Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-10-28

II must have been very near the quar-.
Ter when ! saw stealing down the gar
Den, her head and shoulders wrapped
UP In . white cloud. my Witch. Al
Least thought % at first. But soon
saw It wasn't. It was someone more
kin and lees kind. Nevertheless. a. the
form drew near, peering about In the
dusk. l sprang forward, caught her In
n,y arms and kissed her. She had no
breath with which to utter . sound.
She could enly listen to ny ardent
far moro ardent than / ever bestowed
OH Witch-expressions of affection.
my dariingr' / went on. II knew
you would never have made such . lit
tie fool Of yourself II it hadn't been for
that malicious catamaran, Aunt Betssy
sane" The form within my arms
struggled. 1 was holding her tightly
or my face might have suffered. But
III tell you q tale, dear, about her. I'm
the only living soul that knows, now
old nurse IL dead" You couldn't heal
the form breathe, 90 still 1t was.
went on: Aunt Betsey Jane b ~
now" the form wriggled-"about
twenty-five years ago"-I could hear
er heart beat. I relented-"No, Witch,
1 will not tell yen that storyi You have
come to me and l can afford - pity
Aunt Bstsey Jane. She was badly used
when she was young and she can't bear
to see psepls happy new she II old"
The form nuttered. opened my
arms. want to fetch something, dear.
You shall. Only come back at once, or
shall feel like telling that old tale
about Aunt Betsy Jane"
She scuttled of to the house and in Q
rlinute or two Witch came down the
garden in a very dignidsd manner.
let her come right to the edge Of the
water and peer about. 1 knew sire
couldn't see me. Presently she said,
anxiously: "Johnr'
Ny heart jumped. but I didn't in.
tend to give myself away. 70 I simply
said. "wellr' But she didn't intend to
C;ve herself away, either. She turned.
for me.
Stay, Witch; I'm in the boat" e1-
claimed in q tone Of deepest entreaty.
- l scrambled on shore. She paused.
: caught bold Of her hand. witch" I
a ed, reproachfully, I've been waiting
IL re for nearly eight hours and I'm 90
ia int I can hardly speak"
That fetched her! A woman will 60
cheerfully for hours without a crumb.
do yards and yards Of shopping on a
halfpenny bun and think ncthing Of II,
but let a man only say he missed his
lunch and they make as much fuss over
him as II he had suffered the martyr
dom of st. Lawrence!
You poor thingw exclaimed my dar-
ling. Come in at once and have some.
thing to eat
mo. Witch" said, family. but firm
ly; you must forgive me-"
Forgive you! OF course I forgive
you. l didn't know you had been here
all that time. Do come In at once or
you'll die l know you will"
But stuck to my guns and didn't
go indoors until I had made Witch
promise that we should be married that
day month. Then I consented to 60 in
and work mighty havoc among the eat
nblee.
Aunt Betsy Jane came to our wedding
and made us handsome present. Then
vbe went to live with some friends in
the North. I think the poor old soul
had had some suspicion I knew her
srory, and so had tried to part US. She
took my note from Amelia in the morn
Ing and kept 1t for tnat reason. My
Darling did not know was in the boat
until Aunt Betsy came in from the gar
dsn and told her.
But l have never told my wife
word. 1t isn't wise to tell your wife all
the little peccadilloes Of your friends
and relatives-St. PauTs.