Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-02-28

1N'''N " 'SaNf AsaANf A4EE. iG IllN- -if'-
with the guests who gather at Ms.
Markhams, his amt; escorts his pretty
cousin Mabel to opera, theatre, concert !;
dances gracefully with one belle, takes
another out to supper, makes himself
agreeable with 4 third on a slcighing
party, escorts . fourth Tor a promenade,
and so on-s!xth, seventh. eighth, mum
bers indefinite, coming under his care
pro tenn, but not one stirring his hear5
as Bab's cordial greeting did when he
returned from cole e.
Bah! There IS scarcely frolic OF his
lonely childhood that is not associated
with Bah. How many times has her
mother called him in from SNOWFALL
fighting or coasting frolic, 20 eas crisp,
hot doughauts or gingerbread! How
many cardy-pulis has he had with Bah at
one end OF the sweet, sticky mass and
himself at the otherl
Bah is not his ideal. That was tall,
stately, brunette! Bah is short, merry,
browI-eyed and with hair of FURNISHED
bronze that Malcolm irreverently calls
red! And then, although there is no
foolish pride about Malcolm, he has GER
tainly moved in more cultivated aud re-
fined social circles than Barbara ever
saw. He wonders how Bib would look
in clouds OF tulle, her rouI / white arms
circled with bracelets, her glorious hair
starred with gems, and mentally decides
that she would look "joliy!"
4 letter from home reached him IN
the middle of November.
DEAR Mn. M>Lcoa..: thinkI ought 20
write you about you: pa. He won't COM.
plain. and ne aln'U t. say sick but he's PIN
iny. ami very wax. Bir5l-a Croft is here
every day, reads TO htGI, lgS for him. plsg 5
cIess and orin = liui au sorts OF gool thingi
she COOKS to p,ease his app .t.te. She
tle best girl in the world l tGinf,
but she ain Ike Y0Ir pI's OsL. be trers
tor you, thOugh Ie'wnu't sly -, an [ thluc.
Mr.. Malcolm, II you'G e5rlsa tle liberty OF
my saying s0,~the time IS coming when you
viii be glad ii you CONE home to caeal him
&OGr obedient servant,
NARY CLAAKE."
"lIy dear old daiH' thought Nal,
colin, tearing down stairs with the letter
IN bis haod. "Ic Is sic,. was airI.j
ne was last summer, and here I've beea
ioU..nS away Tor months wa.le he has
been iresting for me.'
His remOrse was deeper than his neg.
Iect warranted, but he loved his father,
the ever indulgent friend Of his life, his
one tie IN the dear old home. Aud so,
making graceful apollo yies to his aunt,
be started al once for Daerield.
Mr.. Hoyt was in the library when he
drove up,o the door, and through the
window Malcolm could rec the rudy
light from the CRATE, the deep arm claIr,
lie igIre OF his father reclining there.
But, pausing on the 20 -ch, he saw more
He saw that the dear face was hollow
eyed, haggard, fearfully changed. lie
saw a trim little figure bending lovingly
over the sick man, coaXIDg him 70 eat
the dainty luncheon on the table beside
him. Aud he saw BIB more than once
draw back to hide quivering lips and
eyes filled with tcars.
How good she is, Malcolm thought,
''to leave her bright home, to comfort
lonely old man." And he stepped soft
II, not to disturb the pretty scene, aud
went 10 the back door to send Mrs.
Clarke to give notice of his arrival.
He was disappointed when he went in
10 find his father alone, but he forgot all
else in his sorrow at finding such 3
change in him.
why have you not sent for me be-
forel' ne asked, reproGchfully.
~ knew you were enjoying your
visit, my dear boy. Your letters were
like CLEANS of sunshine; Bah read them
over and over to me, but would not let
any one write but myself, for fear Of
troubling you"
.'But you were lonely"
"Yes, very lonely, though Barbara
uas been very kind. She is the gentlest
of nurses, the most patient Of com.
panions, then, little wIstfully: "Have
you no news for me, Malcolm?' ..'-
None, but what have written!' -.
81 so wish to see you settled in your
home, before-I mean, soon."
Married. But if / fail to find my
ideal2"
"Ah, we all, fail in that
"But father, you would not have me
marry without love!'
"Neverm
81 saw nobody I loved in New
York"
"But, nearer home2'
"Your tea is ready, Mr.. Malcolm, v
said Mrs. Clarke at the door, aud Nal
colin obeyed the summons:
The subject was not renewed as father
and son sat far into the night conversing.
There were many matters needing super
vision, and again Malcolm reproached
himself thai all the care of the estate
had fallen upon his fathers feeble
hands while he was pleasure-seeking.
sBut l will never leave him again.
be said to himself as he assisted his fath-
er to his bedroom.
A whole week passcT BusiIy, and there
came a few days Of, warm weather, such
as November finds often IN her dreary
weeks. Barbara was in the garden,
walking up and down, thinking.
OF whafl Of8Trs. Clarke's announce
ment a whole week before that had sent
her skurrying home like a frightened
rabbit. Was Malcolm so engrossed with
his idea that ne, had. not even one hour
for his old playmate2 1t hurt her to
think so, and she missed, too, the daily
care she had voluntarily assumed during
his absence. =:
II do believe am blIel" she thought,
pettishIy. "What will happen nexti'
what nappenet next was crunchlnS
of gravel under quick feet: and q voice
saving:
'Bab, 1 have come to see why you
have deserted my father"
1t was 50 sudden that Bah erimsoned
rs she replied: = =.
''He does not need me, now that you
are at home" - ::
'sHe asks for yoh every hour. But,
Bah, did not come only on tilial duty.
came to say somebody else needs you,
longs for you, loves you'll Bah, darllng+
won't you come to the old'home for life!
Won't you be mine, dear, my wife, my
darling?"
She could oaly answer by shy bushes,
by vailing the soft, brown eyes to hide