Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-06-07
Bashful Mr.. Gay.

when the Sterlings moved int
q our humdrum little town. Tn.
Charles Dickens Club" which severa
Of the ambitious ladies Of the Baptis
church had organized for the menta
elevation Of the community, and which
every woman in town had Joined, moi
for any desire to be elevated" but be
cause 1t was q novelty and Mrs. So
and-so," belonged to 1t. forgot to read
a single chapter in David Copper
aeld," but devoted its entire attention
to the discussion Of the new family
As the Sterling grounds adjoin mine
I was enabled at an early date to form
an opinion concerning the newcomers
and I became convinced at once tina,
they would prove desirable neighbOrs
and surely 1t would be pleasant to have
At least one interesting family In the
town with whom l might exchange q
few words now and then upon some
subject other than the well-worn
weather afliction, which seemed to be
the only topic with which my village
acauaintances appeared at all familiar
Mrs. Sterling brought with her two
charming daughters, Phyllis and Gene
We've. They had been in town only 8
few hours when Jane said Il shall bt
obliged to quote Jane In spite of my
scruples) that Mrs. Peabody came te
see her under the pretense Of making
. call, but In reality to enjoy the view
Of the Sterling house obtainable from
our kitchen windows, and on seeing the
k~,~ .~r-. In oII>n haA
"You see II them two don't set their
caps for poor. dear Mr.. Gayr'
Jane repeats a legend that long ago
incurred Mrs. Peabody's everlasting
wrath by not marrying her daughter,
Jennie, after raising her hopes to a
diazy height by offering her the pro
bsotiou Of my commodious umbrella
ono day when the amiable Jennie had
been caught In q sudden shower far
from home. and had accompanied her
to her mothers door, which upon an
urgent invitation had entered, for the
arst and last time, staying exactly mine
minutes by the grandfather's clock In
the corner.
I was in my study. overlooking the
Sterling piazza, on the afternoon Mrs
Peabody made her Arst call on the
Sterling ladies, and the conversation
aoated innocently to my ears on tht
gentle breeze.
Mrs. Peabody, delighted to pay up
few back scores, began q lengthy &C
count Of my failings, and dwelt witt
particular emphasis on one had never
had any reason to believe possessed
namely: conviction.
He is the laughing stock Of the
place." calmly asserted the caller, "an6
Ii altogether the biggest stick you ever
saw. Why, he was in love with a Ger
tain young lady In this town.
shouldn't like to mention any names
but he acted like fool tagging round
after her on rainy days with the ex.
cuse of lendin' his umbrer. when he
was too shy to come to the house."
My hair arose ON end, and grasped
the arms Of my chair to steady my
nerves, or my temper. lest 1 should
throw my inkstand At the offending
lady. That my reserve and digniAed
reticence should be thus Interpreted to
these strangers drove me frantic; but
after all 1t was foolish to care, when
could 30 easily disprove all she had
said.
But As the days passed found II any
thing but easy. for every time met any
Of the Sterling ladies I always felt tht
blood leap to my face. and experienced
Q wild desire to dy, as thought wha
they were doubtless thinking Of me
but l never failed to raise my hat with
studied pOliteness.
One day while l was looking over my
roses once more became an uninten
tional eavesdrOpper. Hearing voicei
In the adjoining garden, was about Il
beat a hasty retreat when l became
aware that It would be too late, as thu
following conversation was well under
way:
"Genevieve, dearest. isn't 1t q pit,
Mr.. Gay suffers SO from shyness? Hi
books are charming"
l recognized the gentle voice Of Phyl
lis-
"Yes." laughed Genevieve. ''he nearl.
has O At whenever we meet: he grow.
purple in the face. really! Socially b.
The following day I picked . tire
mendous bunch Of great, blushing jack
(they considered me one, beyond 8
doubt, and walked boldly over ane
rang the Sterlings' bell. The white
capped maid who answered my ring
showed me by her wide-open eyes that
my reputed failing was well known
even In that quarter. left q message
that my rose gardens were at the Ia
dies disposal, and ded.
That morning had put the finishing
touches on my new work, "Roses and
Their Cultivation" and for want of
something better to do began q novel.
Before l had proceeded far 1 knew II
would never see publication, for 1t was
partly imaginative account Of my
own affairs, and as progressed l be
gan to weave a little romance about
Phyllis and myself, q foolish thing fol
an old bachelor to do, Of course. Ther |
I decided to wait, at q certain point
and let the situation develop itself.
1t developed rapidly the next day; ir |
the morning l received daintily writ |
ten note from Mrs. Sterling, express |
ing thanks for the roses, and inviting |
me to tea for that evening. accepted
the invitation, 1t is needless to relate, |
aud 1t may be Of interest to add that l
did myself credit. They discovered l
was quite equal to such social func- |
tiOn. and l trembled not, neither did
grow purple in the face and STAN
mer."
ThinGp went mefrily for several