Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-01-27
CHAPTER Ill

CHAPTER III.
Stella sunk back on the soft cushions
VI the carriage, with the feeling that che
was in a new and exciting world. Mr..
Raeburn presently began to ask her short.
dry questions about her journey and her
life abroad, and this sort of conversation
lasted until the carriage swept round to
the door of Mr.. Raeburn's new residence
--Thornbank.
She was hardly prepared for the solid
magnihcence of the mansion into which
her father now conducted her; the broad
stone steps. the spacious hall lined with
marble figures and exotic plants, the big
pictures and flaming chandeliers of the
room in which her aunt met her, struck
ner with astonishment, but not altogether
with admiration. She had seen too much
of really good art and fine architecture in
her travels to be anything but critical;
and. in spite of her wish TO like everything
in her fathers house. she felt oppressed
by the blaze of light and the glaring
colors of the furniture. 1t seemed incon-
gruous, too, to see her aunt's old-fash-
ioned little figure hurrying toward her
between velvet hangings and ormulu
stands and all this strange new para
phernalia of wealth. Only when Miss
Jacky had taken the slim young figure in
her arms, and was kissing the girls fresh
cheek with a sort of rapturous delight.
did Stella feel that she was really at
home. in spite of the cold and bewilder.
ing splendor of the house.
''Eh, my bonny woman! cried Miss
Jacquetta, with a little shrek of delight,
''and it's you that are back again after
sll this weary while. And me and your
papa have just been wearyins for 4 sight
of your
Stella's vague dissatisfaction with the
state of affairs in the new home, which
she had scarcely yet learned to call her
own. did not survive glimpse Of the sun
light which greeted her next morning in
her lovely little room. After breakfast
her father went to his place Of business,
leaving Stella to make explorations Of her
new home in company with her aunt
Her heart began to beat little more
quickly as the afternoon advanced.
Would Mr.. Harrington come, or would
he not? She had gently to combat her
aunt's proposition that they should so
into the town together, do some shopping.
and pay some calls.
Mr.. Harrington made his appearance,
In his leisurely London way, a little be-
fore the stroke of FIVE, but the call was
short and rather formal. 1t ended in an
invitation to dinner two days later, which
Miss Jacky was as proud to be sble to
give as Mr.. Harrington was pleased to
accept. She had been exceedingly pleased
when Mrs. LINDSAY had called, for the
.Lyndsays were great people in the COM
msrcial world; and she could not help
letting out her pleasure with a certain
arraTgement in which Stella had been
concerned.
so kind of them, you know, Mr.. Han
II ii, ~, ILL
blushed botly and wished that she could
lay her finger over her aunt's mouth.
For I'm sure | laid to myself, what's
yon"-yon meant Stella. in this case
'.but poor. wee lassie that's just come
home from school, and must wait awhile
before she makes friends with her nee
bors! Wait awhile2 Not shei She
hadn't been home a day before Mrs.
LINDSAY and her two girlies came to call
for her
ITO go out with them?" said Hanning
ton, who did not quite understand.
Not to-day" she said; they just cali
ed for her to-day out Of pure friendliness,
90 to speak; but tomorrow she is to go
out with them for the afternoon if 1t is a
fine day, because Stella says that she
has never seen Balmerino, Mr.. Hapning-
ton; and they are to make a party and
drive her over; because. you know, Bal
merino is place that ought to be seen"
Hannington smiled. did the girl
tell her anut to let me know?" he said
to himself Women do these things
sometimes She is not very skillful at
setting traps as yet, poor little thing.
won't fail her, however; will be at Bal
nerino tomorrow, too|
The resolution showed how little he IN
Aerstood the motives that Gctuated Stella
Raeburn.
CHAPTER ".
Mr. Raeburn came home to his six
o'clock dinner with the loveliest little
watch that Stella had ever bebeld. He
did not produce it until dessert was on
the table, and then he brought it out in
ita dainty Morocco case with great form
and ceremony. and handed 1t to Stella
on a dish, a. If 1t had been something
good to eat.
There, young ladyw he said. There's
4 watch that is worth looking at. Don't
let me see that trumpery silver affair any
more. 1t annoys me that you should
wear a shoddy thing like that when can
afford you as good one as any lady IN
the land"
Dear papa, you are SO kind" cried
Stella. She could not resist the impulse
10 hy to his side and kiss him, although
she noticed that he seemed q little taken
aback by her effusive display of affection.
II shall always wear this one, but I shall
keep the other. too. and shall be ius- Y
fond of it in my own heart, because you
gave it to me-"
THAT must have cost 4 great deal,
Matthew" said Miss Jacky, after . rsth-
er awkward pause.
"And what II 1t did? Don't you sup
pose can afford it?" said Mr.. Raeburn,
frowning at her angrily. Il can buy up
any Dundee merchant twice over, tell !!
you; I'm a millionaire billioneire, il
you uke-and trades going ap. ! mean
= y - Doh ~ 1SsAAch0 - A& hsse