Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-06-29
CHAPTER xx-fcort;nrod

Ar AA.-tCOntlnueQ.)
Though June had pleaded fatigue. she
did not go to bed, but, having had her
hair brushed, dismissed her maid, and
waited up to give Tom n lecture and to
acquaint him with her wishes for the fu-
ture.
He came into the room In his usual
CHEEKY, rather boisterous manner.
"Whati not in bed, little one?" he said.
Il thought you were tired"
NO" returned June, rather coldly,
feeling even more dirpleaseI now that
her victim had arrived than before he
came. Il wanted to speak to you"
Speak away. my dear" said Tom,
with stolid good humor, planting his
broad back against the mantelshelf and
thereby damaging the lace and ribbon
with which 1t was garnished.
II think" said June, ''it was rath
er inconsiderate of you to ask Agnes to
stay tonight, and, II she had had decent
manners, she would not have accepted
your invitation, as did not second it."
"It would have looked kinder if you
had" answers Tom, bluntly. "And I
don't quite see that there is any neces-
sty for ceremony between cousins and
friends"
"Friends!' echoes june her lips begin
ming to quiver and her eyes to blaze. II
don't think there is very much friendship
about it. You know she was In love with
you-for all / know, she is in love with
you still; and all this pretended affection
for the boy is only assumed with the OBJ
1ect of getting influence over you and
setting you against me-
For shame!' utters Tom. 81 did mot
think my wife was capable OF such paltry
faalt hot hoe vrl1 %
youf If she did like me, is that fault
In your eyes? Do l begrudge any one
liking you? Am l not proud and glad
that every one should admire and think
much of you? And, because there is just
one creature in the world who thinks
something of me and shows some pleas
ure in my company, you turn round and
are jealous and rude to her. and want to
put her out Of the house. Poor thing!
What has she got in comparison with
you? She dOtes on your child, and she
likes your husband, who Is her own cous-
In, and that's a mortal offense! l thought
you were q bit above the little spites end
1ealOuses of most women"
Things are indeed taking an unexpect-
ed turn; her ladtship's pride Is up in
arms. Tears more of anger than grief
start to her eyes.
1T shows what she is," she cries. "An
the time we have been away we have
been as happy as possible; and never had
one word, and the instant the very in
slant we set foot in this house again, she
Is the cause of our quarreling."
She" echoes Tom, who is fairly rous-
ed by this time. 1T is no doing Of hers,
poor grill All she wants is to be kind and
friendly. We have been away for months,
and she comes up In the incest way to
welcome us back. and you are all but rude
to her. No, but the saddle on the right
horse, it is you who make the Quarrel!'
In the morning, calmer counsels pre-
vail. She does not for one moment be-
lieve that Tom cares for Agnes, or that
Agnes has any real influence over Tom:
but she sees that he is obstinate, and that
there will be struggle between them.
CHAPTER XXI.
Christmas came and went; there were
guests at the Hall, ani the festive season
was spent in fitting manner. No actual
reconciliation had taken place between
Sir Thomas and Lady Nevil; both had
found it convenient to let the cause Of
quarrel drop; neither had the smallest
Intention of acknowledging to having
been in the wrong. But, like all quar-
relS not maOe up CAuctleu, IL ltlt a
smothered resentment behind.
Agnes was perfectly aware Of the es-
arrangement she had caused At the Hall,
and Madge's singing sneers and sharp
reproaches were by no means necessary to
show her the mischief she was doing. She
redoubled her attentions to Toms heir;
her manner to Tom was more angelic
than before; her sweetness increased his
-, nd
Once, after a smart encounter with
Madge, she waylaid Tom in a quiet spot
and confided her grief to him. She told
him of what she had been accused; she
wept before him, not loudly or convulsive-
ly, but in a sanity and composed fashion.
She set so little store by the word; she
was absolutely Indifferent to the exciting
pleasures which June and Madge loved
she lived for duty.
Poor Tom was deeply mOped. He was
immensely indignant, besides, at this dear.
good creature being prosecuted for what
was her highest virtue AID recommends
ton in his eyes He felt extremely In
clined to go to her ladyship and reproach
her in no measured terms for her unkind-
ness: but calmer reflection made him feel
that such a step would do ten times more
harm than good, and would set the rectory
and the Hall by the ears. So he comfort
ed Agnes to the best of his ability, and
behaved to June with a shortness which
she at once took note of and comprehend
ed
About this time Mrs. Ellesmere sent
most pressing invitation to her daughter
ln-law to spend week or ten days at her
house in London, and June accepted.
And now. dear child" said her lady
ship at parting, what am to say to Mr..
Carslake il meet him"
Madge buried her face in her cousin
shoulder.
oh. my darling Juny," she almost
groaned. "if you will only bring him back
to me. will be your slave for the rest oi
my life"
So Lady Nevil promised to do her bes'
anything in the world short Of hum'ii
sting her cousin.
June enjoyed her visit to London i'm,
mensely. Mrs. Ellesmere was great
ldmirer of good looks in both sexes. and
June's beauty, her elegance, her rehne-
ment, the way in which she attracted peo-
pie, were very high recommendations to
her favor. She was proud Of Lady Ne
vii, and her ladyship thoroughly recipro-
Gated her mother-in-law's good feeling.
Dallas was in town, and added not .
little to the pleasure of the two ladies. he
was always a welcome guest in his aunt
house, and, during Lady Nevirs stay, al
most lived there. He took June walking
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