The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-03-25
AFTER YEARS OF WAITING

II shall see you tonight, Mrs. Kaith
iane?"
AT the Grangers, Yes, | shal
be there. l hope il won't be &
crush"
Why rather like a crush"
"Oh. a crush makes me feel vi
c;ous."
Rupert Thornbury smiled as be
looked down at the speaker. Some.
thing had evidently put her out
Are you ofton viciously disposed,
Mrs. kathlane 1t is news 10 me y
Il wish you would not call me
that, Rupert. Mrs. kathlane You
do it on purpose, and | don't like
it."
The last words were spoken ike .
petulant child and there was cloud
on the face which looked up for mo-
ment from the soft, vividly eolored
woods which the white and slender
fingers we're knitting into some in
comprehensive ''fancy-work" A
yery beautiful face it was, and very
beautiful woman was Mrs. Kathiane !;
and no one in The wide world was
more throughly convinced Of the
fact than Rupert rhornbury.
She was slight and small of figure
-girlish looking still, despite her
four and twenty years. No other wo-
man would have dared, with her
complexion, TO wear the colors she
did, often in defiance Of ordinary
rules , she wore, this mourning,
deep, royal, purple dress, whith pur-
pie bands in her dark hair, and looked
as no other woman could have looked
charming. Her hair dropped over
her forehead in lustrous waves, and
was ia stened behind with high, gol-
den comb. Her face was marvellous
in its perfect form and brilliant cover
ing and her great dark eyes, with
their lashes, were enough of them
selves TO turn an ordinary mans
head
Il don't like IT," she said again,
glancing at her companion, who was
abstractedly tangling the bright woods,
apparently lost in thought, "and i
shall be seriously angry with you if
vou persist in being SO formal For
it is formal after you have known me
since / was little child, to speak as
though we were strangers.
'I'll not call you so again, Millicent.
Only, Mr.. Thornbury paused.
Only what 2" returned the imperi-
Gus little lady, giving him another
glance.
Things have changed great deal
since YOU were child, Millicent
You are q woman now, wealthy,
fattered; and but it is no
use talking of these things, | must be
going. Will you promise metbe first
waltz tonight ?"
Certainly. | hope you appreciate
NV kindness. l waltz very rarely,
YOU know"
Il do appreciate it; and now |
must go down to that stupid old Of
fce,' as you call it, and make up for
ost time. Good morning. Millicient
don't forget your promise and
lben he was gone. Gone, and uncon-
,ious, as be walked swiftly down the
street, that Millicent Kathlane'ssdark
eyes were looking after him, and,
v hen she turned back to her work. q
soft sigh flutiered from her beautiful
ips, and a shadow clouded her
ace.
He had known her, as she said,
:ince she was li:tlo child; and be a
strong, rude lad, had loved the
little Miilicent dearly i
md when at the age Of eighteen, be
lad been sent awav from home 10
qualify himself to play part in the
world, news came to him that Mill
,ent, Ibis little Milly," was married. |
Il was her fathers wish, the gossips |
aid. Mr.. Kathlane, the suitor was
wealthy, and having been |
fascinated by Millicem's beauty, her
PARENTS had used oil their influence
With her; and the end was she mar
led. Millicent, now Mrs. Kathlsne,
vent away to her husbands home !;
md Rupert Thornbury wearily went
IN with his dull. distastful labor, with |
lot even the old boyish dream to
ighten his task
Six years more passed slowly by,
making many changes in the afsirs Of
10Th. Mr.. Kathlane died suddenly, |
'fter two or three years of married |
ife, and Millicent went abroad with |
ONE friends.
She had been back nearly . year
low, and had settled down TO town |
iie During this period the old
hildish friendship for Rupert Thorn
,uYv Ind haan warmly reneUed and /