Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-08-09
CHAPTER xxU.

Della does not know what to think Of
ihis little episode, but she has always con-
sidered her clergyman friend to be rather
strange and erratic in his moods, and as
cribes his anxiety on the subject of the
marriage record not being mentioned to
some fad of his own, certainly not to any
thing that can concern her. She has SO
much to think Of and plan for herself at
this moment that she has no leisure to
speculate upon the actions Of her ac-
quaintances. She ponders hour after
hour on the best means Of conciliating old
Strother, and rendering her voyage Of
discovery easy; but she reaches Kennett's
farm the following day without having
arrived at any definite conclusion as to
what course it will be better to pursue.
It is a broiling afternoon, and Della has
felt the trudge up the long lane very try
ing; but she is rewarded by the first sight
that meets her eyes being that Of the old
scotchman summing himself by the bee
hives. He looks only trife less offensive
In the open air than he did In his close
bedroom, and be receives his visitor with
no greater co9diality. But she II delight
ed to see that he IL smoking his pipe, and
,he has a little flask Of Scotch whisky hid
len away In her pocket.
What a lovely day, Mr.. Strother.
am so glad to find you out. Where is
PatsyT
II dinna KEN"
docs she find 1t too hot in the garden?
[ almost think do. May I go round and
ask her for glass of water"
"You Gamma fash me wi what you DO"
Accepting the angracious permission ex-
tended to her, Della walks up the gravel
10
twofold-first, to find out where Patsy
may be, and, secondly, to obtain glass Of
water In which to put the whisky. AT the
open door she meets a servant girl.
"Is Miss Patsy in, JaneY
well. she amt azactly In, mum, but
she won't be long. She's only rim out the
back way to meet friend, and I'm keep
ing watch In case the maister should re-
turn and make q rumpus about it. Poor
Miss Patsy's got very little time to her
sell, mum, so ye meant tell the maister Of
her"
ITO be sure not, Jane. have only come
m beg a glass Of water. The day Is so
hot. and 1 am very thirsty"
The farm maiden lifts down a mug from
the nail on which 1t hangs and makes her
way out into the back garden.
1.-THE poomp's At the back" she says IL
going.
Della follows her. 70 examine the back
,f the house IL her desire.
She finds that the 'poomp" stands In a
wilderness Of currant bushes and rasp-
berry canes, now stripped Of their fruit,
and the wall Of the house Is thickly COW
cred with a vine Of many years growth.
On either side Of the back door are win
dows with latticed panes and broad stills:
the lower one to the right is the scullery
window. the one above 1t she believes to
belong TO the bedroom OF old Strother,
and it is fastened open by an iron hook.
.'Is that the old gentleman's roomT' she
asks indifferently Of the servant.
..Yi... mum. that's his'n, and 'twull bs
a good day for all concerned when hes
laid out in it.
Della walks up to the window Sill ana
Guds it is amply wide enough to stand up
nm In the scullery are set OF steps Win
which she could easily reach the uppe.
window. Given ten minutes 10 nerseH'
she feels sure that her work would De ac-
comnl;shed. She Ii active and hssom
still, although the mother OF NAL -.
worst difficulty will be to get the sersSI.'
who appears to be the only person ~itun IN.
hail ont Of the way. But Deiia mas ne.
nurse in her pocket and knows the pow.
oS money. She has no fear, wnen .as LA
time comes, Of not being able 10 ss' XIV
~ lane or to make use Of her.
she returns to the old clerk fuh 9. ny
for the success eS hsE project Au" "