Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-06-30

perhaps, plant successfully q feW tnorns
in her breast that will takeiroot and grow
there. ''One would think you saw
ghost!' she continues, with her scornfui,
sharp laugh. Take Of your hat, and sit
down, for mercy's sake; we have visitor
this evening"
"WhO is il 2" Muriel asks. never stirrinA
from the door, never ceasing the restless
movement of her glittering, fevered eyes,
never moving her hands where she has
tightly pressed them against her madiy
beating heart.
"Why, who should it be?" Hester asks,
with her heartless. sharp laugh. what
on earth ails you. child? Are you fright
ened, or what is the matterT'
Il am frightened" poor Muriel sayA
feebly, still under the spell of the wild,
desperate, mad hope that had leaped up
like living thing in her breast and beat
in her convulsed throat, and Quivered in
her fevered lips, since the moment she saw
kirwan leap over the hedges and come
rushing toward her, gasping the blessed
words:
"Good news! Good news for yeh, Miss
Muriel! There's the best o good news up
ut the house for yeh, Miss Muriele
- CHAPTER XXXv.
"Oh, who is it that has come. Hester?
she asks, hoarsely, clinging to the door,
for the room seems suddenly to whirl
around and fade away, and her hand,
clutching the door, grows icy cold.
Mr. Farren," Hester answers. coOlly.
why, what ON earth are you making
such a tragical piece of business Of his ar
rival for? never knew he was particu.
lar friend of yours before"
Did he bring any news" Muriel per
sists, passing by her enemy's taunts un-
noticved. did he? did he? Oh, Hester
do have pity on mel"
do have pity on you?" Hester repeats,
with scornful mirthfulness. DO have
pity on you.' and tell you the news? Well,
believe his news is that there is a hope
of small dividend being paid next half
year ON poor auntie's South Araucanian
Railway shares-Well! What is the mat,
ter with you nOwT
For at the other side of the fireplace,
Muriel sees the curtain thrust aside. and
Hannah, twisting her face into the most
extraordinary contortions Of voiceless en-
treaty and with both hands held up, and
all her fingers silently beckOning in fran
tic manner, as she stands hidden from
Miss Stapleton's view; and in q moment
her young mistress rushes across the
room, knocking over sOme OF the spindle
legged. modern-antiQue chairs recklessly,
and is in Hannah's arms before Hester
perceives the ambush that has again de-
feated her cruel longing to torture her de
fenseless rival.
"Yis, me dariin'i yis, asthore!" Hannah
says, convulsively, but rousing to the bat
tie with Celtic readiness and delight
whist, now, honey! The best O. good
news for yeh, me child, on'y she wouldn't
let yeh hear it as long as she could keep
it from yeh, ashore! Wicked, insellent
woman yersel', Miss Stapleton, me jewel!
An take that now! An sorra bit o yeh'll
ever get her to torment her an brak her
heart, an make little of her, and fret the
innocent sowl out of her as ye've been
doin' sence yeh come here! An take thar
now! Whist, me darlin'! He's come
home to yeh, agilia; himselfs come back
to yeh, me darlin', an he's waitin' up-
stairs for yeh, an dyin' to see yeh, an
why wouldn't ne?'
girl gasps. wildly, trembling and laughing,
while great tears roll down her face. "Oh,
Hannah!-Hannah! where 10 her Oh,
Eric-Eric! !Eric-Oh, my husband!-oh
Eric, my darling"
She tears herself from Hester's angry
grip and Hannah's circling arms, and
darts, swift as hunted hare, out through
the passage, into the hall. up the stairs,
and il beating at the door Of Mrs. Lew
ellyn's chamber, ere Hester can follow
and overtake her.
But there II a moment or two of delay
ere Eric starts up to open the door, and
the poor child, standing outside, feels that
her case Is too desperate for fears to stay
her beseeching hands or voice, and she
beats and bruises he's soft palms on the
panels Of the locked door, and cries mad
" for admittance.
Eric! Eric! Eric! 1t Is l, Muriel! 1t 10
Muriel Eric! Let m- in, EricI Oh, won,
You let me In, ErtcT
Poor Eric's Quivering fingers wildly lock
and unlock the door uselessly in his fran
tic haste, and when he opens II she still
reiterates her piteOus entreaty, though
his arms are around her, and though he
carries her into his mothers room, shut
ting the door In Hester's face as she &C
tually tries to follow them. And Mrs
Llewellyn tearfully hurries out of the
room, recognizing poor Muriers claims
at last, and leaves the girl and her welded
lover alone together, with all the woes
Of earth passed away, and all the joys OF
,aradise hers-fOr a time at least.
CTo be contfnued)