The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-03-24

OugUL W SOuiinCnSo Win my name,
suppose. 1t is Edward Tracy.
was the second son OF Northun
berland squire, who had just none
enough to keep up the place for m
brother, and no more. A fine oil
place i. was, and the only bapp
DAYS | can look to were spent there
That was when was q boy-bom
for the holidays, eager about cricke
and foot ball, and to whom q gu
and a rabbit were perfect happiness
After a while it was unpleasan
enough. My brother-s lazy, goo
looking fellow, who knew how Il
ride and shoot, and only that-wa
the idol of my parents and sisters
All deferred to him, except littl
Mary, my pet. who used to follow
me around like a kitten. Poor littl,
girl! wonder if she ever thinks o
me now. Younger sons in a poo
family have a hard time of it.
only wonder more don't go to the
bad place than do. Brought up a
gentlemen, they are thrown on thei
own resources-to live on their wits
either in some beggarly profession Oh
as hangers on where there are any
rich relations. They must put up
with being snubbed and thrown ovel
whenever they come in the way
made use of and then cast aside
at least such is my experience.
was proud and passionate, and so fell
those things more than others, |
dare say. wanted TO go into the
army, but my father said he couldn't
afford it-I would always be getting
into debt, etc, and SO ! was appren-
ticed to London barrister-a great
pompous man, whom | cordially
delested before the month was out.
Ho always had way Of aggravat-
ing me whenever be came in con-
tact, that used to make me long for
some excuse to pitch him down
stairs. ] believe 10 presentlments
| knew that man would injure me
some day. saw more trickery and
underbanded dealing while in that
Office than | had ever seen in my
life before. Mr.. Pierson was a man
of tact, not talent. He had gained
several good cases, which made his
reputation, and be had a way of
making people believe that if black
was not just white it was certainly
grey, which proved very useful to
him.
Il was about twenty-five when |
went to Kent for few weeks, part
ly on business for Mr.. Pierson, and
partly on q visit TO my uncle. Am
| firing you, sir, with this long
story |"
"Not at all, Tracy go on"
All started at the unfsmilisr name
which the doctor slighily empbasiz
ed, His aresth capie quickly, and
bis voice was husky when he spoke
again.
Would you think, Aow, that a
man could hear his own name so
seldom that when.it was spoken as
you spoke mine, it could make the
past come back like great wave
almost blottins out the present? !
haven't heard my name for more
than ten years. he went on musing-
ly. Il dou't wonder it sounds
strange to me. 1t was summer
when | went to Kent--the time for
falling in love, and. Of course 1 did
i. | don't wonder at myself. even
aow, when | remember all that has
passed. We were thrown very much
Lucy was an orphan, liv-
ing with Q rich maiden aunt, whose
place adjoined my uncle's. ! hsG
always q fonduess for playing the
part Of protector and she was q
clinging. dependent little thing, with
long golden curls, and delicate pink
and white face. / had never cared
for any girl before, and from the first
loved ber madly. It's the old, old |
story, and needn't make a fool Of
myself again by telling it to you.
Before ! went back to town we had
rings, and she promised |
to love me through eternity. A
engthy eternity it proved
"Our engagement was to remain
4 secret until should become a great !
lawyer, and then / was to claim bey,
wanted to speak TO heF aunt, but she |
begged me not, giving Q dozen diff
ereit reasons Tor my silence | |
believe even then she thought it best |
lot to bind herself too closely hut,
IF course. | never suspected this, for
With all my faults | bad always
been perfectly truthful and honest.
IN the winter Mr., Pierson told me
hat the business that | had been st-
ending to had now been completed,
md that be was going down himself.
was, of course, very anxious to go,
,ut be didn't give me a chance.
Lucy met him at couple Of dinners,
md from what he said, | knew be
lad been very attentive TO her
lie was good looking man. about
orty, and could make himself very
.greeable when be chose to do so.
wrote to Lucy Immediately, telling
Ier what | thought of hin. She I
eplied, accusing me of being jealous,
nd saying she was sure was
'rejudieed against Mr.. Pierson, who
ad spoken very highly of me, and to
Vhom | found she had confded the
Ehole story Of or engagement, !
vas very angry, and wrote rather
atshly to her, | fancy, for ! remem-
er she told me i did not love her
5 once did, That was our first
uarrel aud vas soon made up, and
Or few weeks We corresponded as
sual. Mr.. Pierson returned to
london, but went back to Kent in 8
Teek or two. lie said be was COL
'cting evidence for an important
ase.
soon | noticed Lucy's letters
rev shorter and shorter, and finally
ne came saying that she had been
over our foolish engage
tent, and as there was no prospect
my being able to support her, She ,
ad come to the conclusion that for
be sake Of Us both it had better be |,
roken.'
al know every word Of that cruel