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

true affection gives. Dorothy prepare
herself to play the part Of hostess at din
ner. She was infinitely helped by n mes
sage from Egerton to the effect that h
could not join them.
| Colonel Callander said he would no
disturb his wife as she was trying (
aleep. Oo-othy wished he would. 4 fey
tender words at this juncture might, sh
felt sure, produce a great effect.
| Dinner passed heavily. Then came tn
moment of parting. Colonel CAilan.l..
excused himself with, what Doroth
| thought, cold politeness. from accompany ,
ing Standish to the station,
| "Good-by, my dear ward" he said
pressing her hand In both his own. IL
seems to me that you have been q goo,
| deal disturbed by something. There
tragic look in your eyes. Will you tel
me when We meet againT
Perhaps So" said Dorothy, trying :,
smile. "Oh, l am so sorry you are gOingv
Standish bent down and kissed the wavy
braids into which her hair was divided
| above her brow, kissed her lightly ant
tenderly, and was gone.
The next day Colonel Callander stayet
Indoors for the greater part of the day
| writing and arranging his papers.
This gave the sisters time to study what
was best and strongest to say In Mabel.
note to Egcrton.
, You must get 1t from him az soon as
he reads it." was her final injunction tt
Dorothy as she put it in her pocket.
"Oh, Mabel, II you think this necessary
how could you dream Of deserving us al
for himY'
Il cannot tell. IL was not myself. ]
fancied l saw a change in Herbert. II
he suspected me, I could not face him
Ever since We spoke Of that tour, Randall
was like a mailman"
Don't call him by his Christian name
Did he make you refuse to go7'
Mabel bent her head, and then covering
her face cried quietly and bitterly.
DO not despair, all will be well yet,
Mabel. if you are firm now"
Can ever regain my self-respect? Oh,
Dorothy, let us try never to name him
again."
But Egerton did not present himself on
this day nor the next until dinner time,
when he and Miss Oakeley joined the par
y ut The Knoll.
The presence and vivacity OF Miss Oak.
eley, seconded as she was by Egerton,
helped to cover not only the taciturnity
Of the host and hostess. which was not
unusual, but DOrOthy's remarkab BILE alb
sence of mind. At last Miss Oakeley had
exhausted herself and her subjects, and
departed. what 4 dark night" she said,
as Egerton and Cahander assisted to put
her into her carriage.
Eyes, dark as VOLTS mouth" said
Egerton.
The moon will be up later" eaid Cal
La nder.
"Can give you lift, Mr.. Egerton?"
"a thousand thanks, no."
"Are you goihg?" asked Oallander.
"Yes, l want a smoke. Something
stronger than a cigarette; and Callandcr,
do you teel all right? You seem to ne
not quite yourself"
II have rather q bad headache, but l
am subject to them since came home
A good nights rest will be, hope, 6
cure"
"Then wish you a very good night.
Make my excuses to Mrs. Callan,ler,'' und
Egerton set out into the soft darkness of
a balmy September night, and not lony
after the lights disappeared from the win.
dows of The Knoll, from I'll, Ut least. 81 We
that Of the nursery, where the careful
Mrs. McHugh kept a shaded lamp burn
The next morning broke fair and
bright. Colonel Callander rose, as he gem
orally did, at cock-crow, and, wrapping
himself in his dressing gown, sat max
ing entries In his journal, and adding a
few pages to a work begun long ago OH
some military subject. Gradually the
sounds Of movement below told him the
was astir. Presently the Col
oners factotum brought him his early cup
Of tea.
Colonel Callander laid down his pen
and slowly drank it. He rose, and was
moving towards the door, when 1t was
suddenly dashed open by Mrs. McHugh.
her eyes wide open as though strained
with horror, her outstretched hands shak-
ing. her whole aspect disordered.
"Oh! sir! Come, come! My dear mis-
tress is lying dead, murdered in her sweet
sleep, and us lying deaf and dull and use
esss all about her!"
woman, you are mad!' exclaimed Col
lander, In deep. hoarse tones.
Come and see. Oh, would to heaven
we're in her placer and turning. she went
-apidly away, followed by her incredulons
master.
CHAPTER IX.