Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-02-03
CHAPTER y.-(Coutiuuea)

V,-tSUutluuCA.I
Dear little thing" said Harrington
As he folded up the letter and put 1t into
his pocketbook. "She is half afraid, /
can see, that shall think that she has
been too quick in giving her heart to the
6rst bold wooer. Pretty creaturel II
go on Saturday and allay her fears, an
dry her eyes with kisses. don't see wh.
We shouldn't be married Immediately
What will Val Gilderoy say 10 that,
wonder2 If she only had the money /
know very well which I should choose,
But there's no chance. If I don't make a
great coup with an heiress before long |
shall be foored, indeed"
He spoke lightly about the matter even
to himself; but he was rather unusually
nervous when he set out on Saturday
afternoon to pay his visit to Miss Rae
burn.
"Will you walk this way, sir, pleasef'
said a solemn-visaged maid In black,
who opened the door TO him at Thorn
bank.
The maid led him to a small room at the
end Of long passage-a place to which.
as he suspected, the women of the fam
LIZ had betaken themselves in their hour
Of trouble.
The room was not very light. The ser
want had shut the door before Hanning
ton was quite sure that Stella was alone
In the room with him. She came for
ward very quietly-a slender figure all in
black-and held out her hand as If sDoui
to greet an ordinary visitor. He gathered
her In his arms, and kissed her On tn.
brow. but for the first few seconds did not
say a word. The silent tenderness OF his
greeting almost orercame poor Stelia's
power of endurance.
She lay, trembling from head to foot,
upon his shoulder; he could just see her
cheek, and noticed that it was very
white: the little hands which clung to him
were limp and cold.
"Ny darling, how you must have suf'
feredl" Harrington said at length. He
led her to a sofa and seated himself be-
side her, with his arm round her waist.
He was surprised to hear no outburst Of
emotion. no sobs of grief. But outbursts
Of any kind were not in Stella's way.
She raised her head from the shoulder
on which he had tried to make il rest.
Her eyelids were red and worn with weep
ing and sleeplessness, but her voice and
manner were very calm.
'It has been hard" she said. II sup
pose you know all-all about it-from
the newspapersF' The little catch in her
voice was very pathetic, even TO Han
nington's ear.
Il know something, of course. 1t was
very sad; but, my darling, you must not
let your mind dwell upon il. He must
have been i'll, you know; not accountable
for his actions at the lime. It was sort
Of delirium."
"Oh, yes, I know that" said Stella
quietly. Dear papa was far too good To
end his life in that way If he had been in
his right mind. So kind-so loving-so
tender-hearted! Nobody could doubt II
who knew hin-vho knew him as well as
Aunt Jacky and I! 1t shows how up
right lie must have been, that these busi-
ness troubles should prey on his mind SO
much, and even affect his brain at last!
Half of It was for my sake, I believe.
As II I would not have been just as happy
In q cottage as in a palace far happier
Indeed than in this big. overgrown, new
DlAce, which l don't like half so we'll a.
eur old house in the Nethergste."
He had business troubles, thenT said
Hannington, sudden Qualm Of fear as
calling him.
''Oh. yes. Did you not know7 1t was
in to-day's paper; but perhaps you have
not noticed 1t. He was not so rich as
people thought him to be, and that preyed
upon his mind. He Is not a bankrupt, but
the house and everything viii have to be
sold at once, and Aunt Jacky and ! will
have only a pittance to live upon. But
you must not be sorry for me, dear" she
said, suddenly breaking off at the sight Of
Q strange expression on Hannir gton's
face: "as long a have you, want moth
Ing else! And you will not love me any
the less II l am begSar, will your"
CHAPTER VI
Harrington was ashast. And even at
that moment not only for his own sake
He was sorry for Stella, though he was
more sorry for himself. Stella Raeburn
Q beggarI Could this be trueT'
"It 10 bad news" he said, not able to
Keep the dismay out of bis voice.
"You will not love me the less, will you,
JehnT'
mo, dear, oh, no. But-we can't dis
guiss the fact, Stella-it may make q
material difference In our plans for the
future. I-I-am pot-rich." He could
not give this hint without perfectly genu-
me agitation. It seemed to him that fate
bad played him q cruel trick
II know" said Stella, slipping her little
hand-oh, % confdingly-into his nerve
- u08eSUs you toAo u9 eAos AZ eAAs
bpat. But We are young and strong: we
- work and wait-surely? 1t may not
. tUs - ve1y long. I speak French and
o9nan eusntly, you know, and M
0us3c and s1nSins are pretty good: don't
0aDk should and any difficulty In find
ing children TO teach. Don't you approve
Of my pisn:"
ut is a horrible idea," said Hsnn;ng.
ton, suddenly rising to pace the room
You are not fit to work. And III am
. poor, miserable dog, with barely . sax'
pence In the world. II don't see what
Ms are to do"
I'VE must watt" said Stella, softly.
"Yes, we must wait" he said, In almost
IN eager tone. I'VE really cannot decide
sq anything Just yst Il yQu = - your