Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-03-03

! from her. l know that she'll betray us!'
| And the girl hid her face ON Mr.. Han
ningtoD's shoulder, and clung to him, as
If she feared that Stella would drag her
sysJ hJ. fOzcs-..
Don De afraid, my iarling!' said
| Huntington. Was it Steila's fancy, OF
| did his eyes light up with a CLEAN OF
positive triumph, his lips curl with vim.
dictive smile? Mrs. Moncrieff is the last
! person TO do us an injury: you may de
pend upon that" And he calmly raised
his hat from his head with an assump
| fion of elaborate courtesy which could
| scarcely, under the circumstances, have
| been genuine.
Stella came forward, her face pale. but
resolute.
Molly" she said, quietly; "you know
very well that wish only for your good
Come away with me. and you can es.
plain to me afterward what all this
means. Mr.. Harrington will also. no
| doubt, explain to Mr.. Moncrieff-if he
| can"
She looked at Harrington with defiance
and mistrust in her eyes, which he could
not fail to understand.
Il shall explain 1t when necessary"
said he. coolly: "but shall probably take
my own time for doing So. Mrs. Mon
| crieff"
my husband will be home tonight /
| shall of course tell him what have seen
/ and heard"
Molly suddenly burst into tears. Mr.
| Harrington caught her hand and drew
| her toward him. Run away home,
Molly" he said, kissing the girls fore
| head lightly. and giving her hand u
| squeeze. Il want to have a little chat
! with Mrs. Moncrieff and think We shall
+; manage TO arrange the matter"
Yes, Molly, go home" said Stella.
! quietly. Il want little conversation
with Mr.. Harrington, too"
Molly murmured rebelliously; but look
! and a word from John Harrington sent
her off without delay. She turned and
| took the path across the tields-it was
| the nearest way home, but also the least
| frequented.
You need not be afraid for her." said
! Harrington. ''She has an escort at
| hand. Some one is waiting for her at the
| stile-Bertie."
Stella gave him a reproachful look.
''AIr Huntington" she spoke, Il did not
think that you would seek out Molly, of
| all people in the world, to turn her head
| by your attentions, and then-perhaps-
! to break her heart
"As l did yours?" said Harrington,
eoolly. rs that what you mean to imply,
Mrs. Moncrieff?'
Mr.. Harrington, l am Alan Mon.
(: crieff's wife, and I am surprised that you
should forget 1t so far as to insult me-"
Mr.. Harrington laughed again
Come" he said, don't be 30 hot, Stella.
/ didn't mean to insult you in the least.
| | am very glad indeed that you are Mon
crieff's wife, and hope that years of un-
interrupted prosperity lie before you
Moncrieff is rather a stiff old fellow, isn't
he? A little apt to be overpunctilious-
trif,e jealous and suspicious2 That
used to be his character, know, when his
first wife was alive"
II wished to speak to you about Miss
Moncrieff, not about my husband, Mr..
Harrington"
Very well. Then we will speak about
Miss Moncrieff. 1 will tell you my inten-
tions respecting her. Molly Is very fond
of me. All l want now is admittance
to your house, permission to see her now
and then, and your assistance In gradual
y inducing Mr.. Moncrief to consent to
the marriage. That Is all"
"And do you think that Mr.. Moncrief
will ever consent to it when he knows
that you have persuaded his daughter to
meet you here in a clandestine way, and
have made love to her already without
his permission"
"No, 1 DON'T" was the frank reply
"But then, I don't want him to know
anything about it. don't you see? Nobody
will tell him, If you don't"
But must! 1 shallr'
"Just so. And if you do, are you under
the impression that l shall not defend
myself? There would be nothing at all
remarkable in Moncrieff's eyes in your
opposition to the marriage If l limited to
him that you had had a previous attach
ment, and that no woman likes to see her
self supplanted-and SO on-he would be
ready enough to believe that you found
it impossible to be magnanimous-no
doubt-and it would be pleasant little
piece of news to hear, perhaps, that his
wife had once written very pretty and
affectionate love letters before her mar
riage to another manP'
"You would not tell him thatF" she
...,.. 49, ufed, almost -~r breath. She
was too much startled to be prudent.
But indeed l would. Let me have my
own way about Molly or l will send bin
your letters. You can choose"
He watched her white, quivering face
with a faint, furtive smile; he felt very
certain that he would ultimately gain his
point.
1T is growing late" he said at last,
"and this is a matter which possibly re-
Quires a little consideration. Perhaps
you would rather give me your answer
tomorrow, Mrs. Moncrieff? / take it for
granted that you won't spring the matter
on your husband the moment he comes
home tonight? That would be rather
too unkind. Tomorrow afternoon, shall
we say"