Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-05-02

+ Of great grief to Mrs. Mansfield. But
all her tears, pleadings and reproaches
could not prevail on her husband to re-
/ lent. and as time rolled oh her importu.
mites ceased.
Having dressed himself to his salts
faction, Mr.. Mansfield left the room.
/ Suddenly his progress was checked
by the sight Of a wide-open door. What
tempting fiend could have left the door
| Of Miss AnsOm's room so invitingly
open. displaying. as it did. the very
drawer in which the much-discussed
photograph was supposed to lie?
Mrs. Mansfield had. as she well knew,
she mentioned curiosity.
1T would be the work Of q momen.," I"
he reflected. ito take just one glance
into that drawer to satisfy myself Of
the truth Of James story"
| With cautious look round. he noise
lessly enter the room, partially closing
the door behind him. He opened the
drawer boldly. and-yes. there 1t was
the very first thing that caught his eye
his own photography!
| 1t was as his wife had stated, one Of
| the few he had had taken about two
years ago.
| Horror! Somebody was coming!
A light step on the stairs, and a sweet
voice humming the refrain Of a song,
lheralded the approach Of Miss AnsOm
herself!
Il What was to be done? Could he al
low her to find him in her room, prying
about like a curious housemaid? He,
Alderman Mansfield, Mayor of Pim-
perne! There was only one thing to be
done.
| Miss Ansom entered and closed the
door behind her. Mr.. Mansfield could
hear her moving about the room, still
singing lightly to herself.
she is taking of her hat and Jack
ct" he thought. In a few minutes
she will leave the room. Then l can
slip out unobserved.''
Everything, no doubt, would have
happened just as he wished, had Tiny
| Mrs. Mansfield's darling pugJnot fol-
| lowed Miss AnsOm into the room.
The spKt Of investigation was strong
in Tiny. In the course Of his present
explorations he naturally looked under
the bed. He Immediately sent up an
ear-splitting series Of barks and yelps,
at the same time dancing about with
every canine token of delight.
Mr.. Mansfield responded to Tiny's
Joyful recognition with silent curses.
and. hearing Miss AnsOm's expressions
of surprise. and that she was approach
ing the bed to learn the cause Of Tiny's
excitement, he slowly emerged with
a very red face and a very ruffied ap-
pearance generally.
| Don't be alarmed, Miss Ansom,
beg" he cried. seeing that that lady
looked dangerously like shrieking
'Er-my unexpected appearance fills
you with amazement, no doubt"
"Mr. Mansfieldv she calculated, in
tones Of incredulous astOnishment.
| "Er-I must, Of course, explain, and
humbly apologize for my despicable
conduct"'
| His worship then proceeded, with
abrupt and jerky sentences, quite de-
void Of their usual fiowery trimmings.
to explain his presence In her room.
| Greatly to his relief, she did not look
very angry when he had finished. She
said nothing ut first, but. opening the
fatal drawer. produced somewhere
from its depths two more photographs
which she put into his hands, saying:
"You see. have photographs Of 9TH
er members of the family as WELL"
Mr.. Mansfield gazed at them in aston
ishment. They were pictures Of his
wife and son!
"Why. who gave you these. Miss
AnsomY
Jack" she replied simply, with low
cred eyelids and a pretty flush on her
face.
"Jackw he cried. MY sonT
| "Yes," she whispered.
But IL don't understand! I was
not aware that you had ever met him!
He Is in South African
| "It was for my sake he went there. :"
she replied softly.
There was silence for q few minutes.
'Then you are the young-er-lady
whom my son wished to marry in op-
position to my wishesY said Mr.. Mans
field severely.
| YES" she murmured.
| Mr.. Mansfield thought deeply for the
next few minutes. After all, he liked
Miss Ansom immensely; and II he still
proved obstinate she would, Of course.
leave the house. and perhaps this
mornings ridiculous adventure might
be mentioned. and-yes, he would be
merciful.
"Well, Miss Ansom, need hardly say
that your story has astonished me be-
yond measure. But will not disguise
from you the fact that during the time
you have been with US you have won
my highest esteem, and, In fact re-
gard you with feelings Of paternal At
fection. We must write to that young
while"
With q cry Of Joy Miss Ansom nuns
her arms around his neck and imprint
ed q kiss on his nose.
At that moment the door opened, and
Mrs. Mansfield stood on the threshold.
with hands uplifted in horror. She
could not have timed her entrance with
greater precision had she been wait.
ing, with eye at the keyhole.
John! Miss Ansomw she gasped.
Mr.. Mansfield looked frightened.
my dear" he cried nervously. II am
going to write and tell Jack to come
home. This young lady has promised
to be his wife. She II, In fact, the
young lady about whom we had that
} fooliah ouarral"