Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-05-18
the morning Of the day when June was

the morning Of the day when June was
, to have given her answer to Tom.
That evening Tom spoke to his mother
on subject which had occupied him for
several days past.
Mother" he abruptly began, Il have
a favor to ask Of you"
Mrs. Ellesmere knitted q little faster,
kept her eyes on her work and did not
reply. She was waiting, Of course, for
her son to make his request known.
Il want you," Tom proceeded, having
given his mother an opportunity. Of which
she did not avail herself, to express her
readiness to serve him, 81 want to ask
June to come here after the funeral.
Thev wi.h he- to go TO the rectory; but
-but-in her dreadful affiiction 1 think
Jack and Madge would be too much for
her, however kindly they meant; and
here-here-she could have her own
rooms and do Just as she liked"
And Tom looked eagerly at his mother,
hanging upon her answer with the deep
est anxiety.
Mrs. Ellesmere was a woman who, in
society, had immense tact, and generally
said and did the right thing by instinct.
She was in reality thoroughly selfish, alb
horred being put out Of her way, and had
very little sympathy to bestow even on
those who stood most in need Of 1t.
Il do not quite see how such an ar
rangement is possible" she answered in
a cold, strained manner.
Toms heart, so ready to expand, froze
up and contracted. He felt bitter AGAINST
hir mother.
why notY' he asked, in so altered q
voice that It ought to have warned her.
Because" (still speaking In the same
collected, unsympathetic voice. 'if she
were to come here now it would be tanta-
mount to publishing to the world that you
are going to marry her"
"And I am going to marry her." re-
turned Tom. stung out Of his resolution
not to say a word to any one which could
commit June's future. ut was Mrs. Riv-
ers' dying wish, and June promised her.
Though" already repenting his rash con-
fession, Il do not wish it to be known
yet. for her sake"
And so, on the afternoon Of the funeral,
Mrs. Ellesmere came down to the cottage
in her brougham and fetched June. She
kissed the girl with great kindness, held
her hand in silence all the way home, and
led her at once to the rooms which had
been prepared for her, and which were
as pretty and cheerful as good taste could
make them.
1t was infinitely to June's benefit that
she took up her abode for the time at the
Hall; here there was nothing to jar upon
her sensitive feelings. Her aunt and
cousins came to see her, she could be
with Mrs. Ellesmere when she pleased,
and, best Of all. she could be alone when
she desired the solitude which grieved
hearts always court. But, strange to say
land yet not strange, for, in trouble, he
who sorrows with us comforts us most),
it was in Toms company that she took
the most pleasure-Tom who used to bore
her, whom she used to find so dull! In
the evening, while Mrs. Ellesmere dozed
or worked, June would sit with her hand
in Toms and they would whisper together
about that dear one who was gone, or sit
quite, quite silent.
Toms delicacy toward her was perfect;
never once did he enter the precincts Of
her sitting room; never once, whatever he
may have felt, did he offer In those first
weeks Of grief to kiss her; never, by so
much as one word, did he remind her
that he had any claim upon her, any
hopes for the future: she was free as air,
free to do what she would, except to suf-
fer.
And so June grew to love him. Had he
been Macchiavell, backed by a woman
of the world, he could not have adopted
better tactics to win her; but there was
no scheming or plotting in Tom; he was
only acting from the dictates Of his own
heart with the instincts Of a true and
chivalrous gentleman.
ITO be contipued)