Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-06-24

swept over the girls brown face an,
her eyes snapped.
They Knocked me because woult
not dance and sing and max,
speeches as the others did. Tn '
shall let me alone; 1 have don,
nothing to them"
but you should be friendly
with every one; others like tC
dance and sing, for IL at makes hf,
hghter, but to give kind word is yer,
appropriate for quiet person" She
looked ahead and drew her brow5 to
gether as If she would conceal hel
Diack eyes beneath them. For awLil,
they sailed along silently.
''Have you never heard from thai
artist again, Laurella, the Neapol.
ltan who wanted you for his wife?" saic
the pastor. She shook her head. "He
came over to paint your portrait: WHY
did you refuse him?"
why did he wish it; there
are others more beautiful thar
l. And then, who knows what he
would have done. He might have be,
twltched me and harmed nv soul. OF
caused my death, mother said"
"Donot believe such sinful things, "said
the pastor, earnestly; ''are You not al.
ways IN Gods hands without whose
pen Imlsslon not barr of your head
falls? And shall one man be stronger
Than the Lord. Moreover, you could
see that he wished you well, else would
ne have desired to marry you?" She
was silent. "Why have you rejected
him? He must have been an honest
man and would have been able to pro
vide for you and your mother better
than you can do with your little spin.
ming and silk winding"
"W Q are poorpeople, she answered,
impetuously, ''and my mother has
been sick a long time. We would
only have been a burden to him and [
am not fit for a signora. Tnen,
II his friends had visited him,
he would have been ashamed of us y
"What nonsense you talk L tell
you he was an honrs st man and besides
he would have settled in Sorrento.
Such one, who was indeed sent from
heaven to help you, will not soon come
again"
II do not want a husband,
never" she replied, quite scornfully
and as if to herself.
nave you Jake vow, or dc
you intend to go into a con-
vent| She shook her head. 'The peo-
pie are right who reproach you with
obstiuacy, although it Is not nice
word.
Remember that you are not alons
in the wor d, and through this stubborn
ness you only make more bitter your
mothers life and illness. What reason
able ground have you for refusing this
honest hand which would support you
and your mother? Answer me, Lau-
rellal"
81 have a good reason" she
said, trembling slightly, "but L canuot
tell it
"Cannot tell it? Not to me?
Not 10 your father confessor to whom
you confide all other things, and whom
You believe means well by you?"
"You did not know my father,'' she
whispered and her eyes looked sullen.
"Your father?" He died yes.
/ think you were scarcely ten years
old. What has your father, may his
soul rest in pardise, to do with your OBJ
stinacy?"
"You did not know him, Padre,
and you do not know that he
alone is responsible for my mothers
Illness"
"How soP"
because g i'll treated and beat
her and trampled her under his
feet. L remember well the night
he came home and flew into a
passion. She never said word to him
and did everything he wanted, bat be
struck her and it seemed as if my heart
would break. | drew the bed cover
over my head and acted as if l was
asleep, but | wept all the night long.
When he saw her lie on the floor, he
turned suddenly and raised her up and
kissed her so that she cried; he choked
her. Mother forbad that should ever
say a word a. out it, but 1t affected her
so that now for many years since his
death she has not been we'll; and if she
should soon die, which God forbid, L
know well who has caused 1t.
The little priest shook his head and
seemed irresolute to what extent he
should advise his contestant. At last he
said, "Forgive him even as your mother
forgave him do not think of that sorrow
full picture, Laurella; better times will
come for you and make your forget it
ALL"
81 shall never forget that" she
said, and her whole form quivered.
"You know now, Padre, why l shall
always remain a maid and be subject to
no one who can ill treat me and then
caress me. If any one should beat me
or kiss me, know how to protect my
self; but my mother did not dare to
protect herself, either from blows or
from kisses, because she loved him.
But L will never so love any man that L
become sick aid miserable on account of
him.
"You are child yet and speak like a
child who knows nothing of what hap
pens in the world. Are all men such as
your poor father was? Do they give
way to every nopd and temper and
treat their wives lily? Have you not
seen plenty of honest men in all the
neighborhood, and wiv who live in
peace and harmony with their hus-
bands?"
"No one knew about my father, how
he treated my mother for she would
rather have died thousand times than
to talk or complain to anyone, all be-
cause she loved him. So long as love
Is suCu tu0t II CltscS Oul ilps NhCh VIC
should cry for help, and makes rs help
less against the madman who can injure
us as he would his worst enemy, so long
1 will never set my heart on any man.
81 tell you, you are a child and do
not know what you say. Your heart
will ask you many questions, whether
you wish to love or not when your
time comes; then all this which you
A~l- -
will not help you," Again after pause,
"And this artist, did you also expect
that be would treat you badly?"
"His eyes looked as 1 have seen my
fathers look when he begged mother s
pardon and wished to take her in his
arms in order to speak fattering words
to her. 1 know those eyes they can
also change to those which reconcile
the heart to beat his wife who has never
done him harm. When l saw those
ovaa aooip thav fillad ma with terror