The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-01-28
sE0RRID MISS LEEGIs.


Tom Luttrell, aged tw,nty-f, ur
was thoroughly good fellow, good
tempered, good-looking, and heir to
good property but had one sorrow
be was engaged to a girl he had new
er seen.
Some ten years before 4 disput,
had arised about a certain Killing
don estate, in Leiccstcrshire, to which
Mr. Luttrell-Tom's father-and {
certain Carnwarth Leigh both laiC
claim. Litigation seemed inevitable
and the legal fraternity began tc
prick up its ears, when one morning
Mr.. Luttrell received the following
note:
Dear Luttrell:-You and | have
been good friends all our lives, and
there is no man living for whom !
have greater esteem than yourself
Cannot we, then, settle this wretch.
ed business without troubling these
Internal lawyers? Ny uncle, iIaugh.
ton Leigh, had suit that lasted hSn
twenty years and killed him in the
end. Now, listen TO me my daugh.
ter Nellie will have all Eve got at
my death, except Barfeld, which will
60 TO Jacks boy. Why shouldn't
she marry your boy Tom? Let the
property alone for the next ten years;
then Nellie will lie eighteen and Tom
four-snd-;wenty-if they like to mar.
ry then, well and good; il either
should decline TO carry out the ar.
rangement, let the property go TO the
other.
This is a rough idea Of my plan,
which Jackson, your lawyer could soon
patinto shape. What do you say
Yours, &c, CornwortlS Leigh, Bar
field"
To this proposition, Mr. Luttrcll
agreed, and Tom found himself an
engaged man at fourteen. Soon aft
er this Mr.. LEIGH was obliged TO
leave for his health; aud for many
wears he resided on tho Connecticut.
SO it happened that Tom and his
future bride had never met.
About a month before the time
fixed for his decision. Tom betook
himself to a small inn in the village
Of Settleburn, near Stockford, nomi-
nally to fish, but in reality to escape
from his fathers arguments and to
get a little time to himself for quiet
reflection, while he .olaced his wretch
ed soul with tobacco
One day as be lay lazily smoking
by the silver Beck, something fell
from a high bank above him and
dropped into the water, while a girls
voice exclaimed:
"Ob, my gracious, my hat ~.
Tom looked and saw very neat
little hat hoting, boat-likc, down the
stream.
Bother the young woman" he
Il suppose, now, she'll ex-
pect me to fetch it."
As lie arose, he looked up to the
spot from which the voice had pro-
ceeded, and saw a girl whose beauty
him. She stood bare-head-
ed on the bank, gazing with look Of
comic dismay after the fast receeding
hat, and Tom had an opportunity of
critically, from the little
head, with its crisp, brown hair, dis
ordered by the wind, to the slim an
lles which her position revealed as
she stood obovc him.
Running some yards down the
bank, he stepped out upon an old
which protruded over the
stream, and waited in the hope that
he current would bring the hat with
n his reach. He was not disap-
and in few minutes more
ne was again on terra .frmd with
lis prize.
Il must make friends with this
Toung person." he thought, as he
dried the dripping feather
With his handkerchief.
The fair stranger had watched his |
,fTorts from her elevated post, and
miled swcetly on him as be climb
d the bank with his recovered treas !
ire. She had evidently been sketch
ng, for her materials were scattered /,
II picturesque confusion around her
Il hope it's not much damaged" F"
aid Tom, as he looked rather rueiul- |
V at the result of his manipulation's.
Pm afraid the feathers in bad
yAy."
ooh, it doesn't matter in the least,
hanks. How kind of you to take so
much trouble. But for you | must
ave walked home bareheaded."
81 wouldn't put it on just vet,"
'om said. Let it lie in the sun a
title and dry, while you go on with
our work"
But suppose it starts off again,
vbcn there's no one to recover it for
ne?" she suggested.
"Let me guard it, then, and you
al work in peace. You are sketch
lg, | see may | look 2"
"Oh, yes, but it's a miserable fail
re, I'm afraid" she said laughing
s she handed it 10 him. Tom ex-
mined it, and, being a bit of an am
teur himself proceeded to criticise it,
nd, finally to instruct. He found
bis girl very charming; she seemed
o delightfully."- free from all conven-
onality, without at all resembling
nat bete noi,-, the ''fast girl,
They grew quite confidential as
le lesson proceeded, and were
maZed when. on consulting their