Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-06-17
FOR ONE DAY.

ne houses III lllc ltETdCc WeTe VI
Uay stucco, with bow windows and
flights of steps out of all proportion to
their size.
The main road ran along the bottom,
and the remaining two sides were
bounded by stretches of blank wall
above which few sickly plane trees
we're tluttering their leaves in the Au-
gust air.
Eleanor Lloyd, from her window in
the roof, could see not only the wall
and the plane trees, but, by dint OF
Craning her neck, the High street itself
with its ccaSeless stream of trans and
Omnibuses. There was a public house
at the corner, and, as the door swung
backward and forward, Eleanor caught
glimpscs of the lively barmaid behind
her tall white tap handles. A group
of flower girls, with uncurled feathers
and straight fringes, stood outside on
the pavement, jesting with 'busmer
and passers-by. Eleanor, who was ,
"hdy" (heaven help her!) used some
times to envy the barmaid and the flower
girls their social opportunity.
This evening, over everything, over
the sordid street, the dusty trees, the
clustering roofs-over the girl at the
window with her pale face, strong
young shoulders and shabby gown
brooded the spirit of the tired summer
The summer, which, by stream anC
sea, is lusty from June to September
drags on weary and dispirited through
its later weeks in the city.
The hot, dusty, grit laden air blew
from the east; it moved guerulously
among the plane trees, and lifted at in.
teryals the hair on Eleanor's forehead
She had been sitting there oil the af.
temoon, and now the sun was setting
There was nothing for her to do. Hel
little pupils in the neighboring square
had gone to the sea; her brothers and
sisters played noisily in the basement
parlor; even poor Eddy had fallen
asleep on the sofa, with the crutch
that was of so little use to him, at hi,
side.
And now, as n great red flame lie uI
The west, there came over Eleanor one
OF those half-rapturous fits of longing
0ose fierce warnings for happiness
which most of us know in youth
which are not noble, not beautiful
perhaps; certainly in no way to be en-.
ooaraged; which are only infinitely
cruel and infinitely sad.
30 the cry went up from her, the
human, passionate cry from this help
ess, huttering creature caught-Oh
me irony of it!-in pitiless network
VI suburban streets.
A man, with bent, shabby shoulder.
shd tagging gait, turned up the terrace
nom the High street.
AT the parlor window of the Lloyd'i
mouse wornout-looking woman, will
Npahent face, watched him and sighed
III their youth, no doubt, the hus
hAhd and wife had dreamed of othel
uhiNgS than those long years of cease
less labor with their scant reward.
hard-working, unassuming, den
eA'eiy Just, he was not, perhaps, of th'
Atun OF which rich men are made.
Inc children clamored up into th'
parior to greet their father. Eddy
Helu out little thin hand from tn,
SOFA; Eleanor, with the dreams still
her dazzled eyes, slid into the dark
@ned room-darkened on behalf ot
carpet and curtains-and took hel
place at the teatable.
did You see your letter, father?'
saiu the wife, as she lifted the teapo
vi Britannia metal.
Mr' Lloyd, who had taken the lonf
olne envelope from the mantelpiece
'Aiu II unopened beside his plate.
me room was very hot, and tn
n"u Hoped drearily in the wind
inere was a household loaf on tn
'e: some thick, thin-spread brea'
-uu butter, and a dish of watercre S.
"ugh and sinawy August growth.