Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-11-07
CHAPTER XIX.-(Continued.)

poor Miss Jane had felt her nephew
,.sth scutey. more than anyone would
,.,a believed The few days he had
,nant with her had entirely reinstated him
In her good graces. She liked him for
himself: he was gentler, more consider
ste and more manly, than the old. trOu-
bt.some Teddy; and he evoked a mem
ory which endeared him to her especially
Tor he seemed 10 link old memories Of tie
mast 10 realities of the present. A mem
ory. notably. of a smart young offer Of
light dragons. whose presence sie re-
called by his soldierly figure. his clink.
Ing spurs and his off-hand manners and
his handsome face. This officers epis.
ties, on large letter paper, written in fad.
ed ink. were treasured up, along with g
miniature, in the most secret recesses OF
Miss James bureau: also a lock of bro wn
hsr. the very self-same shade as red-
dy's. The smart young dragoon nigh,
have been a burly, stout. red faced squire
by this time. discussing shorthorns and
turnips. addicted to snubbing his wife
had he lived. But he had not; he had
died. saber in hand. on a far-away Sikh
battlefield, and a halo of romance and
regret forever enshrined his memory.
Time works wonders. Who can stand
at last. She has even. in a way, become
reconciled to Teddy's death. She can
speak Of it now quite calmly; for have
not three months elapsed since the day OF
that fatal foray, and as yet no letter has
come from Captain Brabazon, and she
feels more drawn to him than ever now
for her dead brother is a bond between
them. Did not Teddy die in Miles arms,
with him alone beside him? She makes
every excuse that fertile brain can con-
triye for his unlookedfOr silence. How
eagerly does she scan the mail news How
early she is down the morning the South
African post is due, and she is always
disappointed. Even ruthless Mrs. Braba-
Ton herself feels a little pang of remorse
as, in answer to an unspOken appeal, she
says. with a smile, Nothing for you, my
dear. this morning." and then there is an.
other long week to get through; but il
will come, will surely come" she tells her
self, bravely. There are so many things
that may have happened. The mails have
been lost, stolen or seized by the Beers.
The camp may be now beyond postal COM
municdtion. She reads with blanched
cheeks of the battles. Miles was there;
but Miles is safe, his name is not among
the killed or wounded. Still he may
be i'll. And with thoughts and specula-
tons Of more or less gloomy complexion
does she torture herself through seven
days more.
Then the house is full Of subdued.
but busy, hustle, for Gussie is going &c
be married. 1t is to be a very quiet wed
ding, she tells everybody. apolOgetically.
and Erred is SO anxious to be back for
the cub-hunting" The trousseau is mag
uihcent, though many Of the dresses are
Of a mourning type-the pretty laven-
ders and grays, and black and white
tules. The presents are numerous and
costly. as has been previously stated. The
wedding takes place without the smallest
bitch in the program, one lovely Septem
ber morning. There was weiting
bride. no missing bridegroom, this time.
Mr. Vashon. looking very red, and very
nervous, was awaiting his extremely self
possessed little bride for fully quarter
Of an hour She came at last, escorted
by Flo, and followed by Esme. who was
uearly as white as her dress-Esme, who
should have stood at that altar herself
Just one year ago. Her face was thin,
haggard and woe-begone, her eyes had
lost their brilliancy, there were dark
marks under them, and her lovely colo;
had entirely faded from her cheeks. Truly
ceople were beginning to whisper that the
beautiful Miss BrabazOn was now posi-
tive wreck. and almost plain-being moth
Ing more than a very thin. pale. defect
I'd looking girl. Augusta made a charm
ing bride and beamed and smiled gra-
,iously on all her friends, as she walked
aown the aisle on the bridegroom's arm
She drove away from the church to By
ford. and travelled by the mail up to Lon
don. Mr.. Vashon, who had shrinking
horror of being recognized as q bride
groom, Indignantly rejected the coupe
which was rendered by an obsequious
guard, and plunged. along with his Au
gusta, into a Pullman car full OF other
passengers. Alas. poor ostrich! little do
your off hand manner, or a newspaper
avail you. At the next station the beam
ing Miss ClippertOns were in waiting
with an enormous white bridal bouquet
Gussie saw them eagerly searching the
carriages, and shuddered; she closed her
eyes, to shut out, if possible. what was
coming. 1t was this: Hatty Clipperton's
smiling face at the window, saying. "Oh.
there you are, Mrs. Vashon. We brought
Tou this bouquet with our best, best
wishes. Be sure you send us a piece OF
cake"
Over Mr.. Vashon's face and the faces
,f the other passengers, permit us to drop
4 kindly veil.
CHAPTER Xxx.
What does this picture convey to the
mind of even the most Obtuse in such
matters? The scene before us represents
Z dull December afternoon, leaden gray
sky, brown hedges, bare trees and damp
country lane. The only bit OF color ID
The landscape is the scarlet coat OF the
young gentleman who. in splashy top
boots and feathers, is standing at the side
ef the road with hi- horses bride over
his arm, while with the other he endeav-
DIS to seize tine hand of tall giri III
black, whose face is turned away IN an
opposite direction.
Emboldened by a wedding in the ram
", Mr.. Hepburn thought that surely ne
might now come forward and urge mis-
suit, his courage permitting. He was very
much in love, and had more than once
been on the point of asking the aii,im,
portant question, when his courage falieo
him; and all the way home subsequently,
and until the next occasion when he met
the object Of his alteration. he would ra'e
himself soundIy for his cowardice' ano
pass valiant new resolutions TO 90 oe'-