Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-09-07
SIR BRIAN'S FANCY.

WIS DOy VINO awOKe nef. he
rushed into the room and shouted
u at her in the abrupt manner CON-
mon to small brothers:
Molly, what do you think2 Sir Brian
Rosymore Is coming to dinner on Sat
urday."
You're Joking"
No-honor brightw
window, Bobby"
Il shall, but you're to have q new
frock, made long, and go down to din
ner, because the Baronet saw you in
church last Sunday and told father you
were very pretty. What are you getting
30 red forf"
Did he really say he thought was
pretty" said the girl in tone Of
breathless delight. 20, Bobbyw
For several months past Molly had
been agitating to have her dresses
heightened, but as there were six girls,
and she was only the fourth, her moth
er had firmly refused to allow her to be-
come grown up till some Of her sisters
were disposed of by marriage.
Nature had not intended Mrs. Thorne
for a worldly woman, but necessity
was fast making her one. As the moth
er of nine children and the wife of a
struggling doctor she often found it
difficult to make both ends meet.
Molly donned her gown on the i'm
portant Saturday, and was escorted to
the door by her faithful ally, Bob. She
stopped short on the mat
He has come" she whi,pered. 81
shall never be able to go in"
Nonsense" said the boy, valiantly.
But Molly refused to make an entry,
till her brother, whose patience was
soon exhausted, softly turned the ham
die and gave her a gentle push, which
had the effect of lurching her into the
middle of the room in a most undigni-
fed way.
Her face famed scarlet, she could
feel all eyes fixed upon her In the great
est astonishment, then her mothers
voice, fnintly reproachful, said:
Sir Brian, this is my daughter. Mar
garet."
Perhaps the Baronet saw that the
girl was unaccustomed to society and
pitied her. He rarely spoke to her dur
ing the evening, although his eyes rest
ed on her face with evident admiration.
But when they met by chance the
next morning in the village street he
turned and walked beside her.
She was not so shy now that no
watchful eyes were there to note her
soleclsms, and 1t was astonishing how
easy she found it to talk to this good
looking young fellow with the kindly
eyes
The Thornes saw great deal of Sir
Brian after that. Almost every day he
found some excuse to call, and the girl
grew to look forward to his coming.
and to feel absurdly disappointed If he
failed to put In an appearance.
HE must care for the child, else why
is he here so oftenf' Mrs. Thorne said
in confidence to her husband.
my dear" he answered, II shouldn't
build too much on it If 1 We're you. It's
too good to be true"
But Molly was allowed to go to the
dance given by Lady Conyers.
Brian met them at the head of the
stairs on the eventful evening, and in
troduced them to his aunt.
The night passed all too quickly, and
II was already late when, feeling rather
tired, she seated herself beside her
mother.
READY to go home, dearT Mrs.
Thorne inquired.
After this next dance, mother" she
said, looking at the Baronet's illegible
scrawl on her program.
Suddenly Lady Conyers' voice in con-
versation with some one became audi
BILE from the other side of a clump Of
palms.
"Preposterous. my dear Mrs. Craig"
she said. Brian is engaged-at least
he will be when we return to town
shortly-to Lucie Maddox. He's simply
amusing himself, as usual. He Is such
a dreadful fiirt.''
Mrs. ThOrne turned to the girl She
had whitened to the lips; her brow was
burning, her hands were icy cold.
20. motherr' she murmured, "take
me home"
"Hushr' she cried. You have no
right to call me thatl"
Then give me the right; there is
nothing I desire more
How dare you tell me so when you
are engaged to another woman? Let
me pass. sir. at once!'
Not till you have explained your
words. Another woman? What on
earth do you mean?"
You pretend you don't know" she
cried. la childish voice trembling with
Indignation. ''and I heard your aunt
ny last night that you were going to
marry Miss Maddox"
MY aunt must have been temper
lrily forgetful of the fact that her pet
1ream was not a reality when she
made such ridiculous assertion. You
believe me, don't your"
Apparently she did. for half an hour
ater they walked in together, radiant
with happiness, and a ring was fash
ng on her left hand.
Bobby's lack of surprise at the news
was explained during the day by a
piece of advice he gave them, which. al
though 1t proved useful In the future,
covered the girl with confusion and
,ent Brian into fits of laughter.
Il say, Molly" the boy said gravely,
Il shouldn't make love In the orchard
f were you, because any one can see
Tou from the schoolroom window
Chicago Tribune.