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

CHAPTER XVII.
For two or three ticks of the clock Erio
stares at the boy in contemptuous, wrath.
lul amazement, stunned into silence By
u curious feeling as if bolt had shot
through his nerves and left him benumb-
ed and rigid-riveted to the chair where
he sits, his hands unconsciously clenched
ON his arms
How dare you speak of-your sister In
that manner:" be says at last, slowly and
sternly. IN not listen to another word
OF your slanderous insolence.'
m not slanderin'. Every word I'm
saying is gospel truth" says Sylvester,
In a tone of reproach and self vindication,
knowing quite well still that the man VIII.
listens to him believes and Is being tor
tured. Everyone knew that Miles was
trying to get Murrie married these four
years. There was Jack O'Donoghue, he
was after her, and SO was young Rem
miss o Clanteary, ridin' after her at every
meet; on'y of course Murrie hadn't any
fortune. and so they wouldn't marry her"
Well. but what did you say about met
Eric inquiries, curtly, determined now to
near every word that is to be heard.
well. l only said," Sylvester says
rather reluctantly at this coming to close
sweetheart, an they'd been tryin' hard
enough for it, and so they had: aye, these
six months and more they were talkin'
about you comm on a visit. an plannin'
everythin' the way you'd take a fancy to
her an marry her. l didn't know for
long time what they were up to until
you came. Miles used to be sayin', Things
will be different when he comes And he
had the silver brought down from Dub
lin and lots of things-they'd been pawn
ed, you know" Sylvester says, glibly.
"And Miles said, We must have them
out, and make things look respectable
and ordered a grand dress from Rath-
more. which he's never paid for. An, oh,
i couldn't tell you half! An he kept tell
in Murrie how well off you were, an how
she must look as nice as she could, for
I've made up my mind he must marry
you,' he says. l heard this the night be
fore you cameT Sylvester grins, tri-
umphantly. An when he made her come
down three nights after. l heard him tell
in her you were longin' to see her. so
you have nothing to do only fascinate
him, Murrie-hell be easy game he says.
An then 1 heard you tell him you'd like
10 marry her. and l could see he was as
glad as could be-"
had tea brought into the sitting room.
with some solid refreshment in the shape
of dainty little giblet pie added for
Ma jOr Llewellyn's benefit, she comes in
herself, feeble and worn out, from long
and bitter weeping upstairs-upstairs, in
that cold, silent, formally arranged room,
where the stirless, awful form lies under
the snowy shetland she comes in with
pitiful human craving for love and life,
and warmth, and human companiOnship,
TO the bright, comfortable, fire-lit room,
with a yearning for a sight of her lover
husband, who will comfort her, and cher
ish her, and pity her. and let her lay her
aching head on his kind arm, and talk
about dear Miles to her, until this desolate
anguish at her heart shall have been
soothed away for the time. She comes
In seeking the sight of him, but finds him
out, and Hannah enters hastily while
she stands waiting.
-, "A bit Ov a note, Miss Murrie, the
major sint to you; he's gone over to Mis-
ther O'Donoghue's for few hours, he
told Kirwan."
And when she reads the few written
words. Muriel grows sick and faint from
the hurt they intiict on her wounded
heart
Dear Muriel-I have gone over to Mr..
O'Donoghue's for an hour or two, as he
asked me TO do this morning. | believe
you and / have discussed all necessary
business matters for the present, so you
will not need me, | trust, for this even
ing. Faithfully yours,
''E. LLEWELLYN."
She stares at the cold, curt, business
iike note with unbelieving eyes, and reads
II over and over again-the first letter he
has ever written her-her bridegroom of
a few hours; written her. leaving her
alone with her deso!ation this wet, stormy,
November evening; all alone with her
dead brother lying in that silent chamber
upstairs!
CHAPTER XVIII,