Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-07-26

I thSp<4pH Ut COHStluS ltOilc, 10 ca, Crisp
hot doughnuts or gingerbread HoV
many candy. pulls has he had with Bah a
one end of the sweet, sticky mass ant
himself at the other!
, Bah is not his ideal. That was tall
stately, brunette! Bah is short, merry
bIowI-eyed and with hair of Furnished
bronze that Malcolm irreverently call
redl And then, although there is NJ
foolish pride about Malcolm, he has Ger.
tainly moved in more cultivated and re
fined social circles than Barbara evel
saw. He wonders how Bah would looh
/ in clouds of tulle, her round white arm,
circled with bracelets, her glorious hal
starred with gems, and mentally decide
that she would look "jollyi"
A letter from home reached him il
'he middle of November.
DEAR Mr.. MALCOLM: thinkI ought t
write you about your pc. He won't com
plain and he amt to say sick, but he's pin
ing. and very weak. Barbara Croft Is her,
every day, reads to him, sing, for him, play
chess and brings him all sorts OF good thing
she cooks to please his appetite. She,
the best girl in the world Iflthink
but she amt like your pas own. He fret
for you, though he won't say so, and think
Mr.. Malcolm, If you'll excuse the liberty o
my saying so, the TINA Is coming when yo,
VIII be glad if you come home to cheer him
| Your obedient servant
MARY CLARKE"
"My dear old dadn thought NAL
colin, tearing down stairs with the lette,
in his hand. "He Is sick was afraid
he was last summer, and here I've beet
fooling away for months while he hs
been fretting for mel"
His remorse was deeper than bis neg
lect warranted, but he loved his father
the ever indulgent friend of his life, hi,
one tie in the dear old home. Aud SO,
making graceful apologies to his aunt
he started at once for Dcerfeld.
Mr.. Hoyt was in the library when b
drove up to the door, and through tn,
window Malcolm could rec the rudy
light from the CRATE, the deep arm chair
the figure of his father reclining there
But, pausing on the porch, he saw more
he saw that the dear face was hollow.
eyed, haggard, fearfully changed. H,
Saw trim little figure bending lovingly
over the sick man, cosxIng him TO ca
the dainty luncheon on the table beside
him. Aud he saw Bah more than once
draw back to hide quiyering lips ant
eyes filled with tears.
"How good she is" Malcolm thought,
''to leave her bright home, to comfort a
lonely old man." And he stepped soft.
ly, not to disturb the pretty scene, and
went to the back door to send Mrs
Clarke to give notice of his arrival.
He was disappointed when he went in
to find his father alone, but he forgot all
else in his sorrow at finding such .
change in him.
"Why have you not sent for me be
torel' he asked, reproachfully.
~ knew you were enjoying yol
visit, my dear boy. Your letters wen
like CLEANS of sunshine; Bah read thou
over and over to me, but would not lei
any one write but myself, for fear
troubling ycu."
"But you were lonely"
ayes, very lonely, though Barbara
has been very kind. She is the gentlesi
Of nurses, the most patient OF CON
panions," then, little wIstfully "Hav
you no news for me, Malcolml"
-NOHCi OiL NAdL i nave
al SO wish TO see you settled in you
home, before-I mean, soou."
married! But if fail to find my
'dea2"
"Ah, We all fail in that"
"But father, you would not have mi /
marry without lovel"
"Never!"
al saw nobody loved in New
York"
''But, nearer home?'
"four tea is ready, Mr.. Malcolm"
!aid Mrs. Clarke at the door, aud Nal.
colin obeyed the summons.
The subject was not renewed as fathel
and son sat far into the night conversing.
There were many matters needing super.
vision, and again Malcolm reproached
himself that all the care of the estate
aad fallen upon his fathers feeble
hands while he was pleasure seeking.
"But will never leave him again."
ne said to himself as he assisted his faith
.r to his bedroom.
d whole week passed busily, and there
,ame a few days of warm weather, such
IS November finds often In her dreary
weeks. Barbara was in the garden.
walking up and down, thinking.
Of whatf OF Mrs. Clsrke's announce.
nent whole week before that had sent
.eE s4nrGying home like a frightened
'abbit. Wa, Malcolm SO engrossed with
lis idea that he had not even one hour
'or his old playmatel 1t hurt her to
hink so, and she missed, too, the daily
are she had voluntarily assumed during
lis absence.
~ do believe 1 am bluel" she thought,
'ettishly. "What will happen ne1ti'
What happened next was a crunching
'f- gravel under quick feet, and voice
aging: I
"Bab, I have come to see why you
lave deserted my father" I
1t was so sudden that Bah crimsonei
IS she replied: !
"He does not need me, now that you
re at home"
"He asks for you every hour. But,
Bah, l did not come only on f1lial duty.
came to say somebody else needs you, D
ongs for you, loves you'll Bah, darling,
Won't you come to the old home for life ,
Won't you be mine, dear, my wife, my Q
larlingl' 4
She could only answer by shy bushes {
~ vailing the soft, brown eyes tn hide
heir happiness. But Malcolm was sat-
SIZED; aud When she asked, presently:
But your ideal, Malcolm?" he answered,
"Sne is here in my arms, Bab-mr
rst and only true love" ."-NeD Yor
ledger. I
The Cowboys Quirt.