Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-05-05
CHAPTER Nj.

"And now il is all over, and done with 20
Muriel says steadily to herself, as she
stands on the doOrsteps the following
afternoon, and watches the dog cart driv-
Ing away to Baltimore with Eric Llewel-
lyn and Miles, who is going to see him
of. He is gone now. quite gone, away
out of her life, and she sits alone by the
window. looking out at the gathering
clouds of night. and wondering-as young
souls will wonder at their first draught of
the bitterness that the heart knoweth'-
what she shall do with all the rest of her
days.
81 shall not return at the end of the
week. Miles" Eric says quietly as he and
Miles pace up and down the platform of
the quiet little station in Baltimore wait
Ing for the train which is signaled.
mot returnl don't understand"
stammers Miles.
EASY enough" smiles Eric. "Muriel
has refused me. l thought that injudi-
cious speech of yours yesterday morning
would spoil my luck. So it has. ] was
rejected, decidedly and Internationally,
yesterday evening"
He does not know that Miles heart has
almost stopped beating in his surprise
and bitter regret, and displeasure. He is
quiet In the intensity of his feelings, and
with the sensation of 'All is lost but
honor" feels for the present pride
through his misery that Muriel has prov
ed she Is not to be lightly won. even by
Eric Llewellyn.
II am very sorry" he says slowly, once
more, as the train rushes laundering be
side them, and Erie steps into an empty
FIRST class smoking" Especially as you
say it is quite settled and there is no hope
of her changing her mind. ] was 80 pleas
ed yesterday" he says hoarsely, forcing
Q smile Oh his pale, twitching lips. II
was as glad as-as if l had come into n
splendid fortune Nothing on earth could
have given me greater pleasure. and now.
to think II Is all at an end" And with
the spasmodic. miserable smile. his blue
eyes fill with tears, in spite of himself.
As he wrings Eric's hand.
"Tush. Miles, Eric rejoins earnest',
and affectionately, returning the pressure
Of Miles hand.
"Just keep silence. and treat the affair
a. settled and done with. as have done.
Eric says. succinctly. "She is going 10
tell you, she says. Don't be surprised. or
veXed, or anything unusual Say you are
sorry and let the matter drop. and let
Muriei have time to think and make up
her mind. and unmake 1t, and be lonely,
or sorry, OF cross, or anything she likes
for a while; and then, when you send for
me without her knowledge-she would
never send for me If life and death were
in the balance. l suppose"-he laughs a
little sarcastically, then / will come, and
l will be MuriePs husband within twenty
four hours if you wish. There's my hand
Oh II, Miles,
And | will do just as you wish, Eric,
Miles says. feryently; there is my hand
Oh ii. too! | will not be the obstacle any
more"
1t wants "a quarter to ten when Muriel
sitting at her bedroom window still, anx-
iously watching for Miles, hears the
wheels crashing on the grayeled drive,
hears the hall door noisily opened, and
the quick, heavy step across the hall into
the sitting room, and the poor little sis
ter runs down stairs lightly and smilingiy
to sit with Miles whilst he has his sup,
Der and then by and by. If he seems in,
clined to talk. perhaps-if courage fail
her not-perhaps she will tell him.
But on the lower step she pauses her
heart leapiDg wildly at what she hears
Miles yoice-hoarse, fierce, unnatural
with pent-up rage-furiously questioning
and Sylvester's voice, shrill with excite
ment, defiant and insolent, answering
And then a scuffling. chair fallen with
crash, shrill scream and curse in the
boys voice, and II horrible "swishiug, -
cutting sound of stroke of II whip.