The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-07-29

hAN0ENo tAnA J0AAA4NlO AuAAA III pun
calico. So | followed Franks exam
pie, and certainly the sight of the
calico did not seem to disturb him in
the least. / don't know what We
: should have done without him that
summer. 1t was lonely enough al
times as it was, for our neighbors
were so scattered that we saw but
little of them, and even our city
friends seldom came for more than O
days stay, So the young mans visits
were doubly welcome. In addition
to being an entertaining talker be
was fine singer, and was always
ready to join US in soEg; he brought
the newest books and revived our
love of botany by constant contribu-
tions of wild flowers, and regularly
on Sunday evening he escorted US
all to church.
So the summer waned and autumn
came, and we began to fear that our
pleasant friend would soon be leaving
US for college. Once or twice we had
broacbed the subject, but he seemed
inclined to be little reserved about
it, and we let it drop.
Il don't see why he has got to go
at all, said Grace, she knows enough
now"
"He is certainly very intelligent
for a man of his age" said Arabella,
"but of course he wants to finish his
studies / wonder what he intends
to be 1t is strange he does not tell
US more in regard to himself and his
plans.
"May be Frank can tell us, said
Oracle, archly.
A curious little smile was playing
around Franks mouth.
ale left college year ago, and is
expecting soon to take a partner and
begin business, | belive," she said
demurely.
Arabella looked up in surprise.
"Why, l thought his uncle spoke
as if he were still student"
"There was some mistake about
that, l think" said Frank. "The
farmer was speaking of his nephew,
Ralph Hill, not of Ralph Strong"
And who is Ralph Strong, then?"
asked Arabella in amazement.
"Ralph Strong is farmer Hills
hired man." said Frank, just as if
the fact was something to be proud
of.
"Whatrn cried Arabella sharply.
"He is farmer HiIl's hired man."
repeated Frank.
"The impudent puppy !" exclaimed
Arabella, completely thrown off her
dignity by this startling announce
ment.
Wouldn't base impositor' be g
more appropriate term?" suggested
Frank tormentingly
"He certainly cannot expect US to
receive him any longer as q guest"
Arabella went on, ignoring the
amendment.
I'VE might possibly receive him as
one of the family, though" said
Frank, turning to the window to hide
her bushes.
A dim perception of the truth be-
gan to draw on Arabella.
'It is not possible that he has had
the assurance to ask you to marry
him ~ she said freezingly.
"Why not? He loves me and /
love him." said Frank, bravely.
This was a little too much No
words could adequately express our
CONSERVATION, ard we all three sat
and gazed at her in silence.
'lt is just too bad !" sighed Grace,
at last, with tears in her eyes. "It's
going to spoil all our nice times"
at is very unpleasant mistake
from beginning to end" said Ara
bella, with an effort to compose her.
self; "but it proves conclusively that
Ralph Strong, whatever else he may
be, is no gentleman"
"You are wrong there" cried
Frank, with flashing eyes, and then
like the true woman she is, she brave
ly took up the absent ones defense
1t seems that the nephew, Ralph |
Hill, whom the farmer went to call on
that memorable evening, was absent
at that time. So Ralph Strong was
sent in his place. Accepting our
cordial invitation to visit US, without
the least suspicion that we were tax
ing him for other than be was, be had
come and gone in blissful ignorance,
until one evening, while confding to
Frank some bits of personal history,
be chanced to discover the mistake
we were making, and was eager at
once to explain but Frank, partly
FOR fear the explanation would put
an end to his coming, begged him to
keep quiet for a while. $50 the fault
IS all mine," she said, "and now you
nav call him what you like-farmer
Hills nephew or farmer Hills hired
nan-to me be is, and has been from
he first, simply Ralph Strong, the
.ruest and best man have ever
And all Arabella's arguments fail
ID to convince her that plowing and
Gaping for farmer Hill had in any
way lessened his manhood, or that in
a farmer she would be
looming herself to a life of daily
lrudgery. So there was nothing
more to be said. She was of age,
md had perfect right to do as she
pleased; but it seemed so odd that
Frank, who had refused more offers
han she could remember, was. after
III, going TO marry farmer Hills
lired man.
1t came to light little later that
le was himself the owner of hand
some farm, and had hired himself to
armer Hill chiefly for the purpose
If learning how to manage it, having
discovered on leaving college that be
Knew far more of astronomy than of
agriculture but ever this modifying
act could not restore Arabella's COM
,osure.
Father and mother came home in
he fall, and all went back to town
md at Christmas there was a we'd
ling. Arrabella declared that it was
! disgrace to the family; but father,
who is quick at reading men, said
Ralph Strong was worthy of any
women. and that Frank had shown