The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-07-23
SELECT STORY.
THE FATAL PICTURE.

and scrutlnlZed IL cIoseiy Win MY eye
glasses.
Henry Wallis looked pleased; man
naturally likes to have his afianced duly
admired and appreciated.
$50 this is the Bessie Avmitage l
have heard SO much of; Wallis, she does
credit to your taste. \ blonde, sup
poser"
"Fair az lily, with beautiful blue
eyes, and the sunniest golden hair?"
"Ah. we'll, 1 must say I prefer the
brunette style. so far as my taste goes;
but, then, fancies differ, you know.
1t was all very we'll for Wallis to go
into estacies over his pallid, fair haired
little Bessie Armitage; he had never
met the glance Of Cecilia Vernon's mag
ni6cent DARK eyes. What did he know
above the true type of feminine beauty?
"As you cay, fancies differ" Wallis
returned, lightly. "But 1 wish you
would select a handsome frame for it
when you go to town next-blue velVit,
with gold rim on the margin, or some
such tasteful arrangement"
"I'll see to it," I said, depositing the
picture in Its envelope, and placing it in
my inside breast pocket.
you'll be very careful of it?"
smiled a little loftily at Wallis So
licitude, and we parted.
After all, Henry Wallis was better
off than was, for he was securely en-
gagged to the dimpled, yellow-tressed OBJ
iect of his affection; while was yet, as
1t were, in outer darkness, uncertain
whether my peerless Cecilia returned
my devotion, or whether she secretly
inclined toward that fellow, Fitzhugh
Trefoil. A score of times | had gone to
the Vernons' house with the very
formula of declaration on my lips, and
so often had the words died away un-
spoken. If tate had only gifted me with
one thousandth part Of Fitzhugh IRE
foil's off hand audacityi j don't think
ANYTHING short of the deluge could
check that fellows cool self-possession;
an earthQ Quake WOMB not.
However, love inspires the feeblest
heart with a sort of courage, and was
new man since Miss Vernon had smil-
ed upon me. What was the use of doubt
ing? Why not decide my fate at oncei
Henry Wallis serene content exercised 8
stimulating influence upon me. / would
g. koua haax, avap ha
"There is no use in procrastinatine
matters any longer" said, half aloud
as walked up and down the limited
domains of my law Office. 81 have beer
doubling fool qnite long enough"
"I'm afraid wasn'ta very amiablt
member of the domestic circle that after
noon.
az think Paul is growing crosser ev
cry day, said my sister, Struggling he
plump little shoulders. mamma, wisl
you'd speak to him."
But my mother, bless her wise OLD
soul, knew better than that. She onll
looked at me over the rims of her spect
acles, and went on darning stockings.
"Paul is worried with business matter
l suppose, she said, apologetically. "H
will do well enough, if you only let hin
alone"
/ went up to my room after dinner
and made an elaborate toilet: but all tn
pains bestowed upon it served only t
heighten the general effect of awkward
ness.
"I've two minds to wait until to-moE
row." quoth to myself, abruptly stop
ping with my cravat half tied.
No, might be coward, but / wa
not such poltroon as that. had begu
the enterprise; and I would carry
through. Moreover, / had an inspiration
An entirely new and original method {
putting the momentous query had OF
CURED to me.
"Hang Fitzhugh Trefoil!' exclain
ed gleefnlly, half aloud, though theH
was no ear to hear my ejaculation. az
win the dark-eyed treasure yet, in spit
Of him."
opened my writing-case. and carefn
ly took out a little carte de risite wrappe
in tissue paper, and tenderly laid it ava
with pink silk perfumed satchel tn;
Minnie had made for me once. 1t W;
Cecelia's picture; she had allowed ME
steal it away from her, with scarcely
remonstrance, a week before. Then w
the time ought to have proposed; bu
like the timorous,t doubling incomes
that was, let the golden tide of o
portunity slip away from me. / Dire
Bessie Armitage's vacant, dell like ia
from its envelope, and compared the tv
with thrill of triumph in my heart
"Colorless water, beside crimso
sparkling champagne; pale violet
the shadow Of a royal rose; pearls, cell
sed by the frey fash of diamonds"
exclaimed. "Henry Wallis taste m!
be correct and classical but give me n
radiant brunette!-These bleached- %
beauties are not my idea of perfection
It was lovely spring evening as
entered the wide graveled path tn
led to the broad porch Of the old-fas
ioned Vernon mansion. Squire w
non sat there smoking his meerschaul
"Won't you sit down and have
smoker" he demanded, hospitably-"I
real luxury to take Whit out
doors after being shut up in the hou
all winter. Or maybe you prefer gol
in to see Cecil?"
Sensible old gentleman! he had n
forgotten his own young days. / in
mated that the special object of my vi
had been "to see Cecil"
"Well, she is in the parlor, all by h
SELF" said the squire, good-hHmored
Walk in-walk in."
Cecil Vernon was sitting in the par
alone, as her father had said, the briG
center of cheerful circle of lamp-lig
A bit of crochet work was lying in
Ian. and an open volume of poems