Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-05-19
CHATTER XIX.

"And when one thinks of the expense
of staying here. Hettie," Mrs. Llewellyn
says cOmplainingly, more than a week
now, with bill running up that Is fright
, full to think of, and perhaps another week
to stay before the Plasavon people can
receive us, one cannot help feeling un-
easy"
"You can afford the expense very well,
auntie," Miss Hettie returns in answer,
with an affectionate smile on her lips,
and a steady, scornful light in her hard,
bright, hazel eyes.
Il cannot afford it very well, Hettie,'
the elder lady answers with peevish re-
proachfulness, and in martyr-like tone.
How can you say so! she continues,
"when you know how small my income Is,
only for the allowance Eric makes me?
And the money that l spent on Edith's
trosseau-to think of all that being
wasted, too!
"And to think of all that has been
wasted on Edithw Hester Stapleton says
i'm a slow, hard voice; indeed, she utters
the words through her clenched teeth.
when one remembers that one cannot
crieve even over the sixty or seventy
pounds spent on French lingerie for her. I"
mo, indeed" admits Mrs. Llewellyn
with a sigh, coming around to her niece's g
side of the question; when one thinks
of dear Eric, my poor boy!
Yes, aunt, when one thinks of Eric. "
repeats Hettie in the same hard, suppress
ed voice. Leading him on, and putting
him off, and then suddenly jilting him at
her own pleasure for her ambitious pro-
jects, one hardly ought to pause at any
expedient to keep him away from her dan
inf A hay fn
after we thought she had decided her lot
in life, and that we had done with her,
Hettie says, the color angrily deepening
over her face, that poor Eric had done
with her, mean, and that all that was at
an end between them-to think of her
coolly coming back, and telling us she
had difference Of opinion with Lord
Oppingham,' and that her marriage was
AN event in the undiscovered future,
such language TO use in describing the
affair." Hester says. getting vehement.
Assumed Indifference and light-hearted-
ness over a scandalous rupture of an en-
gagement that was the next thing to mar
riage. it was so settled and so nearly com
pleted.'
..If Eric were to come over from Ire
land now,'' Mrs. Llewellyn says, signing
longingly, "it would be such a nice little
|
YES: il would indeed" Hester answers.
IN a curiousIy low, subdued tone, gazing
INTO rhe fire and letting her crewel work
drop from her hands. She is thinking of
him. letting her passionate fancy run riot
III depicting a future for Eric Llewellyn
after the desires of her own heart, when
there comes a knock at the door of the
small. cosy, handsome room. where they
are sitting in the freight, for 1t is nearly
four o'clock of London December after
noon.
The man to light the gas, dare say"
she murmurs, putting her work away as
she says, Come In"
He does not enter, but stands In the
doorway a moment.
Major and Mrs. Llewellyn," he says,
glibly and smoothly, being a fashionable
cockney waiter. who only deigns to touch
his words with the top of his tongue, as
it were.
So that in reality Mrs- Llewellyn, the
mother, hears nothing but the delightful
sound Of her sons military title and
"Llewellyn," and even Hester. catching
something that sounds uks "Aiss" Or