Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-05-31

Nl!lN chez cheek "nn BURN. a'' ans nas
my hand tremble over the task, as If
= were a disgrace to ask for the money
have honestly earned? Perhaps 1t
is because it is something new for
Mildred and me to work for our daily
bread. Only two years ago we could
pay others for the stitches put into our
own dainty clothing. All, me! Two
years ago, Then smallpox took our
father, and brought me to the confines
of the grave. When the funeral was
over, and friends examined our faith
er's affairs. they found every dollar
was claimed by creditors, and we We're
left poor, as well as orphaned.
Some of the friends, who pitied US,
saved enough to buy a wee cottage on
Long Island, and when l could take up
the burden of life again, 1 was allowed
to select furniture from our old house
for the new one. All through this
dreadful time Mildred was at the
White Mountains with Aunt Janet,
and we were glad she was spared Ny
beauty was never very marvellous, so
when the smallpox scared 1t, and left
my skin a deep, unsightly red, 1 could
Mildred's exquisite loveliness had been
50 swept away.
She came home after all danger of
contagion was over. to our little cot
tage. Aunt Janet had given her a COM
plete outfit Of mourning, made in the
latest fashicns-for Aunt Janet would
consult a fashion-plate for her shroud,
IL she knew she was dying-and she
looked fairer than ever in the somber
garments.
Poor Mildredl She is only twenty
now, and she never knew what work
meant till father died. How can
blame her when she smiles upon Mr..
Somerson, and lets his great, noble
heart trust in a love she only feigns for
him. He does love her! What else can
his constant visits mean?
True, he is nearly fifty, and Mildred
seems only a petted, careless child yet.
though she is only five years younger
than / am.
Poor Mildred! Whein spoke of Mr.
Somerson to-day, in spite of her care
less voice and the pretty toss of her
head, 1 could see a silent pain in her
soft, violet eyes. She will marry him,
while am sure. oh! so Bitterly sure,
she will never forget Rodney. Rod
ney, who sailed over the seas when
Mildred was supposed to be a rich
mans child, and carried her heart with
him. only to crush it under his long
silence when sorrow came.
l never understood 1t. l would have
have been so sure of Rodney's loyalty.
He seemed to me the very personifica-
ton of frank truth, of tender love, yet
for two years he has never written of
Mildred, who loved him, who loves him
still.
1t is seven months since Mr. Somer-
son came here, bringing n letter from
Aunt Janet, who claims him as an old
friend of her own and our mothers,
recently returned from California and
very rich. / wonder why / fancy he
loved our mother? No one ever told
me SO! But he looks at me with such
tender, yearning eyes sometimes, as if
1 reminded him of some one loved and
was dark and small, not like Mildred,
who is n blonde, tall and slender. Spite
of my SCARED face 1 am like the por-
trait of our mother. who died when
Mildred was baby. l have her large.
dark eyes and heavy black hair, and
I am small, too.
Mr.. Somerson purchased a splendid
country seat not far from our tiny cot
tage, and put in a small army of work
men to modernize and improve it.
When he had finished 1t to his liking,
he sent to New York for upholsterers
and gardeners to make it perfect in
side and out. And all the time he kept
Mildren and me busy over the sewing,
and paid us well. Such piles Of table
linen and bed linen. most daintily made
as we have completed, would delight
any housekeeper. Finding Mildred
liked embroidery better than plain
sewing Mr.. Somerson ordered en-
broidered initials on every piece Of
linen.
But in all these seven months Mr..
Somerson has come often to our little
cottage WNeu no HeCeSSity OI "Oi Ia
sailed him. he is very careful not to
some in the evening, or give any occn-
sion for unkind gossip, yet how much
he has frightened our lives. How
many books he has brought for our
leisure time, how much new music lies
upon the piano. our one luxury, how
often rare fruit has been upon our sim
pie table.
And when he talks of his home h
consults our tastes in such words, witk
such hints, that l am sure he hopes
Mildred will preside ever 1t. Why else
do her favorite colors reign in one Ell
tire suite of rooms? Why was the Ii
Drary fitted up exactly like one that
took my fancy in a book l read, an.
of which l spoken
Sometimes 1 fancy nay brother-in
law to be will offer me home also /,
his splendid house, but 1 cannot liv,
there, when they are married.
My hand trembles over those words
when have known for many lon,
weeks what was to be the end! 1t
because am sorry for both, where all