The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-10-27
WHOLE NO. 1865
ROBERTS WIFE.

Il am real sorry about Uncle
James -
There was real sorrow in R0berl
Franklin's voice and ewes as be
spoke. and the lady who listened
) drew her merry face into dolorous
FUCKERS to suit the occasion.
Because, you see,n continued
Robert, he fancies because you have
twenty thousand dollars that you are
hDe lady, affected and useless, not
. the wife for poor farmer ~
I'VE must show him his mistake, .
was tne reply.
But be will not see you. He pos
itively forbids you ecming over tc
the farm"
"Does-does he know that we are
married ?"
IL have not dared to tell him
Cowardly, is 1t not? But he is my
only relative, and i loved him dear,
! ly. 1t is not because he owns The
farm and can leave little money,
Daisy"
Hush, love, | know Daisy az
swered, putting soft white hand
ever her hus bands lips.
4 Il had no other father or mother
either, for that matter, in all my life, "
continued Robert, "and if the farm
is dreary, it is home"
"And you do not like to be ban
isbedl Well, if you will keep your
promise, and send Jane over to see
me, you shall not be- Now talk of
something else. Oh, how can | let
you go for two long months :"
For Robert Franklin had under
taken to go in person to see about
some Western lands in which bis
uncle had invested, and which threat
ened to involve him in loss. Daisy
could not well take the long journey
and besides, Daisy had other schemes
in her wise little head. Loving Rob
ert well, she resolved to remove the
only shadow from his life-the reso-
lutte opposition of his uncle to a fine
lady wife.
Robert Franklin had been gone
from the farm three days when his
uncle james, yielding most reluctant
ly to the psngs of his old enemy,
chronic rheumatism, told Jane, his
servant, that be must remain 10 bis
room. The old woman answered
promptly: "If you are going to be
laid up, Mr. Franklin, | must have
some help. I'm getting too old, too,
sir, aud trotting up and down stairs
isn't as easy as it was twenty years
ago"
But who will come Jane? Girls
are not plenty here, as you know"
1--we a niece, sir, would come to
me, though she'd Dever live out"
Send tor Der then, and-oh-
rub my leg, will you?"
Late in the aftei noon, little hustle
below stairs told the invalid Of the
arrival of the niece
She came with one trunk, in a
wagon, from the railway station, and
standing in the wide, drearv looking
kitchen, looked picture os healthy
beauty. Soft brown curls gathered
in rich knot left little crinkey ring
lets on her forehead and carressing
the round white throat; large brOwa
eyes lighted a sweet fair face, and
the neat dress Of blue wooden cover
ed dainty figure.
"Will you go up stairs, Miss"
Jane hesitated.
Margaret " said the new conner {;
"don't call your niece Miss, whatever
you do. My name is Margaret. Has
Mr.. Franklin had bis supper ?"
Not yet. There's his dinner, you
see, scarcely tasted"
Margaret looked at the big tray,
the blue plate with food heaped upon
/ it, the two pronged fork and half
soiled napkin, and did not wonder at
the neglected food.
"Show me where the things are
and l will get the supper" she said.
Jane led her from closet to closet.
In one was a set of gilt edged china,
some 6ne table linen, table silver, aud
some glass.
Those were bought thirty years
ago. whispered Jane, "when Mr.
Franklin expected to be married. She
died aud they have never been used +"
With her pretty face saddened BY
the hidden tragedy Of those few
words, Margaret took small tray
from the shelf, and covered with a
snowy napkin, selected what she
wanted from the closet, and went
again to he kitchen.
I James Franklin, weary with the
effort to hold a book in his aching
hands, was now sitting in a deep
arm chair, musing. when Margaret
tapped at the. door
Come in ~
But be started as she obeyed
Such a sweet, bright face was new
in the dismal old farm house, strong
ly iu contrast with the bare, meagre
room and desolate air surrounding
| her.
II have brought your supper, .
she said, drawing q little table near
the arm chair, and covering with a
white cloth. Then, going to the door,
she entered again with tray. Upon
a white china dish was half a chick
en- delicately Drowned, potato roas-
ted in the ashes, and slice of but
tered toast; aud besides this, deli
cate cup full of fragrant tea.
You must not scold if | have
anything wrong" said clear, sweet
voice, because aunt Jane is too busy
to look after me. | cleaned the fork
and spoon, for silver gets dreadfully
black"-then more tenderly as she
marked the painful effort to move the
tortured iageF=-"iet me cut the
chicken, sir"
Grimly wondering, the old man
suffered himself to be fed, finding
appetite as the well prepared food
was eaten, and listening well pleased
to the CHEEKY voice 80 unfamiliar to
his loaely life.
Jane" Margaret said, sitting
down the tray in the kitchen again.
/ sI don't wonder he ia sick No car