Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-09-12
CHAPTER yIII.-(ContinuedD

back, evidently lost in the deepest alb |
straction. He had approached to within |
a few PAGES of the summer house. Esme's
heart was humping as loudly as big
drum, 1t seemed to her own terrified ears,
and that every other sound was swallow
ed up in its audible pulsatiOn. Miles
came nearer. He was within a yard Of
the summer house, and while they them
selves were wrapped in darkness, he him
self stood In the full view of the search
ing moonlight. They could note the ac-
curacy of his tie, the rather withered
little flower in his buttonhole, the part
Ing of his hair, the gold links in his shirt
cuffs. Now he stood on the very step.
Then he turned slowly away and began
to retrace his footsteps
'Oh. Ted, feel so dreadfully fright
ened," murmured Esme. Il know I'm
very foolish; for, after all, il he had come
in, and l had told him who you were
there would have been no harm DONE"
"Of course he has never heard Of me
the family black Sheep
Il believe Mrs. Brabazon told him you
were dead"
Upon my word! She does not stick
at trihe!
"Oh, Teddy! may not tell himr'
You shall the moment get my COM
mission-no sooner! Just have patience!
You're always SO impetuous, and in such
a hurry about everything. I'm glad I've
had a good stare at him. He's a good
looking fellow; very like that picture in
the hall-the chap with the dish-cOver
and red sash, that was killed at Naseby"
Il suppose you mean Rupert Brabazon,
in the steel cuirass?"
"Yes. I'm glad to have seen him." nod
ding his head toward his now distant
cousin, "but ! doubt II the satisfaction
would be mutual were he to see me-"
In another moment Esme had said a
hurried good night to her brother, dart
ed round the corner of the summer
house, and buried herself in a thick,
dusky walk, which led straight to the
friendly side door, through which she
vanished.
Miles had been a prey to Mrs. Braba-
son all the evening, her grand friends,
her health, and her airs; bound to her
side by strong social cords, he could not
get away, but he had not been indiffer-
ent to the fact that Esme had stolen out
of the room an hour ago. He had seen
her running down the pleasure ground.
Why should he not slip out, too, and me-
ander by her side through the shady
walks under the chestnut trees, instead
of being pinned to the apron strings Of
q prosy, egotistical old woman? AT last
he was released, and had come out in
hopes of meeting Esme. He was going
away for whole week, and to return
and learn his fate at the bachelors ball
at Scarborough. which was to take place
within a week. Something told him that
the answer would be YES" But that
photo he had seen on the moss at his feet
that very morning kept protrudfng It's
ugly presence into his rosy dreams, and
irving to imbue his mind with the poi
sonous taint Of suspicion. Who could IL
have been? A man in uniform. NO
one that Esme cared a straw about" he
kept assuring himself, but still it was a
man in uniform! His soul shrunk from
the plain truth, but was compelled to en-
brace il. all the same; Esme and his aunt
had positively assured him that she had
no other suitor but himself, and he be.
ieyed them. He was not such an inndel
as to doubt the solemn word OF two laoies
of his own family-one who bore the
weight of years of uprightness, and the
other who looked at him with eyes Sc
true and SO frank that, il her tongue mad
dared to utter a falsehood, they them
selves would have betrayed her.
That meeting at the gate he nad no"
nut down to Miss Bell. Yes, ne nae
hppn mistaken, E<SIht dhu AsAASS N>--
friends: she had been from home, ano
sbe was an unusually tall young woman
nj almost masculine proportions. les
the apparition at the gate was peacefuii1
laid. 1t is wonderful how young men II
Iove will eagerly furbish up and presen'
excuses to themselves, and accept tnem
rotber than be brought face to race VIII
any little imperfection or nav IN tn9L
d;v;n;tv The photograph, Miles bold!
Ia h;msalf was some public character
C;rls- carried all manner of queer thing'
in tbeir pockets, as he knew from MI
rnar;ence of his own sister. Esme mac
craze for collecting the photos oi TOY
.,ties and celebrities. why snoulu 10
that suspicious picture be the Crowi
Prince of Germany, our own rI,hee "
wales. or that handsome man, .ne ~. ~
Emneror of Russia! What io'' !"
was not to have asked her! :, w.
..tIa 10 an idiot about you, said Gus
IL ono AFTERNOON, in sudden burst o
sIness "and it is very PLAIN that III
Ia naver been in love before; II he na'
.on,d know better than TO snow nj
ne ne II he were to 'dissemble' as the!
num- ,iovs or to bully you little l
Buy ,,,d no all the better for him, poor DE
s rornp man. From which It VII
n.n that Augusta pitied Miles.
CHAPTER TX.
r,. yreat day of the bachelors bal
S.,dhorough. dawned at last; ano
haa You been on the platform at nyloru
mn, nau . o'clock, you would have see
Rrobszon. Miss Jane, her Nv
";aoos her own maid, Flack, and Noke'
", Sonarting with a world Of baggage
The two Miss Clippertons antmant ana antn !
Iittle mother filed up the compar'men.
which the BrabazOns had taken tue
nlaees. They were two young iaue
hound for the ball. whose siahsy eonss,
.ation nearly made Miss Jane hair Son' n,
mt of curl. They wore their nair t.o, ,
ou .ioso to their heads, very manly nat
.oa4s and collars, and were an en'Iei
eoaS nr.r;ence to the dear old perso
..,. Tho hobbine curs and worked blac
VII. VII hsndbag. They were going to th
,a hotel-horror! their rooms were
ready taken.
And now behold our party deseendin
., the Town Hall. and stepping deicatel
m the red cloth carpeting which wa
lined at either side by dense, oiscr,n
mating crowd, who exchanged audip
and critical remarks anent the ar.V,n
,,mpapy. Miss jane and Mrs. nraD
ION swept their young people on I.
,ts;rs before them into the ladies' wal
no room. where great pulling OUT
,L;-ts and touzling Of fringes ana req
.neing Of flowers was going on. y