Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-08-29


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|: hood. A heavy snow had fallen tn.
previous day, succeeded by a rain which
sudden north wind had frozen to .
slippery crust. The moon, one night
on the wane, was q half hour above tn,
eastern mountain, silvering the Ions
stretch of snow, and turning the ice OF
the trees into diamonds. Blake stopped
a moment on the summit of the hill
to admire the spectral beauty of tn,
night, and to cast an swed glance dow,
to the hideous gully into which tn,
steep and jagged side Of the hill fell
The place was upon the farm of young
Rodney Blackman, and ever since the
accident death or murder of the elder
Blackman there many years before, i,
had been regarded with aversion an6
horror by the country folk.
It may be that Blake stopped, too.
more firmly to set his courage for hi
errand. He was q prosperous youns
mechanic in Templeton, the village
whose lights twinkled in the valley tc
his left, and was going to learn Mary
Graham's final answer to his declara
tions of love. Beset by the customary
obstacles, the principal being elusive.
ness or coquetry on Mary's part, he
had wooed her for two years. He wa,
now determined to have the question
settled that night
Mary,s father was well-to-do far.
mer. Mary herself was vigorous
country girl, who might well have beer
an ideal of rural beauty, and who sci
upon herself an estimate by no mean
too low. She was not backward IL
making known the standard by which
the successful wooer must measure.
Whether James Blake SO measured was
much discussed question in the 10.
! cality. 1t was admitted that he wa,
an ideal of muscular and honest man.
hood, and If his means did not quite
equal Mary's prophesied dowry, he
had a capital of vigor and determine.
tion well worth taking into consider.
alton.
Another of the obstacles had been
set up by Farmer Graham. He declared
that, having no son of his own, the
man who won Mary must come and
live on the farm and learn to care for
it after he was gone. To many this
would have been-and, indeed, was
more of an inducement than an obsta-
stacle, but Blake was interested and
successful in his business enterprises,
and he stoutly asserted that the woman
he married must leave all for him. II
was to adjust this difference, as we'll as
to get final answer from Mary, that
he knocked that bitter January night
at the front door of the Graham farm.
house, and was hidden "Come inl"
Mary sat knitting by the wood fire in
the capacious chimney place, and seldom
have hearth flames frightened pref.
tier domestic picture. James put his
hat on the table, pulled a chair owe,
near her, and, after few prelimina.
ries, began to state the purpose of his
call.
MARY, do you know how long I've
been coming to see you now?"
at must be-" she replied, pausing
mischievously, as if she did not know
the exact time to the day, SO year,
anyhow, isn't it?"
't1t was two years ago yesterday"
'1s it, indeed?" she said, in captious
nstonishment. 81 wouldn't have
thought it."
''Mary," he said, in mild ceasure,
'1'm serious tonight, and I'd like you
to be, too. I think you remember as
well as 1 do that it's two years since tho
first night I brought you home from,
the protracted meeting in Templeton.
I have told you often that I love you
and want you for my wife, but you
have been pleased to turn away tha
subject, and I see you are disposed tn
hold me off tonight. want to tel
You that I came to get yes or no."
Hepaused, and she looked up in real
wonder at the decisive tone marking
the last statement.
Eyes, I'm in dead earnest tonight,
he continued. "What is your answer n
There was no sound save the click
ing of her knitting-needles but ehs
gave hsr head IN Independent toss,
and pursing her lips in like spirit, sho
replied
"And suppose don't choose to give
| 7ou my answer to-night?'
"Well, no answer this evening will
mean mo- to me. You have had time
to find out If you can love me as q
husband, and i: you cannot tell me
now I'll think you don'. want ne, and
III never ask you again"
Every well," she said willfully, lyon
seedn't I'm not SO anxious to 60 to
rempIeton 10 live anyhow. 49, s"tle.
led here. There nre plenty Of young
men who'd be glad enough to come
lere to live &c father wishes. YoI ard
he only one tina. refuses to, and Tni
sure no ono is trying to compel you.
Why, even Reginald B,owo, with all
ais money and his fine house, WAS q era
his afternoon, end told me he was " III
ing to como any time"
"Reginald Brown" ho exclaimed
,ontemptuously.
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