Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-02-10
VOL. LII

O.
Meanwhile stella, with flushed cheeks
and rapidly beating heart, was making
her way at a very quick pace up the billy
road toward the point which she wished
to reach. But she had forgotten all about
her destination. She was conscious OF
nothing but the insult which, as she con-
ceived II, John Harrington had put upon
her, and of the desperate upheaval OF
oride aud bitter anger that had taken
place within her heart How dared he to
bow to her? Did he think that she had
taken his repulse so lightly that 1t was
easy and possible for them now to meet
a. old acquaintances? He must think
little Of her. indeedl
But anger and vindictiveness were NOT
natural to her. Before long her steps
slackened, her color fell, her eyes began
to 6u with tears. She turned aside from
the road and scrambled a little way down
the hillside along which 1t ran. On'
John, John! and I loved you sol! she
whispered to herself. 'If only l could
forget you-for you are not worthy even
Of my love-but I never, never shall
Absorbed In her reflections, she had not
heard the sound Of footsteps on the road
above the bank on which she sat. There
had first been merry voices and steps not
far from her; then these died away. Nexl
came q tall man Of handsome face ana
stately bearing. He looked round MN
with q frown upon his brow; he paused
Ia his walk several times, and when he
saw Stella half way down the hillside, he
made a step sideways, a. II to turn In her
direction and address her. But q second
Glance caused him to change his mind
Her slender figure, In its closely-htpna
black dresa had nothing remarkable
about II: S<en the k1,es1M osn hatt. N
which the eunbeams see3n0Y to be m-
orisoned beneath her black hat, dig NOT
attract his attention very much, but ~ he
looked 1t became clear to him from the
movement of her shoulders that tke girl,
whoever she was. was sobbing ancon-
eroIlably; that the crouching attitude was
that of grief, and that the coEy who
stood beside her was wagging his tail and
trying to lick her face, In that y mpathy
With sorrow which intelligent animals
often show toward their masters and their
friends. The gentleman turned hastily
away, thankful that he had not intruded
on her solitude. When he had gone some
Httle distance, some feeling of remorse
took possession Of him. Ought he to have
asked her If she wanted assistance of any
kind?-if she were i'll or in pain?
.Poohv' he thought to himself, a. he
strode on again, my wits must be wan
dering to make me think Of such a thing.
A woman's tears! They come easily
enough, and mean little enough, heaven
knows! She has had q quarrel with her
lover, perhaps. She wears q black dress;
mother or father dead, perhaps. A sad
lot for the youngP' and he heaved q sigh,
~ II there were some personal reference
In the words. "She has hair like that girl
ON board the Britannia last summer
curiously brilliant, without touch Of red
In II. A commonplace young person,
probably, seeing how she was letting that
scamp Harrington make love to her.
But, of course. this girl is not the same.
I wonder where those children have got
To by this time? 1t Is natural, suppose,
chat as / am an old fogy. they should
give me the slip. Hark! what was thatT'
It was a shriek-clear, piercing, and
intense. On the still autumn air, sounds
we're carried to considerable distances
This cry came from the vicinity of the
water-of that the gentleman was sure.
1t was followed BY an answering shout,
meant to be reassuring, but dying away
In q quaver Of alarm. And there came
another scream, unmistakably In q girls
voice.
"MollyW cried the gentleman in the
road mot in the water. I trust! God
help US, IL she isT'
He rushed down the hillside, tearing
his way with considerable rapidity
through clumps of gorse and bracken,
and between the young stems Of the un-
dsrsrowths, toward the place from which
he had heard the cry. The roaring of
the water sounded louder and louder in
bis ear a. he drew closer to the bank.
1t was q difficult thing to get quickly to
the waters edge. for the hillside was
steep and slippery. He was below the
falls, which poured over the rocks with
the vehemence of q stream in spate, its
yellow foam scattering drops far and
wide, its volume increased threefold by
the recent storms He shuddsred as he
brushed aside the branches and stood by
the waters edge. What did he see?
CHAPTER VIII.
A girl of fifteen years old-his own
daughter Molly, as he was very we'll
aware-had rashly made her way from
bowlder to bowider until she stood close
to the deep POOL which was well known to
b the most dangerous spot in the swiftly
rushing little river. Evidently her nerve
had given way at this very point She
could not 60 forward; she was afraid to
70 back. Her body was half poised over
the stream; it swayed little. as If she
were dizzy, and another frightened
scream came from her white lips. Mean
while a youth, somewhat older than her
1slf vas hnrryins scross the bridge from
ne other side, and calling to her to Be
to move until he came to
her hslp-not to lose her head. It was
very plain that shs had lost II already.
But help which Nolly's father had not
looked tsr was 1t hand. A slender figure
In black, which hs had seen already.
was standing On the stones and holding
,ut Q parasol to the frightened girl. Stella
had advanced - far - shs could. Molly
STITCHED the parasol handle % violently
hat Stella almost lost her own balance.
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