The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-04-21

1 EufNlOEt AOA n~
"a bdmes;ead for 4 few days."
aEbe Oh. to be sure! Stay and
,rolcomen stammered the farmer,
feeling the ewes Of his wife and
b;s daughter Sara fixed upon him,
was like a man between two fires.
So it was settled, and Sara few
about like a good fairy to prepare
simmer for the wanderer, and after,
ward. TO set in order his room ana
he'd. At nine O'Clock he retired, m
then the storm burst forth.
The second Mrs. Holmes inquired
sbrilly. if their house was to be turn
ed into a poor farm" and MADE lne
abiding mace Of every shiftless crea-
ture who has wasted his substance
in riotous living among "those ne
groesn-onlv to come, at the last
without a penny in his pocket, to DC
snnnorted bv those who had the mis-
fortune TO be related to him in a dis
tant way.
Mr.. Holmes said meekly, that 'it
wasn't likely Elihu would want to
STAY long. and that as be had once re-
deemed the farm, which was heavily
mortgaged with bis own money, and
given a deed Of the place to his hrst
wife, he didn't very well e how ne
could refuse him shelter there II he
claimed it-"for a time, at least, ne
added. nervously, seeing his wiies
black eyebrows knitting together Ia
a way that be had learned to dread.
Grace upheld her mother j Il all her
denupciations though Sara thought,
~privately. that it would have been
more delicate had she kept silence,
since as the daughter Of Mrs. Holmes
bv former marriage, she could not
be supposed to have any great inter
est. ~pecuniary or other wise, IN the
disposition Of the homestead farm.
is for Ben. ike most boys at thir-
zen. he was on the side Of right
against might, aud be did not scrupie
TO say that, for his part, be hoped
I Cousin Elihu would stay there l0r-
ever. and that be was sure, If he bad
redeemed the farm, that be had a
perfect right to do so. His sister
Sara could have kissed him for the
answer. but she kept silence.
The DAYS went on. by every art
that a mean and paltry spirit could
invent. Mrs. Holmes the second snow
ed plainly to Elihu how unwelcome
, he was beneath her rooftrce. Asior
Grace she simply ignored bin. And
Mr. Holmes. thought be would glad
" have been both grateful and kind,
was so tanned by nightly curtain lee
lures hours long, that be dared not
show the ruined nan any attention,
and only looked at him wistfnlly now
and then. as if wondering when he
would be gone.
Elihu's plate, knife and fork were
nlaccd upon the table at every meal,
il is true. He Jared as the rest Jared,
and his room aud bed were the best
in the house.
But this was Sara's doing. To her
and TO Ben, he owed each moment of
bappiness which he enjoyed in the
old house. The sister and her young
brother were always glad to be WITH
him. but the other inmates Of the
house looked over and around him,
and even when be ate of their bread
and drank Of heir cup, seemed as II
they knew him not. Sara's proud
spirit blazed up for his sake at a thou
saud petty insults and afironts each
dav. She wondered privately to her
: self. and aloud to Ben, how cousin
Elihu. with the memory of his past
r wealth and grandeur fresh 10 hii
: mind. could endure it! Nor was sh'
a surprised when, n pleasant eveninl
: lust four weeks after his arrival
Elihu told her be must 60.
Il cannot blame you, so shameful
lv have you been treated" she SAID
t while her heart sank down in he
breast. like a stone sinking into tn
e depths of the tiny lake on who's
e banks .hey sat. But where viii 20
: 20. Cousin Elihu? What will 20.
q do? You were i'll when you cam
: here. and thanks to their .unkindnes'
YOU are not vet well and stron.
e enough to care for yourself. .,
is n shame-a shame !" she broke on
/ again. And if you had come ric
a as they expected, every one of thei
Q would have been at your feet"
Cousin Elihu smiled the smile tbs
always frightened her melanchoi
IS face, till in her eyes it was the NJ
blest. handsomest face on earth.
d Never mind them, Sara" said be
"vou aad Ben have been so good {
: me that l have scarcely noticed tb
o rest. So good that"
e, He paused and looked at her.
q Sara, when | am gone, will sc
!. miss me ?"
The tears rose to her eyes.
p 20, how can you ask? You know
Elihu. that when you goI shall thin
of you among strangers, poor, pc
IN haps i'll, perhaps dying
She bid her face in her bands az
sobbed aloud.
Elihu waited till her grief bad e
+ hausted itself and then took b
n. hand.
10 "What you say is all very tru
:. Sara. / am not fit to 60 out into tt
world alone. VIII you 60 with me
T. You have a good home here, lkno'
ir but if | have you to work for, / W
soon give you a better one. And b
ne and-bye Ben can come to US, and '
ut will make q man of him. VIII y
Ok be nv wife, Sara p
She looked at him with all the s,
ed emn fervor of a woman's love al
e devotion shining in her eyes.
be IF you will take me, Elihu, al
ut let me care for you, ! shall be {
Ell happiest creature on earth. Fro
es the moment when L saw you cor
he in at the farm-gate, from the nome
vn when l knew that your fortune W
gone, aud that you were i'll and alo
in The world, | have prayed that Y
might love ne. | don't care whe
be our home is or what it is, so hat
bi- share it together. can be happi
IN with you in a log but than | could
er. with anyone else in a palace for Y
Dol need me. Elihu, aud II ha