Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-01-13
indebted to You for his charming vs.

indebted to you for his charming vs.
itsY'
Mary felt the blood mounting to her
I -ow. and she stopped to pick up
.'Uh, you are always jestinS. Anne;
you know it Is not So.
"We shall see. prophesy that .nis
afternoon. when we go to the e1nioi-
ron. he will escort you and leave Miss
Thornbury to Seacourts nephew"
Mary's heart beat so she could scarce
Iy answer. but she managed to reply:
Don't, my dear Mrs. Seacourt! don't
tease one this way! You know. in.
deed you know. Ashton cares nothing
for me-" and she felt how great q re-
lief would have been a food Of tea-J
could she have INDUCED in them.
Mrs. Seacourt smiled archly and said
no more.
The afternoon came. The little com.
pany We're assembled In tn, drawing.
room. Ashton entered just a the last
n,oment had come, enC wher the Ia
lies were riSinI TO g. nay was al
mos. hidder in c. come, 81 tc,rful
was she of attracting tee railie-y OF
Mrs. Seacourt b. plcc.n- nc-seit near
the entrance and il =shtcR's way.
Her very sens!tivenes- produce the
effect she wished to avoid. The gentle
men naturally sought partners near
them. and for 4 moment she was left
almost alone. She thought she would
have tainted when she saw her cousin
cross the room and offer to be her es-
cOrt.
They proceeded TO the exhibition.
For the first time for years Ashton 8
arm upheld that of Mary. At first both
were en- mbarraSsed; but each made an
effort. and they soon glided into con-
versation on different subjects. What
a relief 4 was TO Mary that night TO
think she had been alone, as 1t were.
with her cousin without being treated
with neglect.
From that day the visits of Ashton
to Mrs. Seacourts Increased in fire.
quency, yet there was nothing marked
in his attentions to Mary. Indeed. he
still con tinued to converse chiefly with
his friends wife, though he did not
openly avoid her guest Mary grew
more and more tremblingly alive to
his presence. and at times. when she
would detect his eye bent on her, half
sadly. half abstractedly, her heart
would futter wildly and a delicious
hope would momentarily shoot across
her mind; but soon TO fade as quickly.
One morning Ashton entered the
dra wing room and found her alone.
She was untangling a skein Of silk.
raSsment:
Mrs Seacourt is upstairs; I will
ring for her"
Not for the world, If she is in any
way engaged I can await her pleas.
ure."
There was silence of some minutes.
Mary could scarcely breathe. and
knew not what to say. Her fingers
refused to perform their duty, and the
skeln of her silk became more and
more entangled.
Shall | help you?" said Ashton, ap-
preaching her. my patience used to
be a proverb with you"
hpl u uSl htlScii " a.
svsr. for her fingers were actually
trembling with agitation. She felt
she could have sunk into the floor. She
proffered the silk without looking up.
Ashton took hold of one end while she
retained the other. Neither spoke; but
Nary's bosom heaved tumultuously,
while Ashton felt his heart in his
throat.
'Maryr' he said.
She locked half-doubtingly, half-tim
idly. up.
MARY, we love each other-do we
not?'
There was no answer, but as he
pressed the fingers lying passively in
his grasp. the pressure was gently re-
turned, and, bursting into tears, his
cousin fell upon his bosom.