Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-03-16

Yelling his surprise with a forced
smile, Curtis nOnchalantly replied:
Not to my knowledge" Then he
added, impatiently, Il am no ogre. Lu
has right to 20 where and with whom
She pleases."
In spite of the Indifferent manner and
careless tone, Roberts noted that his
theater-loving friend took far less in
terest in the play than in the couple
who occupied one of the boxes nearly
opposite from where they We're seated.
Lu had surely never looked so ex-
quisitely dainty and beautiful as to-
night. She seemed the embodiment Of
health, all aglow with happiness. Yet
the lovely face and graceful figure ir-
ritated him by the very beauty Of
which be had always been pround.
This radiant piece of flesh and blood
did not seem so exactly his property as
formerly. Was It because Sidney Law
renee was so attentive! They had
been children together, Sid and Lu, and
he knew she had always regarded the
slUdiOuS, dignlfied boy and man as an
elder brother, while she gave the love
OF her young heart to his comrade and
chum. How well he recalled the days,
years ago, when Sid had told him with
sad eyes and tremulous voice that Lulu
had rejected him, He comforted him
as best he could, selfshly exultlng in
the thought that he possessed her love
unasked. unsought. Strange that his
possession never seemed quite so valu-
able as tonight, He wondered what
Sidney was saying to make her smile
and blush so deeply. Well, the act
would soon be over. and then ne and
Roberts would go and see them, and SO
give the public to understand that mat
ters We're as usual between him and
Miss Brandon.
With this thought he resolutely
! turned his attention to the stage. and
perseverlngly held 1t there until the
curtain fell. Then. turning to Roberts,
, d" proposed that they should go over
10 the opposite box.
As they entered It Sydney greeted
them IN his usual sincere and hearty
! manner, while Lulu, with a smile, gave
her hand first to Clarence and then to
'
her lover to a seat by her side. AS
Roberts for few minutes engaged Sid
ney in conversation, Curtis managed to
ask Miss Brannou why she had not in
formed him of her desire to come TO
the theater. She frankly replied that
she had felt no special wish to do so
until Sidney unexpectedly called and
asked her to accompany him. This she
told him with a manner so devoid of
coquetry that he felt reassured, and
left her with a complacent feeling that
he was quite sure of her affection.
He called TO see her the next evening
as usual, and nothing was said of the
recent incident Clarence's brief jeal-
ousy was forgotten, and he calmly ac-
cepted the old condition of things
Why should ne be in haste to marry
even the most charming girl in the
world?
de heSitated to give up the freedom
and luxury of bacheIorhood for the re-
straints which marriage must inevita-
bly, bring. Lulu was such a delighted
companion and sweetheart Would
she be equally charming as a wife?
Whether or not she wished to marry he
never conjecturcd. He had always
lived for his own comfort, and self was
his first consideration. So when he left
her that evening the words were still
unspoken which would bind her to him,
and he was yet a free man.
A fortnight passed as usual. with no
change in the relations of the two.
Lulu was proud girl. and Mrs. Cor
mans look of inquiry every time they
now met was hard to bear. Matters
reached a climax on the day when
Belle incautiously said:
! Il have been scolding Clarence about
you, Lulu tell him he Will rue his
Indifference when 1t Is too late"
'Indeedr' Lulu's laugh was rather
forced. And what did my lord say?''
9 30. that he was sure of you, or some
thing of the sort. He is abominably
cOnceited though he is my brother"
Are not all men SOP" asked Lulu.
ii~htly: but her eyes were like sparks.
When at 8 o'clock next evening Clar-
erce called to see Miss Brandon, the
maid Informed him that she had just
went out with Mr.. Lawrence" Again
the green-eyed demon seized the tardy
wooer, and this time it wonderfully
quickened his latent love. He resolved
TO ask the important question Mt once.
Early the next morning he went to the
home of his sweetheart, only to find
that she had gone out for the day.
Clarence was seriously disturbed. He
felt that something was wrong. If he
could only see Lulu for few minutes
matters would be settled to his salts
faction, he assured himself. But, alas!
that little word, 'if," has often proved
q barrier stronger than prison walls or