Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-05-10
CHAPTER Xxx.

1t Ii an evening Of great beauty. Earth,
sea ana sky seem BLENDED in one great,
soft mist, that, rising from the ocean
oown below floats up to heaven, its heart
, 4 pale. vague pink.
| The day is almost done, and already
shadows are growing round trees and cor.
ners. There Is something mystical and
strange IN the deep murmurs that come
from the nesting woods. the sweet. wild
COO Of the pigeons, the chirping Of innum.
cradle songsters, and now and then the
dull hooting Of some blinking owl
Through all, the sad tolling Of q chapel
bell away, away In the distance, where
the tiny village hangs over the brow OF
the rocks that grid the sea.
l Joyce picks a branch or two as she goes
on her way, and thrusts them into the
bosom Of ner gown. and now she has
reached the outskirts of the wood, where
the river runs, crossed by q rustic bridge,
on which she has ever loved to rest and
dream, leaning rounded arms upon the
wooden railings and seeing strange but
sweet things In the bright, hurrying water
beneath her eyes.
She has gained the bridge now, and
leaning languidly upon its frail ramparts
let's her gaze wander afield. The little
stream, full Of conversation as ever, flows
on unnoticed by her. Its charm seems
dead. That belonged to the old life-the
life she will never know again. 1t seems
to her quite a long time since she felt
young. She has learned that life Is a fail
ure after all. 1t takes some people a life
time to discover that great fact: it has
taken her quite a short time.
A step upon the bridge behind her! She
starts into a more upright position and
looks round her without much interest.
A dark figure is advancing toward her.
Through the growing twilight 1t seems
abnormally large and black, and Joyce
stares at 1t anxiously. Not Freddy-not
one of the laborers-they would be all
clad in flannel jackets of light color.
! "Oh, is it your says Dysart, coming
closer to her. He had. however, known it
, was her from the first moment his eyes
rested on her. No mist. no twilight could
have deceived him.
! YES" says she, advancing a little to-
~erd-him and 9iHip2 him hcs hand. A
cold little hadd, and Feiuctant =
"I was coming down to Mrs. Monkton
with a message-a letter-from Lady Bal
, timore."
This Is a very long way round from
the Court, isn't it 2" says she.
.'Yes. But like this calm little corner.
I have come often to 1t lately"
| Miss Kavanagh let's her eyes wander to
the stream down below. To this little
spot of all places! Her favorite nook!
| Had he hoped to meet her there? Oh, no!
i impossible! And besides, she hadgiven II
up for a long, long time until this evening.
1t seems weeks to her now since last she
was here.
"You will find Barbara" says she, gent
ly.
81 don't suppose it is of very much con-
| sequence" says he, alluding to the meg
sage. He is looking at her, though her
averted face leaves him little to study.
"You are cold" says he. abruptly.
Am II" turning to him with q little
smile. 81 don't feel cold. feel dull, per-
haps, but nothing else"
There Is a pause; it threatens to be an
everlasting one, as Miss Kavanagh plain
| ly doesn't know what to say. He can zee
| this: what he cannot see Is that she b
fraid of her own voice. These trouble
some tears that all day have been 30 close
to her seem closer than ever now.
"Beauclerk came down to see you to-
dav." SAYS he, presently. This remark Is
so unexpected that it steadies her.
YES" she says, calmly enough, but
raising her telltale eyes.
"You expected himT
NO"
"He asked you to marry him, how.
everY' There Is something almost threat
| ening in his tone now, as If he Is defying
her to deny his assertion. 1t overwhelms
her.
"Yes." she says again, and for the first
time is struck by the meagerness Of her
replies: ..,u
| 81 refused him." says she, at last, In q
low tone, and in q dull sort Of way. as II
| the matter is one of Indifference to her.
| "Ahv He draws a long breath. ut Is
true?" he says, laying his hand on hers
| as it lies on the top Of the woodwork.
| "Quite true"
| "And yet-you have been crying"
| "You can see that" says she. petu-
lIantly. You have taken pains 10 see
and to tell me of it. Do you think II
| II a pleasant thing to be told! Most
people" glancing angriiy towards hini
IE"eyery one, 1 think. makes 1t point
| nowadays not to see when one mas
heen making a fool of ones self; but
Won seem to take a delight in tOrturinS
me-"
"Did I?' says he, bitterly, ignoring, per
hans not even hearing her outburst-dio
II cost you SO much to refuse himT
at cost me nothing" with a sudden ef'
fort. and a fash from her beautiful eyes.
Nothing"
"I have said so! Nothing at all. 1t was
mere nervousness. and because-it remind
cd me of other things"
"Did he see you cry" asks Dysart,
.;ohtanine uuconsciously his grasp upon
her hand. .,.
"No. He was gone a long time, quite
long time. before it occurred to me thai
I sbould like to cry. l." with fruga,
smile .indulged myself very freely tnen;
Dvsart draws a long breath OF relief. II
o,ia have been intolerabls to him tnat
no"m.,srk should have known OF nes
.oers He would take taken possession OF
80 -. r. we're. They would have mere.
men, ma to hamper his self-conceit ana
:n,ooth down his rufaed priae. 1e ~ 49,. !.
Inevitably have placed sucn .no,. anG 'o ~ ~.
Construction on them; one ent're'' " A''
own glorifcation. 18th . lighter
ct shall leave you now Win = nse - -
,o,r+ savs Felix, presently. NOW .Ss. .Sa.
Inow YOU are not going to marry 'nA'
'e.y" My"n are going, thenT' says sne snt. .astao
IIly. checking the monotonouSs s.;d.e rail as
:be has been playing on the DILL ".one She
Itboueh suddenly smitten intS ' IA heen
had heard he was going. 1ne ns. .hov
told ~ IL by several people, Du; nave,
,ha had not believed II. II M"
,ome ~ home n her until now. 1,a,.,
.W.. W. - vndss orders xok S."'F'