Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-12-05
THE COUNTS HEIR.

Ehcn Johnson.
Thee was an accent % annoya zee.
not TO say vexation, in the voice wIich
fell very unpleasantly on Mr.. Gray :
ear, as her husband came Slowly uy
the garden path.
"liannah," said he, pcttishly.
passed me, driving our Mary il a
CUTTER"
where's the harm?" said Mrs
Gray, answering the tone rathe- t. IL
the wOrdS az she glanced smiliAg y
up from her work. I'm sure he's =
fine young fellow enough. and l
rather think he and Mary like one
another
"iIa-m echoed Noah Gray. "1'En
surprised to hear you ask that quc5-
tiOn, vie. No poor sailOring chap
like Ebcn johnson is going to mary
Mary Gray, and so l tell you"
"Are you warm enough, Matte"
"Uh, yes, plenty warm. Drivo a
little slower, Eben, please. want
that disagreeable Setn Holloway u
pass Us.
Seth Holloway" he muttered be-
tween his teeth "Oh, Matte, lwisl
l were rich"
Why"
Then your father would like me
as we'll as that rcd-haired, one-eyc
Seth Holloway! / never used To case
anything about riches, Mary.
Il remember once, years ago, there
was a pestilence raging at a little
seaport in Italy, whore our ship wa,
anchored. The Inhabitants ncI,
panic-stricken: but l had no fear and
| nurSed an old grandee through it
rich, childish old duke, with skin
as yellow as saffron.
Il wish you could have seen his
palazzo, Mary, with its orange trees
AMI fountains; and vet he was LONELY
and wretched amid 1t all / dida't
envy him his wealth. He was very
grateful and wanted to adopt me; but
l wouldn't have staid there for un-
counted worlds"
'.And have YOU ever seen him
sincc?"
Never; but l have many a time
wondered what he's doing in his turI
Lle-dOwn palazZo.
Th.t lOw-caved Old house, with the
cedar tree waving its dark arms OYER
the IOrch and the CluIEIs Of shrub6;
lilaCs in front, wouiI come in sight
at length, drive as e,cwIy as they
choose, and the black shadows OF t'.c
gate-post sleeping on the snow in t,c
still, white moonlight, seemed II
keep a solemn watch as the little
sic gh glided up and stopped.
As Mary opened the sitting room
door she started back at the sight OF
the group that met her eyes
There was Seth Holloway sitting
uneasily on the edge Of chair-hcr
father, his gray head resting on his
outSt etched arms on the table had
her mother bending over him, trying
through fast dropping teIFs to whIs.
per comforting words.
Mother. On, mother! what las
happened" ~ she exclaimed, springins
to Mrs. Gray. side, while Eben John
son stood dismayed in the doorway.
speak to me, father! Are you i'll?
Oh, do tell me what the matter is"
Matter" groancd Noah Gray
hoarsely, as he lifted his head ami
stared round the room with strained
eyes The matter is that we are
rulned-you are a beggar, child"
what does he mean, mothcr?"
falteled Mary, shrinking back.
He means, dear, that the man
down in Augusta, whom he indo-sei
for. has falied-has run away, and
your father has all the amount to
pay"
Il tell you what, 'Squirer' said
Eben, pressing forward. II have
but little money, but that little il
heartily at your service. Aud I'll
write to my uncle, up at Spraysvillc,
to lend me some money; and I'll
work my fingers TO the bone, but that
you and yours shan't come to want?
Don't take on so, 'Squire-now
DON'T
Noah Gray silently stretched out
his hand to meet the iron grasp Of
the young sailor, whose voice t-cm-
bled with the fullness OF his heart.
Seth Holloway. who had been un-
easily writhing on the extreme limit 0f
his chair, got up to depart at til
juncture.
Noah Gray shook his head wearily.
You mean well, my boy said he
'and l thank you: but I'm ruincd
man, After all these years OF work
and care TO sCrape together little
competence for Hannah and Mary, l
an "--"inAd man at last"
huskily
There never WAS anything so bad
lut what might he hetteIed"
Noah did not reply and Mr.. Gray
whispered softly to Eben that re
haps her husband needed rest. Til
brave young fellow took the h!n:,
only pausing on th, threshold to say
TO Mary in an undertoue:
''Hiattii6. / wish more than ever that
! was rich man"
The little red poStotficc had h"eC
thrOnged and vacated in dnc go -.
sion and now the ruler Of tn, mails
sat all alone on his high stool, swing
ing his feet and peering over his
spectaclcs out of the window.
suddenly he started up.
Hello Eben! Eben il Ilnson."
And Ebeu, who was rIJing along
the road. absorbed in inward reiec-
ton, came to an abrupt pause.
well, what's wanting?"
Heres letter for you, with a
New York postmark." said the man
of stamps, holding up the document
between his forefnger and thumb.
Eben mechanically came forward
and took the letter, turning 1t curj-
Ously over as he walked away.
"A letter for me-" he muttcrci
Pm sure don't know Of anybody
who would write to me. unless 1t wa
Mary Gray, aud l don't think she
would write when she could speak So
much easier Well, l guess nay
aS well open it,"
And Ebeh opened a brief let.c:
from New York attorney, agent for