Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-11-23
A HAPPY MISTAKE.

- er'S mouth and 1Oreneau, anu
watched my mothers pale and anxious
gaze rest upon him.
Night after night did Maude and
lie side by side, and spend the hours
when sleep. they tell us, lends us beau
ty in wondering what trouble was how
ering over us.
But the knowledge came all too soon.
My father had lent money which he
supposed he could call in at any time.
The time arrived, but the money was
not forthcoming. His health was rap
idly failing him, a fact his business
anxieties in no way helped, and we
soon knew he must mortgage heavily
the farm, and that if his health con-
tinued to fail he might soon be unable
even to pay the interest.
Then Maude and | began to hold our
whispered conversations to better pur-
pose-to decide that we were strong.
and young, and healthy, and that such
gifts were given to us to be made use
of. And so 1t ended in our sending off
a mysterious letter to the old school
teacher, and waiting and watching
days for a reply, which came at last
to tell us she had succeeded in finding
a situation as governess, at com
potency which to us seemed wealth.
The lady was willing to take any
one ON her recommendation, and either
of US, she felt assured, would fill the
role SO she left II for us to decide
one must go and one must stay.
At last Maude said it must be she
who would go. She was older than |,
and she thought she would he happier
away working than at home sitting
with folded hands. She was so pretty
80 loving and lovable, that 1t seemed
as though we could not let her 90
among strangers.
At first father and mother would not
listen TO it, but we overruled all objec-
ton, and Maude wrote and appointed a
day for her coming.
The Intervening time passed rapidly
away In busy preparation, and at last
the one Sunday left us rose bright and
clear. Maude looked so lovely that
morning in her pretty hat, with Its
long, dropping feather. that I did not
wonder the eyes of a stranger in the
church wandered persistently to our
pew.
He was a tall, handsome man, sitting
with the Leonards-a name which in
our village represented It's aristocracy
and wealth.
There were gentlemen from London
visiting there constantly, but their
gaze did not often wander from the
stylish, elegant Misses Leonard'to seek
any other attractions.
L saw them glance round once or
twice, as If to discover what else in the
church could possibly distract attention
from themselves, and fear felt more
pride in Maude's beauty than was quite
consistent with the sacred place in
which we were.
But after she had gone. and at night
I went, for the first time, to my room
alone, l felt that she had chosen the
better part-that 1t was easier even tc
90 forth among strangers, with her
hand at the plow, than to sit down
quietly on the vacant heartstone
however, L soon rounu pIenJy for
heart and hands. My father grew rap
Idly worse instead Of better, and it was
hard work so to word my letters to
Maude that she should not know of the
skeleton in our home-the shadow of
coming death.
Her letters were bright and cherry
and when at last l told her that ouI
father grew no better, she answered
she had met DR. Mclrose. who WAS n
..---.-.-., -. -. r..-,-. .
taught, and asked him to go down and
=
the necessary expenses.
j almost gasped when l read tie
name-Dr. Nelrose. His fame lad
reached even our ears. l wondered
how she could have approached him
with such n request; but | said nothing
to father of her desire, and one morn
ing. about a week later. his card was
put into my hands.
With quick, trembling limbs, hast
ened down to meet him, and opened
the parlor door to find myself face to
face with the stranger who, weeks be-
fore, had sat in the Leonards' pew.
My face grew red and pale as l rec
ognized him; but he came forward very
quietly, and taking my hand. said:
Come. we will have a little talk
first, aud then you shall take me to see
your fa'icr"
qu!r;dy o>cyed him. and sat down
reside him, SIS lie directed. Willie h. not
seeming 10 o5se-ve my agitation. told
ne of IGy sis;e"-of hcr happiness in
her new home, how already size had
won her way into their hearts, and
how glad he was that business at this
time called him to this spot and en-
abled him to perhaps be Of some assist
ance.
Then I found words, and when he