Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-09-05
CHAPTER VIII.

Under q shady bank, 0vernung Dy TWO
nut trees, a clump Of lilacs and very
ancient mulberry, the summer house at
Baronsford seeks to screen itself from
the vulgar gaze. Its kind old friend, the
nut tree, spreads its leafy arms above
sts pointed matched roof, and cOnceals
It's wigwam proportions from strangers
ryes Who is the girl in white huddled
up on the wooden seat that runs all
round the interior, girl with her dress
tightly gathered round her, and the tips
of her shoes merely resting on the
ground, her whole attitude bespeaking
distrust Of the insect inhabitants, and
with her eyes bent on a young man in
uniform, who is sitting on the venerable
and rickety table, with his forage cap
over one ear, and his arms akimbo! They
are Esme and Teddy, Of course. He is
brown, broad-shOuldered and soldierly
looking, and his sisters eyes as well
favored a young man as ever wore spurs.
She is far prouder of his personal appear
ance than she is Of her own; his mus
tache she considers simply perfect, and
her vanity is divided between that and
the three-cornered white patch on his
forehead usually covered by his jaunty
forage cap. 1t is duskish in the summer
house; not a single moonbeam penetrates
from outside, thanks to the careful nut
tree.
"You will never guess where l supped
and slept last night, Esme," Teddy was
saying 'At Aunt Jane'sv
81 don't believe yOu," returned his sis
ter, politely, after a minutes pause.
Nevertheless it is a fact all the same.
went down in fear and trembling to
wait upon the old lady. When she saw
me she stared very hard for about half
a minute, and then cried, Goodness, mer-
cy, gracious! why, it's Teddy She had
not expected TO see me in uniform, you
know; in fact, she had not expected to
see me at all. Well. theI she put up her
arms and drew me down and kissed me
first time, I'll bet, she ever kissed a mus
tache-and then she turned me round and
round as if l was on a pivot, and then
looked me all over; and then she kissed
me again and made me sit down beside
her and tell her all about myself and my
career, as she called it. And l did;
showed her my three stripes, and told her
Of my prospects, and how you had stuck
to me through thick and thin. and then
oh, incredulous young woman-she killed
the fatted calf and told me l was not to
dare to go back to Mrs. Swoffer, but to
stay with her. She presented me with
fifty pounds, and once I'm promoted I'm
to have a large allowance; and for the
future / am to consider myself her boy,
and by few little hints she let fall. /
fancy you are her girl"'
mot l." cried Esme. with a laugh of
incredulity. However, as long as she is
good to you she is doubly good to me-"
emphatically.
"And now. Esme-to turn to another
subject for q chang-what about this
chap, Miles BrabazonY'
''Oh, was going to tell you. Ted: got
desperate fright this morning, what our
Irish laundrymaid calls a regular turn.
was talking to him down by the river
-"
About whatT interrupted Teddy. in
quisitively.
Never you mind; was down by the
river, and in pulling out my handkerchief
l dragged out that new photo you gave
me last night; it fell precisely at his feet.
Tableauw
.'Tableau, indeed" grinning. And
what did he say? what did he dor
''Of course I pounced on II at once.
but he was too sharp for me; he got hold
of 1t first, and handed it back without
looking at it; but he did not appear to be
over and above well pleased.
"And pray why notr'
why not? you ridiculous wooden-head-
ed Teddy; because l believe he thought
II WAS some lover Of mine.