Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-04-20
CHAPTER II

| IOm was q Crlal 10 lis tHe
orable Mrs Ellesmere. If Tom had been
a brilliant, dashing scapegrace. she would
have idolized him, and could have forgiv-
en- him anything; but Tom was honest and
mediocre, and she had nothing to forgive
He was not in any way what she wanted
him to be, not even in appearance. He
was a fine young fellow, with frank blue
eres. a trife blunt of feature: he looked
like a gentleman, but a country gentle
man. He made a capital squire, but
among the gilded youth of the cities he
did not shine.
On the day after his return from town
Tom came to call at the Rose Cottage
punctually at the time appointed. But
June was not there. She had been sent
for to the rectory, as the singing master
had Unexpectedly changed his day, and
! came over on the chance of its being con.
~enient to his pupils.
June was educated with her cousins.
Mrs. Bryan Ellesmere, wife of Toms un-
Gle, the Reverend Bryan Ellesmere, was
sister to Mrs. Rivers, and when Captain
Rivers died, leaving his widow indifcr
entity provided for, Mrs. Bryan at once
suggested that her sister should come TO
the Rose Cottage, then vacant, and that
June should have the benefit of her cous-
years the programme had been success
fully carried out with fewer differences,
jealousies and heart-burnings than might
have been expected, considering that
June SO far outshone her companions in
beauty and talent. But Mrs. Bryan was
a placid, easy tempered woman, and Mrs.
Rivers had an immense amount of tact.
and was, besides, thoroughly conscious of
and grateful for the advantages which
her sisters kindness gave June. Tom
might have been a stumbling block but
that Mrs. Bryan had a rooted aversion to
marriages between first cousins-a feeling
which, as we know, was not shared by her
eldest daughter.
Tom arrived at the Rose Cottage, and,
finding Mrs. Rivers alone, WAS for a mo-
ment conscious of pang Of disappoint-
ment, when he suddenly bethought him
self how a tete-a-tete might be turned to
advantage.
81 want to say something to you-may
p he asked; and Mrs. Rivers looked up
at him with the sweet smile which made
her sad face ten years younger all at once.
"You may say anything you like"
Then Ton, broke into his discourse:
"You know-Tm sure you know how I
love June. Going away, and seeing all
these Otner women OI "HoIH NY HotbeT
thinks SO much, has only made me love
and admire her ten times more: she is as
far beyond them as-as anything can be.
THAT is indeed praise" said Mrs. -Riv-
,,s, who, in her heart Of hearts. thought
1t no more than her darling's due.
Its true! it's gospel true" cried Tom
with energy. Then he faltered bit. but
6 ghting with his dif1depce, half conquered
it. and went on. II am getting SO unset
tied. l did not feel 1t so much before I
went away, but now feel as if must
have something to go upon. Do you-do
you." imploringly. 'think she cares at all
for me?-do you think she will marry me
some day"
Tom had the most sympathetic listener.
Mrs. Rivers felt for him, and knew what
he felt, but she would not say q word
more than she conscientiously could.
my dear boy" she answered him, not
without a certain amount Of hesitation In
her tone. IT know exactly how you feel
What You say is perfectly just and fair:
I don't think I need tell you how glad
should be to have you for a son; there IL
no man in the world to whom l would 50
gladly give my darling. You have not
Iaid anything 10 June since you came
back, have your
II tried to last night, but she wouldn't
have it; she stopped me at once"
Mrs. Rivers paused . moment, thens
looking MP ct him, eatds