The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-11-05
FOR LOVE OR MONEY!

-foit dt ecOFuGF al ne, sang rs
ia Brandt, slipping dow nthe terrac,
steps into the garden, where she wa.
going TO gather roses for the parloI
vases.
4 deep, harsh voice spoke hel
name, close to her elbow. She look
ed round, with startled little crv
1t was only Dick Hargrave. DicG
was her uncle Wills factotum-
valet, groom, butler, all in one.
There be stood, as if he had been
waiting to intercept her-a great
hulking fellow, with a straw hat
slouched low over his wicked black
eyes.
What DO you want ?" she asked,
& trife sharply
He did not meet her gaze, but
looked away rather sullcnlv, kicking
the pebbles right and left out of the
path with his clumsy boot.
Il had something to say to you,
Miss Esta," he muttercd. Perhaps
YOU will not care to listen?n
Certainly | will listen" she made
answer, wondering a little at her
words and manner. But You must
not detain me long"
He sent q sudden, steel-like glance
flashing over her face, and said
You know very well what true.
faithful friend | am to YOU, Miss Esta.
| could not hide it i'll would.
She interrupted him.
yes, yes" she said impatiently,
though faint suspician of what he
was ct sent blaze of anger into her
eyes Il am ready to take all that
for granted Now, what DO YOU
want Of me?r
Her curtness abashed him not a
little. He colored, hesitated, fumbled
in his bosom, and finally brought out
a crumpled fragment of paper.
II found this under the house-door
when ! opened it this morning" he
said, holding it out to her. 1t looks
like letter At any rate, there's
writing on the paper | feared it
might mean something. | wish YOU
would read it, miss, and find out"
She looked hard at the creased
morsel Of paper, and then back to
him, but she did not take it.
why don't you read it yourself
Dick, if there is no address ?" she
asked.
q can't miss" dropping his head,
as If ashamed. II never learned to
read writing
"Humph! that is strange"
And so it was. He seemed to be
a fellow Of more than ordinary intel
ligence for one of his class. His Ian
guage was generally good. 1t seem
ed odd, to say the least, that be had
not learned TO read and write.
He may have seen the doubt and
wonder expressed in Esta's face.
Wont you read what is written
here, miss-just to satisfy me ~
why don't you take it to Uncle
VIII ?"
ITO be laughed al q? No | can't DO
hat"
He looked hurt, and began slowly
o fold the letter-if letter it was.
Then Esta held out her hand for it
She felt very much puzzled at his
strange behavior but surely there
;ould be no harm in humoring him.
Give it to me Dick"
She took it, and spread it open in
Ter hand. There was no address. but
lfter reading the hrst line or two she
aw it was intended for her Uncle
viii.
1t was written in scrawling.
yretched hand, some portions of it
Deing scarcely legible. But after
title study, she succeeded in making
'ut these words:
you were friend to me. / amt
| know You have money
n the house Others know it too. /
lou'd better keep sharp lookout. 1
DON'T sleep tonight. if the money is
till there. If you do, you'll never
wake up again aud the money will |
'e gone up. / shouldn't betrav nv
'als; but ! won't see you robbed and |
llled-you who was SO good to me
nee.
A FRIEND"
This was all. 1t was enough in all |
onscience Esta nearly screamed |
nth terror as she read on 20 the end. |
he letter fell from her trembling
ngers
Dick stopped to restore it.
What is it miss 2" he said, staring
ard at her "Was | right?''
She nodded, not trusting herself to
peak. After brief struggle she
ried out.
Thank you, thank you Dick, for
ringing that paper to me! You
ave saved US all a great trouble and
orrow.'
With wistful light in his dark
yes, he returned.
I'D lay down my life for you, Miss
sta
There was no mistake in his pas
onate glance. He was treading on