The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-01-07

in having occasioned ibis suffering &,
you, aud my own punishment j.
more than | can bear
The coach stopped as I spoke; sh'
tuned to me eagerly, her face bearing
trace. Of tears, said in low voice
"Do not misunderstood me If | was
so silent
The cgacbman threw open tho
doors anu stood waiting was
Obliged 70 descend and assist her
out. hardly dared to touch that
little hand, though it vas for the
last time, but watched her graceful
figure with sad distress. Shs was al
ready recognized, for the door Uas
thrown open, and q pretty woman
followed ty q fnc-looking, b!ackwhis
kcged gentleman, whom / supposed
to be my namesake, rushed down the
steps. There we're exclamations oI
astonishment and pleasure-a cordial
welcome and some rapid questions,
to which Florence returned very
low and quiet answers, and quickly
extracting herself from The confusion,
presented me as "Mr. LEROY, y0uT
husbands namcsake, and the gentle
man who kindly took charge Of me-
/ glanced at her face 90 So, If she
was mockin@ me, but .t va pale
and grave. Mrs Leroy opened her
ewes widely bat was too well bred
to express her surprise, and after in
Producing me to her husband in thc
same terms, invited me into the
house. Hardly conscious Of what
did or o .uvthing cXcept that was
still "a the presence # Florence
fr,,a which 1 could net endure TO
Danish myself, ! followed them into
a handsome p5rier, where sat an old
lady whom nay conscience told me
was the rheumatic aunt j ba8 -l
cruelty bclied Florence herself pre-
scntcd NE to the lady, who was {
Fixture and unable to rise from her
chair, and bcfoIe | could atsmmeT
out an apology and retire, related in
her own way chow different from
mine , the mistake by which she
been placed in NY care. and thc st0-
~ Of the Journey, in which it appear
Ell that Mr.. Leroy had been q fel-
low-passeagcr. When she had end
ed, they all crowded around me,
warmly expressing thanks FOR my
kindness and consideration TO my
utter bevjiderment and surprise, and
cordially invited me to remain with
them and make the acquaintance Of
my namcsako and family
| detached my.clfirCm all this VA
expected kindness as soon as ] could,
for fsneied | read aversion in the
ia hing and paling fsc1 and drocp-
ing eyes, Of Florence, and with one
last lock at her lett the room. \
moment after, and I felt the touch Of
a light hand upon my arm, AMI tIra-
ing, saw with mute surprise that she
had followed nc into the vcstibulc.
Mr.. Leroy" she said hurr.dly,
i cannot let you go away misuuder-
standing me A. | see you DO. III
was silent, while YOU humbly ap-
pologized for the noble, generous and
honorable conduct / was too much
astonishcd aftcrward, 100 much
moved and gFeatfgl to speak. owe
YOU more than ! can say, and should
be miserable indeed If false shame,
which you see has not prevented NE
telling you this, should prevent You
from continuing an acquaintance so
strangely begun. Trust me. sir, /
speak the truth"
| don't know what answer I made
fer the revuIsioa OF my feeling was
almost too great for words, and the
rapture of knowing as | looked down
into that lovely face, that it was not
FOR the last time, quite took away the
little sense | had remaining.
If You want TO know how I lcit,
ask a man who is 10 b. hung, how
he would feel to be reprieyed. Well,
how time flies. Ii certainly does not
seem five years since This all hap
pencd, yet cousin Jenny (my cousin
Jenny now) bitterly reproaches Us in
her last letter for our not visiting her
in all that time. We have again I'M
lertakcn the journey, but nnder diff
1erent auspices, since Florence is
Florence Duudard no more, and sleeps
ipon my arm in the ears no more
)lushinglv, but with the confidence
Of q wife Of nearly Eve years stand
ng, and l registered our names in
he hotel hooks as "Mr. and Mrs.
Leroy" and blessed my lucky stars
Is | read it over.
Even while ! write, Floreuce, love
icr than ever, as | think, makes 4
yreat pretense of arranging our bag
rage at the hotel where we stop (and
which has reminded me hv the past
TO write down this
.tory), or comes leaning over nic to
all me "dear Chester" instead Of
dear cousin Frank, as five years be-
ore, and to scold me for. being SD
tupid as to sit and write, instead Of
alking with her
Was ever man 50 happy from
v0man's mistake!