Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-02-09
BOUGHT AND SOLD.

"Can fl he possible?" The words were
spoken ID an uudertone, with a quick
gasp for breath, and then the lady
stood very still. looking down on the
disordere1 draw er and the letters that
lay on the Top.
Little bundles of muslin and dimity.
alternating with knots Of faded ribbon
and old lace. were scattered all around.
for their owner had been searching
among them for an old embroidery pat
tern; and so she had come suddenly
upon the packet of old letters she had
slowed away there more than two
years before
The letters were written by Mrs.
Flem!nE's Old schoolmate, Amy Norris,
and rha soft girlish handwriting spoke
10 her heart n whisper faint and ten
der from the olden time.
Dear Amy. She had been married
three years before, and her station in
life was far below that of Mrs. F'lem-
iug's; bur the lsdy's eyes grew dim, as
she unfasJened the ribbon which, for
two years, had held together those half
dozen epistIes.
Amy's sweet face seemed leaning up
close TO hers once more, and she saw
the Old brick houses. with their sloping
roofs. where they had lived in the days
that would Hever come back again.
But. as the Packet fell from the loos-
ensd ribbon. it disclosed two other let
ters. and these called forth the excla-
: ~ Ion and brought the sudden pale
ness 10 Mrs. Fjeulug's face.
She Thought those letters We're all
turned TO ashes long ago-that she had
burned them on that terrible night
when she buried away all the past. But
now she saw how II was; in her haste
and anguish she had mistaken the let
tiers, and burned two of Amy's instead.
There was no one OF all Mrs. FIem-
Ing's admirers To see her as she stood
by the open drawer, her little fingers
moving caressIngly over those two let
te1-i and It seemed almost a pity. for
hardly eveIhad sire looked more beau
-~fr1r--
There was so much unstudied grace
IL her attitude so much mournful
pathos IN her young face; and yet it
was not best the world should read the
story that until that hour had been
written and rolled up and laid away in
her OWL heart.
she had not seen his writing for two
years. and yet how natural II looked,
The bold. graceful capitals. the free.
running hand, all had language for
her,
She knew. too by the post-mark
which letters these were, and when
they were writjeu-the first. 50 tender
and loving, before ne learned that she
was about TO he married 70 another
-n--4st. wild and reproachful, after
ward.
How she had loved that man! How
the past ca me back 10 tell her of II,
The old red brick hoUse-how it Ioomed
mp 10 The distant perspective, amid the
cool summer nights. when she sal I'M
der rae old porrico all grown over with
sweet ur'sr. and he sat there too,
But rleare-t and brightest and dear
esr of all stood up, in that world of old
memories. The new home which they
were TO have.
II was 20 be a little white cottage.
with green window blinds and small
n front How she had dreamed
.r-aud Of the flower border run
4q ro rHs steps.
hat q happy loving wife she ex-
.ra' % DIE 10 that dear little cottage
-one going every morning through a
Foal1 Of delicious household duties;
for Harry could only afford TO keep one
domestic
And IN the Late afternoons, when the
sable was alj laid. with its snowy cloth,
when she would pu, or white muslin
dress Harry liked white muslinp. and
q few -osebu5s n her curls. and she
would go out and wait for him Mt the
garden gate.
Ho- his handsome face would light
up as he came round the corner and
caught glimpse of her. and moment
later his s-Tpng arm would be around
Dr.. waist and his low. deep, My dar-
ling LAURA would be the sweetest
sound earth held for her And as that
.-. ruestic picture came up to con
- the proud. elegant Mrs
bowed her head on her hands
... DUBBED ike a child.
Then she laid her fingers on the let
with nervous, timid glance
and the room. for the lady's heart
-.~uered THAT she was doing wrong
Lat now she had no right TO read them;
md 81 was better 10 lay them in the
CRATE yonder where the fire was leap
inG up 70 fold them in its long. red
aru--.
't-ere can't be any harm in reading
them over" she whispered, for her con
science needed a narcotic; 1T is so long
ago. and we shall never meet gain"
So Mrs Fleming opened the letters
and sa4i them. c5nuot tell how they
.vruug ler heart. particularly the last
.ae. with its wild, frantic reproaches
gui The love and the suffering so aE-
lHs,at -rrough all.
''i a-s not so much 10 blame as you
tH1rs me Harry" she murmured. as
s.. .. .Ga letter in her lap. our prop
.-t. "as all melting away, and they
,.j 1850 lat you bad grown cold and
,.gT.l'T. auG I thought l must too. If
lie letter had only come the week be-
r..a. ! Should not have been-what |
gu now"
And then she looked around that ele-
can't chamber, and thought what she
uus nova wife. bought and sold and
paid for. in gold and lands and earthly
randeur. How the thought burned