Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-03-01
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
.. letter from my father" says Mr..
uontton ainging the letter in question
.cross the breakfast table TO his wife.
a letter from Sir George. her darK'
nretty face fiushes crimson
And such a letter after eight years or
Obstinate silence. There, read it, says
her husband, contemptuously. The con-
,.,,,, is all for the writer of the letter.
Mrs. Monkton taking it up, with a most
honest curiosity. that might almost be
,e-med anxiety. reads it through, and,
IN turn, filings it from her, as though 1t had
been q scorpion.
"Never mind, Jack! says she, with
sreat assumption Of Indifference that does
NOT hide from her husband the fact that
her ewes are full OF tears. Butter that
BIT OF toast for me before it is quite cold.
and give Joyce some ham.
Have you two been married eight
whole yearsY' asked Joyce, laying her e.
bows on the table, and staring at her SIS
ter with an astonished gaze. 1T seems
Ike Yesterday. To look at Barbara, one
would not believe she could have been
born eight years ago.
"Nonsensew says Mrs. Monkton. laugh
Ing. and looking as pleased as married
women, even the happiest, always do
when they are told they look unmarried.
"Why, Tommy is seven years old, and
there's Mabel, too.'
"Oh! That's nothingw says Joyce, air
Nv, turning her dark eyes. that are love
lier, il possible, than her sisters, upon the
sturdy child who is sitting at his fathers
right hand Tommy, we all know. is
much older than his mother. Much more
learned in the wisdom of this world"
Thomas" says his father, with rue
ful shake Of the head; lit is a pity that
an not ike my father
Like him, Oh, no." says Mrs. Monk
ton, emphatically, impulsively; the latent
dislike to the family who had refused TO
recognize her on her marriage with their
sou, taking fire at this speech. Her voice
sounds almost hard-the gentle voice, that I
In truth was only meant by her Mother
Nature TO give expression to all things
kind and loving.
But why not, my drasf" .eys-A.
Monkton, magisterially. surely, consld-
ering all things, you have reason to be
deeply grateful to Sir George. Why, then,
abuse him? Why, he
Grateful To Sir George! To your
father!" cries his wife, hotly and quick.
Freddy from his sister-in-law brings
him TO a full stop for moment.
DO you mean TO tell me-" says he
brought to bay, that you have nothing tc
thank Sir George forf" He is addressing
his wife.
Nothing, nothing declares she, vehe
mently, the remembrance OF that last let
ter from her husbands father that still
lies, within reach Of her view, lending 6
suspicion Of passion to her voice.
''Oh. my dear girl, consider" says Mr.
Monkton, lively reproach in his tone
HAS he not given you me, the best hus
band in EuropeT'
"Ah, what It is to be modest" say
Joyce, with her little quick, brillian
laugh.
well, it's not true" says Mrs. Monk
ton, who has laughed also, in spite Of her
self and the soreness at her heart. "H'
did not give you to me. You made m'
that gift Of your own free will. 1 have
Is | said before, nothing to thank hin
for"
II always think he must be a silly oil
man, says Joyce, which seems to put
htting termination to the conversation.
Mr.. Monkton rises from the table, an,
his wife rises, too
You are going to your study" ask
she, little anxiously. He is about t
say no to this, but a glance at her fac
checks him.
Yes, come with me-" says he, instead
answering the lovely silent appeal in he
eyes. That letter has no doubt distresse
her She will be happier when she ha
talked 1t over with him-they two alone.
He will always have it in his power t
annoy me" says she, quickly. That, pei
maps" with little burst of feeling, 81
"hy can't forgive him. If could fol
get or grow Indifferent to it all, l shoul
not have this hurt feeling in my hear
but he is your father, and though he
the most unjust, the cruelest man o
earth, l still hate to think he should r,
gard me as he does"
There is one thing, however, you To-
set' says Mr.. Monkton, gravely. II don
want to apologize for him, but l woul
remind you that he has never seen you."
shall never 20 to England to Sc
hi-i. | shall stay in Ireland always. NJ
own land; the land he despises, the Ian
whose people he detests because he know
nothing about them. 1t was one of b
enlef objections to your marriage with n
'nat was an Irish girlr'
barbara" says Monkton, very gent
out with certain reproach, "you almo
MAKE me think that you regret our ma
riage"
No l don't" quickly. IF 1 talk,
forever, shouldn't be able to make "
uihK that. But" She turns to hi
ana gazes at him through large eyes tn
ie heaVy with tears. Il shall always
sorry Tor one thing, and that is-that y,
nrst met me where you did,"
IA at your aunt's? Mrs. Burke's?''
She IS not my aunt" with lit
H'"h OF dlstaste; ''she is nothing to I
80 &c, iar as blood is concerned. Oh! Freddy
le stops close TO him and gives him
el-strlcken glance. 81 wish my DO
tatHer mad been alive when first you SO
e. nat We could have met for the fiji
.Ie IN the old home 1t was shabby
iaaad her face paling now with inter
emotion-'but you would have known
onse that it had been fine old place, a
.nat the owner OF t. Hbe breo
hu. sn' t, very slightly, almost imperceptib
nohKton understands that even o
..,, word is beyond her.
me owner of it, like st. Patri,
,.. VI decent people," quotes he, with
inpuon h. .. Of gayety he is far from fe
- NY poor child, don't want to
Ns one 10 know that of you. You cal
"sn manual. 1t is written in lal
suaracters .I all over you"
LII ! uish xou had known me hef