss Jessup, as
the young orphan hid her face in her
hands, "don't give way. It's unchris-
tian, and it's uncomfortable, tool"
'And it's high time" steadily OBJ
served Mrs. Murdright, "that you looked
matters IN the face, Juliet May. You've
got your living to earn, and"
''But l thought l was to live with
you, said poor Juliet, who was as ig-
norant in the ways of the world as a six
month-old infant. You are my moth
er's sister, Aunt Murdright, and"
"That is hardly reason why should
undertake to support every relative l
have got in the world" said Mrs. NTurd-
right, sourly. You aren't a child,
Juliet. You was eighteen last month,
and there's many girl of your age earns
her own living and lays up a handsome
sum besides. And it's close on the first
of June, and l need every room 1 have
to let to summer boarders."
"And there is no reason" supple
mented Miss Juniata, skillfully seizing
the opportunity to strike it when Mrs.
Murdright paused for lack of breath,
''why you should sit with folded hands
while your cousin Artemisia works in
the skirt factory, and Louisa Lacy goes out
to tailoring"
Juliet sat looking~--e1m one to the 9TH
er, while her heart seemed to stand still
within her. At the Grange she had al
ways lived in luxury. She had been the
darling and idolized child of q doting
father. She had never paused to con-
slider the question of mere money. All
good and lovely things seemed to assem-
BILE around her by magic. Every one
had spokes tenderlY to her; and now
and now"
"Whet am so do, Aunt Murdright2"
she falecred. l'Is all my money spent9"
"Your money!" Historically echoed
Miss Jessup. ''Poor child! You hain't
got none. It's all gone in rash specula-
tions md mad inventions"
'sJuniata speaks only the truth" said
Mrs. Murdright, stiffly, as Juliet's eyes
sought hers, as if to ask confederation of
the little old maids unfeeling words
sYou're as good as beggar, and you
must begin to consider in serious earnest
what you are to do for your bread. /
can't undertake to support YOU"
Juliet put her little cold hand in a
pathetically pleading way on Mrs.
.Murdright's.
"Aunt," said she, couldn't I stay
herea Couldn't MAJ myself useful to
youa"
Mrs. Murdright shrugged her shoul-
dcrs.
"I'm very sorry" said she, ''but l
;s7on't require any one to play the piano,
and sit around the house in picturesque
positions, and be waited on. You haven't
been bought up as my girls are, Juliet
May!"l
Juliet recoiled as if n serpent had stune
her; she turned to Miss Jessup.
:, "Ccusin Juniata, she said, ''you, too,