Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-12-19
CHAPTER u.-(Coutinued,

AN- NAN sNthi EdlueI WOfrlp0. dear "
"oh, was. To begin with, l didn
Ike the part had to play, as you know
A. Mrs. VIC had written it out il wa
simply ridiculous Now when the dresse
told me how she had seen il played.
'aW what capital part it might b
made; and when 1 thought of this lette,
u | resolved to play it. So 1 went to m
I Fston for copy Of Goldsmith. an
studied it with the dresser, who urom;se
20 make me up exactly like the actor sb
had seen. II 1 am expelled from on
school. it's pretty certain that anotbe
won't take ME when they hear what fhe,
are exposing themselves to-"
But isn't it rather dreadful to be a,
Z, ,elled. Nessa?''
i shall not be expelled. shall resign
aid Nessa, loftily. Il have not studie,
he political history OF the British con
iuiution for nothing" she added. with ,
lash OF humor in her eyes
w hen are you going to resign, dear? p
he very first thing tomorrow morn
ng made 1inkieton promise she wouls
say nothing about the performance Il
MIS- Vic tonight in order that I mysel,
might tell her in the morning. You ma,
D sure she was glad to get out of IL
mere : another reason why I prefer tc
'esign. II / were expelled, Mrs. vi,
would get nothing out OF Mr.. Redmond
but II | resign, he must send her the paw.
ment for term, and that will help 10
compensate the poor old soul for the in
Jury have done the school,
And where shall you 20 when you
leave heref"
To Grahame Towers. of course"
But aren't you afraid, Nessa?'
Afraid OF what-that coward? Not l.
II were man I'd be o soldier like my
father. There's nothing l should like
better than good fight with that villain,
Redmond
But are you sure he's coward.
1earT asked one Of the girls naivev.
am certain that he is. / am anxious
Tor tomorrow 10 come; but, oh.' she
added, with a sudden drop in her voice
as the tears sprang into her eyes, II shall
never have the heart to say good-by to
you, dears"
There were hugging and kissing all
around. and then Nessa, bursting away.
said. Come, let us get it over now.
Ihete, take these, Dolly; and now. little
witch. you're next. Choose what you
would like
But the little WITCH" sitting on the
bed with her face buried in her hands,
shook her head and whimpered. She was
a strangely small girl for her age, with
long, thin fingers. a dark complexion and
black hair, long and sleek as an Indians.
Her ways were odd and seclusive. Some
times the girls found her seated in the
dark, huddled up with her chin resting
on her knees, and her weird. vacant eyes
half closed, as If her spirit was wander
ing in some other world. She could inter
pret dreams. and make sense out of the
greatest rubbish. She was an authority
on all that concerned signs and tokens
and palmistry, and had worn a smuggled
pack Of cards limp in telling the girls
fortunes. Her title was not unmerited. O..
The girls gathered about her prepared
for some new sensation in the romance of
this night. Nessa alone seemed to be un
awed.
What's the matter, you little goose!
Is there anything dreadful in giving pres
ents?'
Don't, don't,'' pleaded the little witch.
without removing her hands. ITS like
Naomi. my sister. When she was going
TO die she made us take things"
But 1 am not going to die. Look at
me-do / look ike il!
You don't know ALL" said the girl.
shivering. and whispering so low that her
words were scarcely audible. mot al!
that I know. / would not tell you while
il might do you harm to know, but must
now that IT may save you. oh, you must
not go-' She raised herself suddenly
and threw her arms about Nessa's neck;
you. so beautiful and kind" she added,
nesting herself in Nessa's ready EN-
brace.
Why. dear, whyT whispered Nessa.
coaxingly.
You are in danger. Your life is not
safe There is going to be great change,
and there is peril in your path. l have
seen il whenever 1 have looked-in the
cards. in your hand. Your line of life Is
broken in the nineteenth year.
Nessa was the only one of all the little
,roup who was not terrified into silence
by the little witch's prophecy.
oh. come. this is too bad, after prom
isiug me last week that l should have
riches and long life," she murmured, play
fully. as she smoOthed her cheeks upon
the girls sleek hair. Two things cant
BE- true. YOU know; and of the two j
would prefer to believe your first prom
ise'
They are both true" said the girl,
with fpyerish eagerness; you will be
happy if you live; but there are three
years Of terrible danger before you. 1t
was that | dared not tell you. Oh. do,
DO stav with us till the peril is past"
Nrssa herself stood now in silence, sub
dueI with grave perplexity by the earn
estu.>s of her little friend. But sud
denly s4.y Of intelligence cleaned in her
face and unclasping the girls clingine
arms from her neck, she put her away,
holding her at arms length.
You little trckster" she exclaimed,
with mock disdain; II have found you
1ur. | see through your conjurrng. You
have been thinking about that clause IN
the codicil that puts Mr.. Redmond II
possession of my fortune IL / die before
twnnty-one. and it struck you that ne
might murder me for my money II ne
got ne under his hand in Grahame Tow
era. | forgive you, DEAR" she ADDED,
taking the child back to her bosom, and
kissing her, ''for your sweet lore OF me-
but oh. you are awfully mistaken II you
think that fear would keep me from get
ting into difficulties
CHAPTER III.
II was about five o'clock when Nesss
reached her destination
"Is it far to Grahame Towers! SIZE
asked the porter.
"A matter Of four or five miles before
you got to the park, and then there's the
best part Of a mile to the house. Take
dy, Mss?"
S-s--+etch my luggage, please. There
are two tin boxes with i:a,y name on them
-Grahame."
She changed her last haif-sovereign al
the refreshmt Mt bar, where she had a col