The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-12-06
WILD ROSES.
by Ia CARRIE

VIZ -
ses that clambered over the poruco
Of their pretty cottage home. Her
pink morning dress was tucked up,
revealing daintily slippered feet, aud
her dark brown hair, escaping from
it's f~astenings, was hanging in pic
turesaue confusion at her waist.
Twice she tried to put up a refracto-
nv branch, and was vainly essaying
u third tine, when the gate slammed
and she heard a quick step on the
gravel walk.
20, Ben" she cried without turn
ing her head; I'm so little ! can't
reach. DO come and fix this rose tor
me-
The stepping ceased.
How provoking YOU are, Ben.
Don't you seen-
This time she turned and stopped
short in the middle Of her speech,
Cor there, instead Of brother Ben"
as she supposed, stood a handsome
stranger. A crimson flush yer
spread her cheek, and a sudden
thought leaped into her mind Gould
this be Arthur Browning. Ben's fast
friend and chum,' whom be was ex-
pecting, in a short time. 10 spend a
few days with him. The fastidious
Browning as Ben called him-he
must think her a perfect hoyden TO
be clambering round sou Qaite
forgetting her situation, she looked
at him curiously, until called to her
self by bis bowling ,ow. aud with a
teasing smile, demanding:
What do you thiuk of me -
An almost irresistible impulse to
laugh at the righteousness of her
position was smothered by mortiica
ton al her rudeaess, and, with 4
siammered Mamma is in the house
sir" she endeavored To descend dis
daining his pTodered assistance. But
alasl i"stead o. leaping lightly down
in her confusion she caught the hee
of her slipper on the step, aad fell I,
the ground. Gathering herself up. {;
mortified heap, she fed to The house
while the stranger gazed after be.
with a look of curiosity and admira
ton in his handsome dark eyes
Welcome, old fellow ~ cried Bel
Markham. coming up al this moment
Received your card ten minutes ago
aud have been looking everywher,
for You. Come in" aud with a hear
" hsnd-shaking Ben drew bis frien,
into the house and presented him 4
his mother, q stately little lady witt
q sweet face, who welcomed him mos
cordially. His name was a familia
one in the household, for Ben wa
never tired Of dwelling on the GOO
qualities of Browning" aud Leilt
bad more than once declared hersel
sick of his very name"
Half an hour was spent in Ben
examining fishing tackle an
guns, when the dinner bell summoned
them down. Leila was already i
the diuing-room and grsvely ackucN
edged the introduction. but as ih
handsome ewes before her met b,r:
her gravity gave way aud she burs
into 4 hearty laus. Arther jOiBe
10, and Ben stared in open-eyer
wonder a. them both. Leila gave
graphic description Of their forme
meeting, and amid langhtetS nd livel
saslies the dinner was eaten.
Happy. happy, were The easu,n
days that passed so swifd, by
Huniisg vita Ben, delightful ride
and pleasant evenings with Leila
snd ere he was aware Of il Arthur
'tew DAYS" had heightened into tire
weeks Even then Ben. would heQ
TO nothing but his stopping until aft,
inc Centennial picnic. '0nly II
Thursday, what possible diserenC
can two days make?" Aud ArthG
decided TO STAY, not unwillingll
Leila's witehing WAYS and charmin
face had made a deep impression O
his heart. Notwithstanding she 10
nented him numerically by bcin
by turns merry or silent. gracious f,
haughuly indifferent
Whatever her mood, no matt,
how perverse, be found her each da
more charming than ever. lie eoul
aot tell if she liked him or not. ST
rode with him, and sang in the evel
TAG st home, bat she did the san
with q score Of other admirers Pa
ticuhrly was she gracious 70 WI
Carroll, who she secretly thought il
sipid and daodi6ed, bar Of wbol
Arthur was. by this tine, mad
jealous Thursday morning dawGe
bright and clear. The god Of plea
ure parties had indeed favored then
FOR the calm, blue sky, and soft, re
tie breeze made all the earth seel
JOYOUS. Arthur escorted Leila, VII
was unusually b~ewitching in foil pi
nic costume, with a cluster OF b,
iavorite wild roses 81 her throat, an
even in the black velvet that trimme
Der jaunty legsora. Both were
high spirits. and the drive Of fS
miles seemed q short one as the
drew up al Clsy's GrOre. where
number had already gathered. an.
as the children say. THE party b
gun
Games and dancing, with the pie
sifal lunch eaten plcnic fashion, q
e&e grass. occupied the morning w
Carroll attached himself TO lei
with the peraaacty u sticking pls
ter. and, because she could Tot d
otherwise. Leila accepted his ate.
lions. Arthur noticed tha; he wol
q wild ro~e in his button hole. No'
&c had asked FOR one on the way on
but Leila had said Der roses wei
TOO precious 10 give away" an
when be saw this on VIII be took
as a token Of their eBgsgemea
Studiously avoiding Der. be devote
himself 70 pretty Ethel Gray, al
bssrfslv rsSho3 ~ hsa cn-,e hnra "A