Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-09-27

up In deep sigh. Plainly. the
citadel which represented the Widow
Baritone's heart was about t. sur
render at discretion.
She sat there in the neatly-kept
Kitchen, knitting away, In her black
calico gown and black-ribboned cap,
when Mr.. Hamerslie came in that
afternoon. How was she to know
that he hal just been closing up that
little account in Loves ledger with
Columblne Carter? How was she To
dream Of Diny's scornful tears, her
indignant rejection of the maui
! miserable subterfuges?
"You have never loved me-" said
Biny. "lf you had, you never could
have left me in this way Go to your
rich widow; 1, for one, will neye.
stand in your path. Nor shall
stoop to enlighten her as to the true
character of the man she is about tt
marry"
So Biny had dismissed her lover.
VIII Hamerslie had WINGED a little.
1t was not the sort Of parting which
he had pictured TO himself. 1t rob
bed him of all dignity and aplomh
But it couldn't be helped. Colum-
bine was such an impetuous little
thing, that she never allowed him
the opportunity to utter the smooth
speech which he had so carefully COM
mitted to memory. 1t was awkward
but it was unavoidable.
Mrs. Baritone smiled broadly upon
her young wOoer as he entered he!
presence.
$50 you've come back again?" said
she.
He sat down and took her hand.
'Don you think I could long re
main away from you?"
That's all nonsense" said Mrs.
Baritone But, nevertheless, she
did not withdraw her hand.
"Hou promised me your answer to-
day." said he. "YUu can Imagine
how eagerly am waiting for it."
well, really, don't know what
to say" simparcl Mrs. Baritone. III
l believed you really loved me"
"Can you doubt it, Melissa?" softly
whispered IIamerslie, thinking Of the
$40, 900 legacy from o.d Uncle Bari
tones bachelor brother.
'But Pm so much older than you
are"
love does not 60 by the calen.
dar," reasoned Mr.. Hamerslie, tend
erly.
'And Baritone always objected tt
second marriages" persisted the wild
ow.
"But baritone is dead and gonen
impatiently retorted the lover.
what can he possibly have to dt
with It?"
Just then occurred one OF those
marvellous happenings which have
given rise to the saying that truth
Is stranger than fction." The front
doer-which, according to the rustic
custom of the place, was never locked
swung slowly open, and in the
doorway stood the we!l-known figure
Uf old Uncle Baritone himself!
"Hello, Mcliss!" was his greeting
"You seem to be cn.oyin' OF yourself
pretty we'll! And who the dickens is
this young man?"
Mrs. Baritone jumYcI up with a
scream. Mr.. Willard Hamerslie
caught up the poker and straight
way retreated behind the cooking.
stove.
"If You are ghost" screamed the
widow, don't come any nearer"
''1f you are tramp, re. out OF this
house," roared uamerslic, brandishing
the poker after 4 most threatening
fashion.
~ amt neither one nor the other"
said the apparitiOn, leisurely seating
itself. "It's NE. benjamin Bari
tone, aseverybody supposed was killed
In the lime pits! But wasn't /
had the luck to tumble out Of the
kilns, as I'd tumblcd In, and I was
that ashamed as l took myself of foa
good and all. says | to myself: Old
fellow, your wife Is ashamed Of you,
and so is everybody else. And you
ain't Of no use in the world, except
to go 1ddling around 10 barn frolics
and husking bees So smashed my
fiddle and / ran away. But times II
hard, and it amt easy to pick up a
livin' when man gets TO my time OF
life, so here l ain hack again. And
I've signed the Temperance pledge
and l mean to stick TO it this time
Give me a kiss, old grill"
And so the widow Baritone was
widow no longer.
won't you stay to supper, young
mani" said old Uncle Baritone, hos
pitably, as he saw VIII Hamerslie
feeling about for his hat under the
table. But Mr.. Hamerslle declined
the invitation.
Mr.. Baritone enjoyed the legacy
himself-nor was his wife altogether
dissatisfied with the unexpected turn
which things had taken.
'lIe always was good husband
said she, except In the matter OF
ardent spirits, and in that there par.
ticular he's n reformed man. And
really no one couldn't imagine how
cheerful his fiddle sounds about the
house when I'm a-doin' Of the chores
But VIII Hamerslle was less recon.
ciled to fate. He had lost the widow,
and Columbine Carter would have
more to say to him.
II want no secondhand lover" said
Biny, laughing. And when Hamer-
slie saw her laugh he knew that love
was fed.
He was right. Within six months
columbine was married to a young
a wyer who had come down from AL
oany to search some title-deeds in the
records. And our luck.
ess hero was left with neither wife
nor legacy.
So run the fortunes Of love.-NeW
York Ledger.