Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-06-28

ship-Aang III An Tie p1sasuEJ0 hhsa
ont Of itP'
There was . long silsnce after >thii
that was only broken At length by Mrs
vavasours rising suddenly and saying
away with you, now: must go and
dress. Come and see me tomorrow a
half-past 6-ne. . quarter - G Now
don't forget"
II won't forget" said Thorne. shak
Ing hands, and going to the deor.
"By the way, what's the other mans
nameY' she asked. as the frien6s biz
figure was disappearing.
"Coler," he answered, turning round
he's a very decent fellow. I perfectly
understand her-a-anyone preferrdnl
I-
Eyes. Good-by. But that's more thai
I do" she said aloud to herself as the
door shut. Dear old Dicks worth ten
of him any day. Walt while. my dear;
I think I'll manage It."
As she went upstairs she met her hus.
band.
what, not dressed yetT' he asked
as he kissed her. what have you beer
at nowT
Thinking how I can make two peo
pie happy as we are" she answered.
That's big undertaking" said Ton
vavasour gravely.
The next day Thorne presented him
self at 5:45 and asked for Mrs. Vava.
sour. He was shown upstairs immedi-
ately and greeted by the lady he sought
who crossed the room to meet him In
a marvellous tea gown.
"You may shake my little finger" she
said, holding 1t out to him, ''the others
have been eating buttered toast--at
least, not exactly, but-you know what
mean"
Perfectly" Thorne laughed, shaking
the dainty finger between his strong
finger and thumb.
There are chairs to be had II you
look hard enough for them," Mrs. Vava-
sour went on, peering round in the fire.
lit autumn dusk that filled the room.
Lots, thanks" said Thorne, selling
the nearest.
Not thati 1t won't bear your big
weight. Stir that fire up, Cicely, until
look for something made of iron."
A girls figure bent forward at the
far end of the room and stirred the
Goals into a bright blaze. and Thorne.
who had jumped at the name, made a
movement toward the door with a NUT.
tered excuse.
Don't be absurd; it's too late now"
said his hostess in a whisper that
brought him to his senses. "Ah, that's
just the thing" she went on aloud.
pointing to a deep-backed armchair i'm
mediately opposite to the fire and lead
ing the way toward 1t. That's the
worst Of the modern drawing ROOM"
she continued, while Thorne bowed to
Miss Donaldson and sat down; 'if you
have anything really comfortable it's
sure not to be decent enough to put in
it, and one never seriously thinks Of
buying anything for 1t but old-fashion-
ed curly-legged things of stiff-necked
generations long passed"
I'm very comfortable" volunteered
Thorne.
$50 am l." put in Cicely, with laugh.
Pm delighted to hear it." said Mrs.
Vavasour seriously, as II she had not
been running on merely to guard
against an awkward pause that had
doomed ahead; but I really think we
have the only three sensible chairs in
the room. Sugar and cream? OF course
I remember"
two women, wishing he were anywhere
else, yet knowing he would rather be
where he was while they talked across
him. Presently Mrs. Vavasour turned
to him and said, in her sweetest man.
ner:
What a good opportunity Of thank
ing Miss Donaldson for putting that
kindly spoke In your wheel! By the
way. we must call you Captain Thorne
now, supposeT
Down went Thorne's teaspoon with &
clatter, and one foot shot out in an in
stinctive impulse to kick his hostess
chair, to stand on her dainty toe, or
the same time suppressed little "Oh"
came from the other side Of the fire.
Mrs. Vavasour, however, apparently
saw or heard nothing. and her next
move sent Thorne's heart into his boots;
for, standing up with a remark on the
shortening evenings, she lit the gas
bracket at her end Of the chimney piece,
and then, crossing in front Of him, lit
the other. Thorne felt his face was
crimson, ard with his eyes on his boots,
cast about for words in which to couch
an apology or all c-llanation; but be-
fore he could think Of anything at all,
the same voice had said more sweetly
than ever:
"a thousand pardons, Cicely; you
must let Dick entertain you for a min
nte. 1 heard Toms voice downstairs.
and positively must see him about
something"
There was a frou-frou Of silk, and she
was gone, without even looking back to
see the two appealing glances that fol-
lowed in her wake.
The two left alone, examined the in
terror of the fire with an intensity wor
thier of a loftier devotion. 1t began
to dawn upon the man that the whole
thing was planned and he gained some
thing of oblivion to the position for a
moment by forthwith giving his whole
energy to the silent apostrophizing Of
meddling wOmen-especially Mrs. Va
vasour. But the present asserted itself
again directly, and he cleared his
throat to begin: ''Of course. I'll say l
adore the Pacific trip" he said to him
self.
Mrs. Vavasour's-a-remar just
now," he began, requires perhaps
little-a-explanation What 1 had
mentioned to her-a-abOut-yo
mentioned her only-I hope you Will un.
Gcrstand that-and did so-a@" The
wished she'd say something-anything)
''-a-under peculiar circumstances"
Very, 1 should think" the girl re-
marked, coldly; though, indeed" cor.
recting herself quickly, Il have no OBJ