Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-08-01
CHAPTER XXI.

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CHAPTER XXI.
Yes, they were all at it again--the lin
net and robin; the ma~ls and merle: tht
cuckoo telling us of his whereabouts il
the heart of the thicket: the larks filline
all the wide spaces of the sky with theil
silver song. But for this universal twit
tering, and clear caroling. and futterin,
of wings, the world was still enough ant
silent enough. The red kline hardly NOV
ed in the meadows golden with butter
cups. The olive-green masses of the elms
rising far into the pale blue of the heav
ems, did not stir a leaf. The warm sun
light seemed to draw forth a hundred
scents from herbs and flowers, that hunl
in the motionless air.
As one IS idly gazing at all these things
and spcculating as to how far a certain
white butterfly, that has started early
on his travels, will wander before the
heat OF noon causes him to close his
wings on a head of clover, there is a
quiet stirring of the willow branches, and
then a football on the gang board con
Meeting the boat with the shore. Turning
forthwith one finds that it is Miss Peggy
who has come down through those yel
lowed meadows, and it is Sir Even Cam.
eron who is steadying the plank for her
She has been abroad thus early to gather
flowers for the breakfast table, and in
each hand she has a great cluster of but.
tercups. AS for the June roses in heI
cheeks, where did she get them on sc
extremely still a morning? And as for
the speedwell blue of her eyes-But she
passes hastily into the saloon, for the
flower glasses have to be filled.
ofticer-has he anything to sayI He OBJ
serves that the morning is beautiful
which is no secret. He thinks he saw a
trout rise little bit further along. Pres
emily he pats this question:
Shall you have any need Of Murdoch S
services this autumn"
II fear not"
He is an exceedingly handy fellow
don't you think so!'
Il do"
And very willing, isn't he?"
HE is.''
well, now, don't you consider that .
young fellow like that would be better
in settled situation than in doing odd
jobs about Tobermory, with an occasional
month or two's yachting in the summer"
II dare. say he would-if it was any
thing of situation"
DO you think he would come to me
at atInverfask!'
.Inverfask?"
Yes. 1 would give him a fair wage;
be would have employment all the yeaI
round, and he might look forward to
some increase of pay if he deserved it,
"A permanent place at Inverfask-is
that what you mean"
"Yes."--
N..D -hsar, x-nrr rlrff
him, Murdoch will be a proud lad"
And you are sure you don't want him
this autumn
Almost certain-besides, that could
not be allowed to interfere"
Il will 20 and ask him at once, SAID
he: and he, too, disappeared into the sa-
loon.
Well, now, the "Nameless Barge
seemed to be just filed with secrets ano
mysteries on this busy morning; but OF
course one had no time to pay heed t.
such trumpery things. for we had to mak'
an early start In order to get through the
chain OF locks outside Devices.
After leaving Devices there are hfteeI
miles of plain sailing without the inter
ruption of a single lock, Sd that we madt
good progress this afternoon. The canal
which Is here SO little used that II
abounds with all kinds of water plants
the white buttercup conspicuous amons
them-winds along high plateau wnlcf
affords extensive views over the neigh
boring landscape. Not that we saw this
somewhat lonely stretch OF country un
der most favorable conditions. AS We
stole along by Bishops Cannings and Al
Cannings and Stanton Fitzwarren the
still air seemed to be threatening thun
b.. pf "a clOIIiy milky
white, and the hills that rose to the hori
zon line both on north and sOuth-Rough
bridge Hill. Easton Hill, St. AIMS Hill
Etchilhampton Hill, Wivelsford Hill ane
the like-were slowly deepening III gloom
Then came rain, and forthwith these idi'
Deople fled into the saloon, to books ah'
writing. and tea and what not. All bu'
the faithful Peggy, that is to say! MIS-
Peggy not only went and fetcheu tp'
steersman his waterproof, bur she aiS'
brought out her own; and, having ura"
the hood over her pretty brown halr ah'
Fastened it securely under her chin, sh'
took ND her position on the steering
tbw,rt Was she still anxious, then, Il
show her gratitude, i'll some vague, tenta
five way? At all events, her companion
shin on this somber afternoon was sum
ciently welcome.
Rut one soon began to discover VIVA
had brought Miss Peggy out~into th'
rain; her remarks about the weather "e'
speedily over. ;, r.. .sts nres
.,,v with a very becoming hesitation
.bas Col. Cameron said anythinS-an'
hing particular, TO you
Nothing very particular.
~ suppose not" she continues
-, ~, came nretty hesitation. nat