Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-05-06
GEO. OCKERTON'S
SWEETHEART,

Alpheus MOnrough had made his pile
As a speculator, principally in rails
but he still amused himself by dealing
now and again to the extent Of 1000.
600 or so, although for general business
he had practically retired from change
he was widower, with m only daugh.
ter, Miss Phyllis Monrough. aged 20
q fine. handsome blonde. who had
taken up the study Of science.
Phyllis had, Of course, heaps Of offers.
eligible and otherwise, but she had not
met the man whom she cared to marry.
and. Mt her urgent desire. her father
had sent her to Harvard to enable her
to pursue her studies.
She went to the university with n
mind fully made up to devote her life
to science and to abjure matrimony. In
fact, rs she herself put 1t. she had lock
ed I'D her heart and thrown away the
key.
But we are told that ''love laughs at
focksmiths," and, In confirmation there
Of. she had not been long at Harvard
when she found herself head over ears
In love with George Stanislaus Rock
erton, who was studying law there.
Young Rockerton came from a good
family, was rich, gOOd-lOOking. and in
every way eligible; but when Phyllis
wrote to her papa informing him OF her
tender passion and asking his consent
to her engagement, she received tele-
gram Che was so urgent that he would
not wait for the post to carry his re-
fusaD:
mo. Come home at once"
Phyllis had so rarely been denied
anything that she was angry, astonish-
ed, dumfounded, brokenhearted all at
once. No mere words can accurately
describe her feelings. However, there
was no help for 1t. She must obey.
And so. after an interview with her
lover, In which they vowed eternal at
tachment, she precipitately threw up
her studies and her newly-found hopes
Of bliss and returned to New York.
Her father received her kindly. but
with firm-set countenance. which she
knew from her observations Of his
dealings with others indicated that his
mind was made up. and that nothing
could alter 1t.
She, of course. burst into tears to be-
gin with. But it made no visible effect
on her parent
MY dear Phyllis" he said. you can
not imagine how 1t pains me to be
obliged to run counter to your desires,
but when 1 have explained matters to
you, / hope you will agree with me
and give up the idea of marrying this
young Rockerton.
when l was n lad, my father had n
farm out West. the adjoining farm to
which belonged to Ralph Rockerton,
the grandfather of the young man you
have met
Il need not go into details; 1t will
suffice for you TO know that my father
and old ROckerton had n bitter quarrel,
and that a feud arose between the two
families which can never be healed
Il would rather see you in your cot
fn," he added, melodramatically, than
see you the wife of one of that brood" !"
.But, papa" urged Phyllis, 1T Ia a
very long time ago, and / don't think
that a quarrel between my grandfather
and his grandfather should be any rea-
son why Geo-I mean Mr. Rockerton-
should not be a good husband to me-
He Is rich. I've always done as you've
wished, and now, when 1 feel that my
nfe's happiness is at stake. you make
this stupid objection"
She sobbed afresh, but her tears were
thrown away on her Obdurate parent,
so she tried to cross-examine him Oh
;he subject OF the quarrel.
1T must have been very dreadful
quarrel, papa, for You to harbor re-
yeDge all these years Tell me more
about 1t. If my life is to be blighted,"
she said, signing deeply. Il should like
10 know why"
Mr.. Monrough felt himself getting in.
TO "A corner with his daughters wiles
and tears, and he got a bit angry.
1T would be of no use," he replied,
shortly; my mind II irrevocably made
Ep- But I may say this, as was COM
mon in those days, the quarrel led to
fighting, and until your grandfather's
death, which happened about two
years afterward, every member Of
either family took every opportunity
Of trying to take the life of some MEM
b9e of the other. After fathers death
we sold the farm and came East, and
10 the enmity ceased actively; but
could never consent to your marrying
into tn. Mated family-neverT
"But. papa" insisted the girl. what
was 1t about? What led to the quar-
relr'
1T was about a stream, my dear.
which ran between the two estates.
Old Rockerton insisted that the water
svas all on his land, whereas II was the
boundary. and We had the right on one
tide Of the stream and he on the other.
but II rally diSGssses me to think