Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-06-16
CHAPTER xxx.

III n
noon, with the snow flakes drifting heav
lily down, and the chill wintry. winds
bowling outside, through the mountain
clens and across the dense fir planta-
tons. and through the leafiess woodlands
around the ruined church. But within,
in Curra ghdene House. all is warmth and
brightness. with subdued sense of fes-
tiyity and pleasant excitement, in the
well-Warmed rooms with blazing hres, and
soft carpets, and ample draperies TO ex-
clude every chill breath; the glitter of
evergreens. and the glow of flowers-mid-
winter though 1t be-the bloom and per
fume of azaleas. violets, roses and came
las are everywhere.
For II is Christmas time. and the eve
of wedding well, for Miss Edith
Cameron's engagement with Captain Lev
erson is more than three weeks old 70
day, and the day after tomorrow, Christ
mas Eve. Is TO be her wedding day; and
there exists "a hustle and excitement of
marriage preparG.:c-s that ever SO quiet
n wedding will occasion; 10. II Is TO be "A
very quiet wedding for one of the beau
ties of London society for the last four
seasons.
u letter, miss. please" Hannah says,
entering. Hester has not been able to
drill any os the old O'Hara servf ats iT;o
correct forms of address.
Thank you," Miss Stapleton says, for
mally. Il wish you would recollect, Han
nah, that miss is an incorrect title for
any young lady beyond childhood"
She goes over to the window in the
fading light to read it A faint, 6utter-
ing nervousness rushes over her from
some intangible cause she unfolds the
large. stiff, white letter. and sees that
it fills all the first page, closely written
in Mr. Farren's neat legal caligraphy
She sees "Major Llewellyn" a few lines
down, and her eyes CLEAN and her lips
curl scornfully.
"Some news of Eric! He wants his
darling TO go out to him, and is sending
directions through his solicitor" thinks
Hettie, with fierce pang of jealous envy
as she begins TO read the letter. Begins
and reads, and holds her breath, and
stares. and looks back at the heading and
the address; and then. painting and star
ing, reads every word hurriedly to the
end, not comprehending it--not daring to
comprehend it. And then again a second
and a third attempt to read and under
stand the brief fatal news of the lawyers
letter, and Hettie staggers agains, the
window sill with Mortified sobbing cry.
"Oh, Eric! oh, Eric! Oh, heaven. for
give me. dear Eric! Oh, Eric! 1t cannot
cannot be true that you are dead-dead
and drowned in the depths of the sear'
The letter Is from Mr.. Farren, and be
gins with brief but earnest apology for
his being obliged to select Miss Stapleton
as his medium of communicating the
grievous news which he has every reason
to fear is correct in all particulars, namely
that Major Eric Llewellyn, having ex-
changed into an Indian regiment. sailed
from Cape Town on the twenty-fifth of
November in the steamer Cyprus, and one
week later, according to advices received
at Cape Town. the Cyprus took fire of the
coast of Madagascar and was burned to
the waters edge-eleven of the crew and
nine passengers only having escaped.
And l deeply deplore having TO tell
you that among those who are known to
have gone down in the burning wreck is
Major Llewellyn," concludes Mr.. Farren
Il have made inquiries at the War Office
but yond sscertaining that Major Lew
ellyn was gazetted to a lieutenant-coio-
nelcy of An Indian regiment, and had GER
tainiy sailed from Cape Town to Join his
regiment, / could obtain no further in
formation Should any such occur l will
communicate with you immediately, and
please to accept the expression of my sin,
cerest sympathy with you and the other
ladies of Major Llewellyns family under
this heavy bereavement
''It can't be! 1t can't be!' Hettie says
hoaI sely, gazing blindly at the awful
words that seem to leap out of the page
at her. Gone down in the burning
wreck! Eric!-poor Eric!-brave, hand
some, gallant Ericr'-whom she has
known and secretly loved since the day
she first saw him, slender young lieu
tenant of five -and-twenty and she a school
girl of fifteen! '.Eric-to meet with such
fate. in the prime of his days-in the glory
and strength of his manhood! 1t is too
horriblei'
She goes up to bed early, aud compIains
IF having taken cold, and SO has hre IN
her room and warm soup and sherry and
CURSES herself up most carefully
For | must keep up until this Is all
,ver," the young lady says, with the wis
lon of serpent and presumably the
of u dove.
And she does keep up admirably all
through the next day, and Is bright, and
clever. and amiable to everyone, save
owards Muriel. TO whom she never speaks
unless absolutely obliged, at whom she
never look.
CTO be continued)