Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-10-07

scale, her yellow hair making sort of
sunshine in the room, her blue eyes
ghtterlng. "Oh, I've made such
good bargain this mornlngl It's equal
to pair OF those chocolate-c -colored
Suede gloves for me. The roses were
extra choice In Hugo Hardie's bouquet.
30 male the girl give me seventy-fve
cents instead of fifty. Good-mornIng,
auntle, darling; you look as if you had
been boiledp'
And" cried Esperance wrsthfully,
you promised poor young Hardie to
keep those flowers foreverl 1 heard
your
Yseult laughed.
There are some promises made only
TO be broken, said she. 'Oh, | know
lots of girls who always sell their ball
tiowersl This little vender gets what
Is called second price, for them among
people who are fond of flowers, but
can't afford to pay florists rates. One
must economiZe."
Mrs. Bavard nodded approval of this
sentiment. Esperance looked gravely
at her sister, wondering what it was
that young Hardie could see in that
shallow nature, that exuberance of
rosy smiles and tangled yellow hair, to
captivate him thus.
A ring at the door-bell was heard; a
voice inQuiring for Miss Bavard TO-
lowed. Yseult started up in panic.
''There he is now," she cried out.
''What possesses him to call so early
before one has fairly brushed the cob
webs out of one'seyesP Tell him Pm not
up yet. Go down and see him, Esper-
ance, there's darling. Make any ex-
cuse you cam
81 shan't tell any falsehood about
it," said Esperance, unwittingly.
''Tell what you please, only gol"
cried Yseult, giving her sister push.
In the disorders Of the reception par
lor stood Mr.. Hardie. with a bouquet
in his hand, and to her diSmay Esper-
ance Bavard recognized the very Gath
crime Mermet' roses that he had, lhe
day before, sent to her sister by the
hand of a special messenger.
His brow was overcast; his eyes were
full OF sombre meaning.
''Good-morning, Miss ESperance!" he
said. 81 am to understand that your
sister Is not yet visible? She has not
brushed the cobwebs out of her eyesl
l heard her say so. Here is the bou-
quet she honored me by carrying last
night. l met little girl in the street
who had 1t with some others. In bas-
ket. She said she had purchased them
at second hand. To me it seemed
scarcely possible that a young lady
could sell such things. l had been
foolish enough to credit some assertions
that she made TO me last night, about
keeping them some little time, for the
sake of the donorl''
Esperance was silent; the color that
went and came on her cheek was most
eloquent. however.
''It was, perhaps, lucky thing that
l chanced to meet the flower girl, ;" went
on Mr. Hardie. "Your sister scarcely
took the notice of my roses that 1 had
expected. Seep'
He parted the still bright and frag-
rant buds, and from beneath their pet
ais took out small, fat box and a
note.
Or" he added, ''she would have
found thesel wish you a good MORN
ing, Miss Bavardl'
And Mr.. Hugo Hardie departed, leav-
ing the Catherine Mermet roses on the
table.
Miss Yseult Bsvard was nearly fran
tic when she heard the story of the
mute message which had never de-
livered itself.
"It was an engagement ring, of
course" said she, ''dnf a declaration
of marriagel Oh, VI have 1 done?
1 must see HIM and have an explain
alton at oncel"
But Mr.. Hardie resolutely avoided
any such explanation. Miss Bavard's
mercantile transactions had thoroughly
dIsenchanted him.
The season ended without any visi-
bic advantage to Mr.. Bsvard's two
handsome nieces, and the old gentle
man positively declined longer to as
sumo the expense of their ma a'nte-
nances.
UnwillIngly enough, Yseult took
situation as companion to capricious
rich lady who was going to Flor ida,
and Esperance became teacher in a
large private school.
She would have preferred the Flori-
dain trip herself, but Yseult had smil
ing, selfish way Of apprOpriating the
cream of life and shouldering her
younger sister asidce--so Esperance took
what the brilliant blonde left, land made
the best of it.
But one evening Mrs. Teachall "re-
ceived her friends with a little
music, a little lemonade and good
deal of conversatIon-and it CHANGED
that one of the pupils was a young
cousin of Hugo Harjie's.
He met Miss Bavard with a little
surprise in his face.
81 thought you had left town." said
he.
NO." said Esperance, feeling her
self blush like poppy. ''That was
Yseult."
You have tried all the evening to
avoid me-" said he quietly.
T-I thought it wouldn't be Pleas
ant for YOU to meet mel" stammered
the poor girl.
son the contrary" said he, sit
is exceedingly pleasant. You do
not know how often have thought of