Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-04-04
NAN WANTED!

81 don't know that l was moro ro
mantle or given to day-dreaming than
other girls of fifteen" sud Aunt
Phebe, her needles flashing in and
out Of the blue yarn stocking she was
knitting
Aunt Phpbc took great pride in
her yarn stockings, and truly | never
saw her equal at knitting those old
fashioned foot coverings. Her bright
needles flew nimbly back and forth
and usually seemed to carry her mind
back through the years, to the time
when she, like her hearers, was a
young girl. and learnt to knit at her
mothers knee; and at such times she
tod us many a story of her own girl
Ish experience.
whether L was worse or better
than other girls l don't know I'm
sure" continued Aunt Phoebe. "But
| do remember that all manner Of
rOmanCcS and CrOtchets filled my
brain. l dearly loved to read those
wonderful, though impossible, stories
in which, by some sudden change OF
the wheel Of fortune the poor hero.
inc was made suddenly wealthy, or
the dcspised hero did some great and
noble act which made all love and re-
spect him.
'My brain was so filed with these
tales that l am afraid l became just
little dissatisfied with my own pro-
sale life, and lOnged for something to
happen which might be out Of the
usual order Of things. In the books
read the girls were always doing
something, while lived on, and on,
with hardly an object in life.
Il think that BIT was during one
July haying that l become so greatly
disgusted with my uneyentful life
that my parents thought l must be
Ill. l don't wonder at it for l moped
about like a chicken with the pip,
and had no interest in anything that
usually occupied my attention.
"sThat child IS SICK declared
mother. She is studying too hard, ;
and forthwith 1 was taken out Of
school -as s---a
= Il did not mind this very much for
it Gavo me more time to revel in my
beloved, but to me, unhealthy story
books / do not think [ was a lazy
girl, but mother would let me help
her but little in the house and sent
me out into the sunlight of those
long, pleasant days l never went
without a book of some sort, and
with one OF my favorites would climb
into the NOW, and on the sweet
-fnclling hay that had Just been
irought up from the fields, would
read for hours together. OF course my
nalady became little better under
this treatment
zone forenoon, after the men had
all gone to the field, stroIled out to
the barn intending to mount 10 my
usual place on the NOW. The sky
was a beautiful blue, with here and
there a hazy, lazy-moving cloud, and
it was an altogether enjoyable day.
The sparrows were twittering kand
calling under the barn caves, and a
pair of blucbirds were flashing back
and forth in the sunlight.
81 was almost tempted to 60 for
walk instead Of climbing up among
the rafters; but l had a new book
hidden under my apron, and 1t prom
iscd to be n most interesting story,
so ! pOstDOned my walk until after
noon. Entering the great, cool,
sweet smelling barn l carc,essly ap-
preached the ladder leading to the
lofts. Just at the corner of the grain
chests 4 dark figure CrOuChcd in the
shadow. and as l approached a man
suddenly sprang out into the light.
Oils unexpected appearance star
tied me considerably; but l did not
scream. although his looks were by
no means reas5uring. His clothing
was dirty and torn, and rough,
stuJby beard covered his face partly
hiding a long, red scar on one cheek.
His face was pale and he walked with
q limp as though one leg-the right
Une-was injured.
He uttered a terrible imprecation
when he saw me- and grasped my
wrist with i grip that almost drew
cry Of pain from me.
Who are You? he demanded,
hoarscly. What are you spying round
here for?'
''Wlth all his Gcrccncss l could see
he was very weak, and even as he
spoke he staggered and would have
fallen had not the grain chest been
within reach.
".Thi5 is my fathers barn. I re-
piled, as calmly as possible, though l
was greatly agitated.
"Hc was silent moment, painting
with either fear or because Of his re-
cent exertions. He let go of my wrist
and we stood looking at each other
full minute without moving. Then
The man spoke first.
Don't give me uD to 'em, sissy
be implored. "Twon't do you no
good if yer does, an I'll bless yer as
long IS live
"'Givc you up to whom?' / asked,
trying to choke back my emotion
"'To the pcrlicc, says he. They're
after me, but I've give 'em the slip,
an they don't know I'm here. They
say killed chap an they'll hang
me. Bat l didn't do it" he added,
yehcmcntly, as he saw the look Of
horror on my face. Il didn't do it.
sissy, l swear to you 1 didn't Jest
lct he hide here an don't tell no.
body an I'll get away when it all
blows over
The thought Of hiding a criminal
--or at least l1an who was accused
Of crimc-in my fathers barn was
rather appalling But the man was
falsely accused, so ho saIh If tho