The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-07-17

murely.
.4Oh, no; if she had been my destiny
should not have come here; there Is
fate in these things you know"
There was certainly a pretty strong
hint conveyed in this speech. if Mrs.
Gregory had chosen to take it. Whether
she would have done so must remain un-
known, inasmuch as, at this moment,
Tom Grover appeared at the open win
dow
Excuse me if / interrupt the court"
he said with a malicious glance at Per-
ry's position. Il judged from Cassie's
tumble of cats and coffee, that Bedlam
broke loose in here; but, as I see there
is method in the madness, ! will dis
creetly take myself off again."
ait is rather l who should take myself
off" said Mrs. Gregory, surveying her
buttered robe with smile. 81 certainly
look fit for Bedlam at present"
Thanks to me-" said Perry. you'll
never forgive my awkwardness, I'm
afraid"
"Oh, hope have Il soul above but
toms" answered Mrs. Gregory, laughing.
Perry looked after her @as she left the
room, with an. ex preston OF countenance
which induced sudden severe fit Of
coughing on Tom Growers part.
I: appeared, in fact, that Mrs. Gregory
L.. NJ r,.alioa f,r. her SDOi lod
muslin, for after this little episode they
were rather better friends than before.
Something to this effect Tom Grover re-
marked to his brother, as they stood one
evening watching the two approaching
figures. "If you don't rake care" he
added, "Perryll carry off the pretty
widow under your nose, for all Georges
plans"
SOONER him than me-" said Frank,
with as little gallantry as grammar.
"Georgie's plans were never mine, as you
know, Tom. Besides, I've no notion of
spelling sport, particularly when it's
such an old fox as Perry"
s'And particularly And here Tom,
dropping his voice nysteriously, said
| few words in his brothers ear
"Nop' said Frank, incredulously.
"Yes! said Tom SCOT it from Gecr-
gle yesterday"
"By Jove!" exclaimed Frank, and
burst into inextinguishable laughter, in
the midst of which the two came up.
Frank could not at once recover himself
II beg your pardon, Mrs. Vance-Mrs.
Gregory, ] really beg ten thousand par
dons," stammered Frank, going red over
his unlucky blunder; then, fearing prob
ably another paroxysm, he beat hasty
retreat. muttering confusedly something
about "a joke Tom, as a married man,
perhaps more hardened, stood his ground,
but he was saved the awkwardness of an
explanation by new conner, who just
then rushed up to the pair with out
stretched hands.
"Ah, Mrs. Gregory, delighted to see
you! How do you do, Vance? l under
stand from your respective mothers that
you were -ruralizing up here together.
Atrociously hot, isn't it? Came the lasi
twenty miles in an open wagon; only
fancy"
What more was said reached Perry's
ear but not his understanding. Thai
was occupied by the remark about theil
respective mothers A foreboding, vague
at first, but rapidly taking shape, grew
upon him. He was so impatient to ge
at the truth, that he could hardly wal
till their loquacious friend, spying new
f victim, had left them alone to begin.
One might fancy, from Mr.. Dutton'
remark about their respective mothers
I that they were together.
} "One might, certainly" said Mrs
Gregory. There was provoking smil'
on her face. Did she suspect his object
: He must go to work in a more rounda
bout fashion, he thought, so he changeC
the subject and talked of something els
, for while. Then he said, carelessly
| "By the way, do you expect you
: mother to join You here?"
Hardly" she answered, "as shal
q probably have left here myself befor
r she has finished her visit in Blankville
/ 90" said Perry, "she is in Blankville?
}, "Yes," answered Mrs. Gregory, smi
ling. sit is odd you did not know it, a
. it is your mother she is visiting there.
This at least was open to the point.
e was Just as he had thought; some othe
n old friends had accompanied the Will
k les, and his mother, no doubt, was Sc
cretly exulting that, in escaping th
j. Wilkie snare he had run straight int
d the nets of-yes, by the way, of whom
If Who was this second old friend to whoi
IS he was to owe his downfall? anoths
t, point to be craftily ascertained.
e 81 am delighted to find that yor
h mother is friend of mine," he reptile
J. to Mrs. Gregory; "but naturally, l al
d not acquainted with all my mother
.e friends, and, as have not the plsasul
1t Of knowing Mrs. Gregory though
s. "No, she is Mrs. Wilkie," answers
1t his companion, looking him full in Il
1t face.
st "Wilkie!" gasped Perry, aghast; obi
ce then you-you are
,e "Precisely," said Mrs. Gregory, COZ
at posedly, 81 am the designing young W
ne man who drove you from your hous
n. without ever having set her foot in
r Your mother was kind enough to lnvi
r. mamma and myself to visit her, but
oy was obliged to decline, as ! had alrea'
[r. promised to go to George Growers.
to did not tell you BEFORE" added NJ
ng Gregory, smiling, "as it seemed a nee
m less cruelty to drive you from 20
friends, too, and trust by this time y
n have foand out that am not such a t.
ly, ribly artful person after ALL"
mt Here was a pleasant position, VII
lse What was Perry to sayY His rep
he whatever it was, was made in SO low
IN tone as to be lost to his historian, al
mt consequently to the world at large.