Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-02-17

fellow we'll met with all the titles at
Monte Carlo. And between these two
advantages, not to speak of the enor-
nous influence Of her new husband,
the poor lady did not know which was
best. But her instinct toll her that
Freddy was q danger from which her
little girl ought to be set free. Mrs.
Halls money had all come from trade;
her husband had been a wealthy manu-
faciurer. It is no unusual thing in
those circumstances to think connec-
ton with rank and fashion the most
desirable thing in the world; but L
don't know how this really kind, simple
woman had been taken possession of
by 1t. / discovered afterwards that
Johnson's communication was quite
true, that the mother had only large
annuity (they don't cIll 1t jointure in
commercial oircles). and that Effie's
was the great fol tune. Colonel Hall,
presumably, had made Q mistake,
thinking his wife had everything and
the full disposal of the money, and now
he meant to make up for 1t by securing
the girl too.
Only a day or two after our arrival
Effie had asked me in so many words
my opinion Of her stepfather.
"How do you like Colonel Hall?"
she said. 1t was question to which l
was not ready with any reply.
II think your mother is charming,
my DEAR" / said.
"Ah, isn't she? Just as sweet as she
can be?" said the girl, with q flush of
pleasure; land 30 pretty, don't you
think, and younger than L am, Miss
Drummond? But that is not an
answer to my question:" she said very
gravely, looking me in the face.
"He is like 80 many men," said /,
"He is tribe / must take little
time to make out what is individual in
him. But am afraid L don't like the
nephew at all"
"Oh, isn't he odiousl" Effie cried.
And this was the young man who
was now constantly by her side. She
was never allowed to escape from him.
He sat next to her at the theatre,
gave her his arm coming and going,
stood over her, bending down as If they
were having the most intimate OF con-
/ versations, when she sat down anywhere,
was ready to accompany her wherever
she went, to walk with her, to talk with
her. to bring her flowers and bonbons,
every attention that lover could give.
bred enough; and not unsmusing. The
wonder to me was that 80 young girl
unaccustomsdt to such attentions did not
fall a victim to them; but there is an
instinct that sometimes mot always
heaven knows, protects the innocent.
Effie very frank, little innocent girl,
thinking not yet of love at all, or,
rather, with schoolboy's aversion
to it, than a romance on the subject,
could not endure this persecution. She
struggled with it, making a continual
effort to be free. But what was
her htt'e strength against so many?
for, at first, even her mother was
in the plot, easily deceived into
thinking it was q case of love at first
sight with Fred, her simple vanity
enchanted that her daughter should
SO soon have fulfilled the chief end
of woman or rather of girl 1 don't
know how it was that light broke upon
her on the subject; but 1t did, overcom-
ing both her love for. and the dread of
her husband, which latter feeling in
creased day by day. Probably she heard
something from him at last, some un-
guarded word which put Freddy's true
motives, and his uncle's meaning in an
unmistaksble light. She came up to
me-I was on the second floor, but
they were au premier, living In the
highest style. She looked like a
ghost if such thing as a portly ghost
could be conceived - with painting
breath and the greatest agitation.
"Ch, Miss Drummond, she said throw
ing herself down on the sofa beside me
with a shock which made the walls
tremble, what shall do? what shall /
do?"
"What is the matter?" cried.
81 have only a moment, / can't stay.
The Colonel has gone downstairs to
smoke his cigar Oh, Miss Drummond,
he has set his heart on marrying Effie
to Freddy. He says if L oppose it
shall be false to him, and he will be
sorry he ever married me. And she
abhors him-and l don't like him my
self-and what am l to do?"
"Dear Mrs. Hall, you are her only
protector. you must make a stand for
your child"
against my husbandp' cried the
poor woman wringing her hands
v uhich' we're so covered with rings that
she must have hurt them "Oh, how
am 1 to make any stand agai lst him
and yet L know its only for her money,
and she loathes the sight of him. Oh,
Miss Drummond, tell me, tell me, what
am to do?"
"My dear Mrs. Hall, you must de-
fend your daughter who has nobody
else to protect her; surely that Is the
first duty you can have"
"Ohl" she cried again, 'tyou don't
know what it is to be divided between
two; and he says she will be the prey
of fortune hunters wherever she goes,
and that Freddy will take care of her.
Miss Drummond, you are 30 sensible,
and you know those kind of people
better than L do-you are one of them
! you know, though You give Yourself no
airs. Oh, Miss Drummond, would you
speak, Just one word to Colonel Hall?'
} One of the Monte Carlo set! it was
not much of a compliment. But, to be
sure, that was not what the poor lady
meant. Chow could L speak to him?" l.
said, show could L interfere when her
mother is here? 1 who am almost 6
stranger? 1t is quite impossible.
! would do anything for Effie, anything
J but that. Let her come with me
!, That Is the only thing to do, it would
: cut the knot. If Master Freddy fol
lowed us, you may be sure he would
, get little encouragement from me"
! Il thought of that" she said, sadly
J "but the Colonel would never allow it
1 mentioned it, and it put him into
, such rage-I don't mean, Miss Drum
mond, into a rage with mel but he can
, bear to be contradicted and he has SC
] set his heart on this. He says Freddy
will be changed man with nice wifi,
and that he is yery fond of her
though he doesn't disguise that but fol-
her money-And Freddy is Sir Hu
bert's SOD, Miss Drummond; his seconC
son, but the eldest is very delicate
, And-oh" The poor woman claspet
her hands, and looked pIteously int
my face.
"But you have just told me that sh
[ hates him"