Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-11-04

| oAu SuO0tneu her ruff1ed
The next day we started for 'sThe
uars derald met us at the station:
oven maggie acknowledged that he was
much improved, aud looked almost man.
ly. -'-'''''
"Well, Lily, 1 suppose we must thin,
vi getting married soon," be said, when
We were fairly off.
NO, no, l must stay with my poor
old grandfather fer the few remaining q
years he has to llve,n replied. at tbe
same time treading on his foot so hard
as 10 make him use strong language and
Maggie look up from her book. "How
hate the Idea of living in stately gran.
deur at 1.-The Cedarsl'' It is yerv
dreadful to have such common taste.
bnt 1 should like to live at .WilIow
Lodge which is just outside our gates
and not to have a footman on the
premises-I am so afraid of those grand
loek'ng supercilious beings"
Gerald quite agreed with me, and wa
amused ourselves by drawing a picture
OF happiness at "Willow Lodge" and
iamenting that Fate had denied me a
| brother
| 1t happened that we Travelled by a
traln which started two hours before
the one by which We had told grand
papa to expect US, 80 that when we AT.
rived lie was not at the station TO
meet us, so we walked home through
the park, and Maggie was delighted
with the scenery.
AS 1t was nearly time to dress for
dinner when we arrived, we Informed
our toilets and went to the drawing
room, where Maggie was soon alb
sorbed in a portfolio of valuable en-
gravinhs; so Gerald and | wandered on
the lawn.
! Maggie was suddenly aroused from
her occupation by the sound of a rich
tenor voice, singing Blumenthal's a
beautiful song The Message" Sne
knew that Gerald's vocal powers were
very small, ana felt SURE that he could
not sing 90 well and powerfully. The
voice drew near, and presently tall,
handsome man stood at tbs open win
dow. The windows of the drawing
room were to the ground, so he stepped
In, aud advancing toward Maggie, said
in peculiarly sweet voice:
81 presume that l am addressing
Miss Lawrence, and most humbly apol- =
ogize for having neglected myduty as
a host by being absent on your arrival,
but my giddy granddaughter told me
that need not expect you till seven
O'Clock, and it is now only five, so you
must exonerate me from blame"
Maggie, forgetful of her usual polite
behavior, stared at her host in blank
establishment. The handsome man.
whose only symptom of even middle
age was in few lines Of silver scattered
here and there among his luxuriant
chestnut hair, the grandfather of LII
lianl 1t was incredible.
"I see you are surprised to find so
young a man in the grandfather OF Lily,
| but early marriages run In our family, -
said my grandpapa. smiling.
OF course Gerald and took the earll-
est opportunity to laugh at Maggie for
her breach of politeness in staring
grandpa out of countenance.
We were all very happy sometimes,
but l, for one, was wretched at others.
For instance, we had series of dinner
parties. Oh, the misery l endureil
Maggie would not sit at the head of
the table, and there was | compelled to
endure some hours torture, talking to
all the Oldest and dullest bald headed
| gentlemen, my face getting red and my
head aching, oh, it was dreadful
| Everyone remarked on the elega mt
appearance and manners of Maggie
Lawrence; she was completely suited to
entertain guests, an Off ce for which /
was totally untitled. Gerald was quite
as bad, and would not talk to the dis
agreeable girls, or even dance wit h
them.
What pains Maggie took to bring me
| forward My voice was very weak, but
she made me sing with her, and gave
me courage.
Time flew rapidly on; the six months
| which Maggie had allowed herself for
| pleasure had gone, and she began to
talk of leaving US. In vain l begged
and prayed her to remain; she said it
was quite time for her to begin Il work.
"Oh, Maggie, darling, be my COM
panion: you shall have any salary you
| ask" / said.
"No. Lily DEAR" she replied; 81 may
be foolishly proud, but cannot make
up my mind to live bere as dependent
where 1 have spent such happy days as
guest. No; 1 shall go right away,
and, if possible, obtain situation far
away from all my friends"
"Oh, what cruel girl you must bel"
I said, bursting into tears, for 1t seemed
very unkind of her to wish to leave
| US.
At length we obtained q reluctant
promise from her to remain until Christ
mas was past, but she was determined
! to leave just after New Years Day
One day Gerald said to me, Lilly,
| I'll bet you pound of sugared almonds
1--WE were both fond of sweets) that we
| shall live at Willow Lodge after all.
| s.yU 4 |
because proud Maggie has lost her
heart to your grandfather, said he,
land will some day be our grand
mother
At this suggestion We both laughed
so immoderately that Maggie came In
from the conservatory, where she was
made at her suggestion TO ask the cause
of our laughter. OF course we did not
| tell her.
As Christmas drew near, Maggie
| became Quleter than usual, and her
cheeks grew pale. Grandpa also lost
his usual spirits, While Gerald l and
became daily more lively.
On Christmas Eve found Maggie in
tears, with an open letter before her.
1t was from Mrs. Brandon, offering her
hrst-rate engagement in some remote
place. Maggie declared her determine
tion to accept it. After wasting great
amount of eIoQueIce to dissuade her,
without effect, / ran down to the libra
~, where my grandfather was sitting
alone. and said reproacbfully: Maggie
is going away next month; and we shall
never see her again"
"Where Is she?' he asked, and closed
his mouth very tight, sure sign
that he had made up his mind to some
thing.
I'm my boudoir; the door is open,
and you may go In" replied, trying
| 20 ,ol ,.nnonoerned He kissed me