Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-12-20
CHAPTER I


calm as death, slumbering placidly be
meath the suns hot rays: above. q sky OF
palest azure, flecked here and there by
dainty masses Of soft, fleecy clouds; and
far inland, a background of high hills,
clothed with a tender foliage, a very baby
leafdOm, just bursting into the fuller life.
Toward the west the trees give way a
little. letting n road be seen, that like
straight pale ribbon runs between the
grecnery for the space of quite a mile or
so. and then reaches the small fishing viii
Iace where the simple folk of Glowring
DeStley toll from one years end to the
other, some in careless Joy, some in cease
less labor, some, alasi in cruel weeping,
because of those who will never come
back to the town."
Along the white road, that CLEANS
thirstily in the burning sunshine of this
hot midday in June. carriage is crawl
ing with quite an aggravating slowness-
an antiquated vehicle of a type now al
most unknown, but which once beyond
doubt cost money" The carriage, being
an open one, enables the people as il
passes through the village to see without
undue trouble that the occupants of It are
two girls; both very young. both singular
ly alike. though in distinctly different
styles.
1T is charming!" says the younger girl
with little quick motion of the hand
toward the sweeping bay, and the awak-
ening trees, and the other glories Of the
landscape. 'All charming, far better
than l ever dared hope for; and yet my
mind misgives me, Vera"
She turns a brilliant glance on her SIS
ter, full of terrible insinuations, and then
laughs a little. Thus animated, she is a
very pretty girl, half child, half woman.
as fresh as the morning, and with eyes
like stars. She lifts one slender black
gloyed hand, and placing it beneath her
sisters chin, turns her face gently to her.
Such beautiful face! Very like the
riante one beside it, yet unlike, too There
Is touch of sadness round the lovely
lips, mournful curve; indeed, thought
fulness too great for her years is stamped
on every feature. A tender, loving, yet
strong soul shines through the earnest
eyes, and when she smiles it is reluctant.
ly, as if smiles all her life had been for
hidden to her.
oh. that reminds me-" said Miss Dy-1
sart. II quite forgot to tell you of it,
but the day before we left Nice. Nell
Stewart said that this cor sssa 30. speak.
{. if he does exist at all. at all events
does not 90 1t here"
Which means?
THAT either he won't, or can't. life
with his father. Can't, Nell rather led
me TO believe"
Cant it's, you may be sure" says the
younger girl, restlessly. Fancy q father
whose son can't live with him! And vet.
after all, yirtuous astonishment on that
score is rather out of place with us.
can imagine just such a father"
We'll, never mind that" says Miss Dy.
sart hastily.
Yes. Very good; let us then 60 from
sire to uncle says her sister with a lit.
tie shrug. DO you think we shall gain
much by the change? This old relative of
ours is, perhaps, as delightful as we could
wish him, and yet l wish father had moi
left us TO his tender mercies."
do not dwell on that" says Vera.
with nervous haste; do not seek for
faults in the inevitable. He i. all that 10
left US. You know the sudden decision
arose out of letter received by father
from Uncle Gregory about a year ago
When father was-was-dying-" She
pauses abruptly, and tremor shakes her
last words.
The younger girl turns quickly to look
at her. There is infinite love and com.
passion in her glance, but perhaps a little
contempt, and certainly Httle impa.
tience.
DO you know" she says, lit may seem
heartless-positively coarse, il you will
but | do not think our father was a man
to excite respect much less love or regret,
Or
''Oh. it is better not to speak like that"
interrupts Miss Dysart, in a low, shocked
tone. Don't do it, darling. know
what you mean, but"
And | know that 1 shall never forgive
or forget the life he led you," says GriseI. l
da. with certain angry excitement.
We'll, that is overt says Miss Dysart
with quick sigh, heavily indrawn.
What was this vendetta, this terrible |
lifelong quarrel that was kept up be-
tween him and father with such monoton
GUS persistencyY'
That had TO do with our grandfather
will. Papa was the eldest son, yet ths L
property was left to Uncle Gregory; an6 /
that for no reason at all. Naturally, papa
was very angry about it, and accused
Gregory OF using undue influence"
Just so. and of course there is q good
deal behind that you don't know. There
always is; nobody ever tells quite every
thing. And besides Oh! Oh, Vera,
Oh, what has happened?'
Grisclda clutches in an agonized fashion
i
chariot, which has toppled over to the
left side and stands in decidedly dissi.
pated position. The ancient driver, pre-
sumabiy asleep, had let the horses wan
der mt tneir own s"cc. ,cc: ~,;m in .. end thev be
ing old and sleepy, too, the result was
that they had dragged two of the wheeh
up on steep bank and nearly capsized
the carriage.
"Oh. thank you,' says Miss Dysart,
Gaming forward and addressing with earn
est glance and heightened color the young
man who had risen-descended, perhaps,
sounds pleasanter and more orthodox
like Il good angel from somewhere-the
wood on their right. no doubt. A fishing
rod. lying on the road where he had flung
1t when preparing for his ignoble battle
with those poor old horses, prOclaims the
fact that he has been whipping the stream
that CLEANS here and there brilliantly
through the interstces of the trees.
''Oh, no." says he, lifting his hat, "you
mustn't thank me. 1t was really nothing
Poor brutes, l think they were asleep!
hey 1t is hot, isn't it?' Tiis last he
'dys hastily, as if ashamed of his ami
iadVersion on the age Of the sorry cattle |
~ question-their horses, no doubt: and |
mere is something wonderfully charming
II The faint apologize color that springs
M MS cheeks. As he finishes speaking
le looks at Griselda so hard that she feels
i incumbent on her to return his glance
ana 10 say something.
we thought our last hour had come"