Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-10-17

turned to her and asked soberly:
'What has brought you here, Grace
though you were in Long Branch.
excuse me. Ralph" she answered
with a confusion which I pretended
not to notice, "but I don't wish to tell
you-at least not now"
every WELL" I said, IT won't asa
You, bat will leave tomorrow, I can
not stay here with you-l-"
I stopped the confession and she
looked at me in that same odd, ques
tioning way.
"Why not?" she asked, after n short
silence, and regaining her jesting tone
with an effort, 'I'n sure it will be very
amusing to r,In about our old play
grounds We have been unexpectedly
thrown together here and might enjoy
recalling some OF our-foolishness.
don't see why you want to run away
Her merriment and Adlow's relation.
ship to hel made it impossible for me
to give my true reason but it was well
the rain had brought darkness early,
for my face would else have betrayed
too much emotion. / was silent q no.
ment, and then said:
'I'll tell you WHY, Grace. I don't
think it is Just to Mr.. Adlow. Every
one knows how attentive he has been
to You, and although your engagement
has not been announced, we have req
son to believe it soon will be. I re-
spect Mr.. low and will not remain. "
"otill the same careful boy you al
wavs were" she answered, laughing.
"Don't bother about Mr.. Adlow. II
choose to roam once more through
these beloved scenes with such an old
friend as you, he shouldn't object.
Now, you will stay until I say you
should go, won't you?"
She looked at me with ,uch an ap-
peal, that / readily yielded.
Days passed-blissful days-and
Grace was adorable. Iloved her moro
and more, and saw moro clearly that,
for the sake of my future happiness, I
should go away but she was so merry.
and still so unconscious of my true
feeling, that 1 remained, and fearing
to cloud her pleasure, feigned equal
eayety, So surely, though, as the
days were passing. 1 felt that my re-
straint could not last long.
One sunny afternoon, walking down
q quiet lane, shaded by the orchard
trees on each side, said:
"Grace, must go away. You haven't
told me yet to go, but I must. We
have been as candid and frank as true
friends should be, but there is one
point we must meet. If you are en-
gaged to Mr. Adlow, I must leave at
once. Tell Inc plainly"
She kept a steady look at me during
the words, wearing the odd expression
1 had before noticed, but more intense.
/ had schooled myself for the ordeal
and had assumed the half-bant ring
tone in which we had always ts1ted.
But she was now sober, and, a'ter
dropping her head and walking ON a
short distance, she answered:
''You are right, Ralph. l have kept
you here and you are entitled to know.
just lefo-e the party started for Long
Branch, NJ. Adlow asked me to be his
wife. had thought loved him, but
when he asked me felt that 1 was not
sure. I knew that if should go with
the party could not give his proposal
the serious thought that it deserved,
SO came down here, never expecting
to find you: and have been thinking
though you may not believe
it. Tomorrow is the day I promised
Mr.. Adlow to let him know. There it
all is, Ralph. Please don't think me
in telling you this. Our
relations have been unusual, because
Of those old-those dear old times, and
feel towards you almost as 1 would
towards-towards brother"
"And an / entitled to know hoE You
will answer?' / asked, with a thrill of
hope, for it was the first time 1 had
heard her speak tenderly of the "old
times"
Again she cast that strange, pene-
trating look at me, and replied:
al will write TO him tomorrow, and
will tell you how have decided in
the evening"
All next day Grace kept her room,
md strolled alone. Her action puz-
zled me greatly. Why had she not ac-
cepted Adlow at once? Had she learned
which made marriage with
him undesirable? Sometimes I felt
that 1 had been weak in not declaring
my love in spite of Adlow, but could
not make myself believe that she saw
but fun in our relations, I
rOamed far, aud without seeing Grace
again. 1 conld not face the ordeal of
hearing that she had accepted Adlow,
and if she should tell me of refusal,
faorAl chat eI
he confession that her boyish lover
VAT her lover still in manhood. was
but could not help it.
Late in the afternoon hurried back
o the house. Finding my uncle, I
old him untruthfully. but excusably.
I WAS called away by
business, and asked him to bid Grace !
,ood-bye for me. He was a man of few
words, and essented without comment. ,
had previously obtained his permis-
ion to take some article from the old |
'edar chest as memento, and 1 now
,urried up to the room to select one. |
sat down upon the chest, fighting
ny desire to call Grace from her room,
o tell her that our laughter over the
Id times had, with me, changed to
owe, and to beseech her not to marry
allow. But conquered. Grace was
90 noble, too just, to accept anyone.
ven though sns might love him, in
his underhand manner.
I raised the lid of the chest and re-
moved the blanket, which was used as
cover, when my eye caught sight Of
n article which had Lot been there
,efore. 1t was letter newly addressed
md stamped. took 1t up curiously,
nd instantly was thrown into perplex1
ty. 1t was in Grsce's writing, and
ras addressed to Frederick; Adiow|
ne letter giving him her decision. +
'lainly saw how it had happened. Hav.
ng MTittep hsS accordance. as1hslieved