The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-07-19
WHOLE NO. 1906.


dancing your feet of
II did not care about dancing to
night" said Nelly, as she came slow
! ily forward.
Bring me the candle, child" II,
bad not spoken so kindly to her for
weeks.
Nelly brought the candle, and a:
she did so the Colonel turned hi:
back and looked out of the window
She was all in white, and there was
bunch of forgetme-nots in the bo-
som of her dress. She put up her
face to be kissed like a petted and
spoiled child
love me little tonight, uncle, :
she whispered; 81 am as blue as |
can be-" The old man could not helm
kissing her fondly and stroking her
hair; and as be did so the little bunch
of forget-me-nots fell out. When
Nelly had left the room the Colonel
picked them up unseen and put them
somewhere inside of his coat.
Poor Nelly's fair weather did not
last long. The next afternoon the
old General sent for her, in a tower
ing rage, his face looking quite apo,
plectic.
"Sit down there" be said, pointing
to a chair opposite, and Nelly obeye1.
What is this | hear about your be-
ing engaged to that idiotic young
Detmoldg"
IL don't know sir"
And you don't know" cried the
old General, that be is a brainless
fool and an unprincipled knave. His
father is reckless gambler in Wall
street, covered up with debts that be
hopes his sons marriage to an heiress
will help him pay. But not q penny
of my fortune shall ever go that way.
Promise me that you will not engage
yourself to young Detmold. or that
you will break with him ifyou have
had the folly to do so already. or you
shall never see shilling of my mon
ey after | am gone"
There were legal looking docu-
ments on the table before the old
General. "Do you promise2" he cried
holding pen suspended in his hand.
No." exclaimed Nelly as she rose
indi ignatly to her feet. IL cannot be
frightened by threats. | have the
blood of the Mortimers 10 my veins"
and she swept proudly out of the
room.
Nelly carried her sun-hat in her
hand-a pretty broad-brimmed Leg
horn trimmed with trailing vines.
Dry-eyed and pale, with her small
mouth set in a rigid line, she walked
swiftly down the path that led to the
laurel wood; but she had no more
than reached the shade when Young
DetmOid sprang into the path before
her.
"Oh, Nelly, dearest Nelly" be be-
gan. eagerly, II am so glad to find
you here. | have something very par
ticular to say"
Stop" cried Nelly. imperiously,
'and listen to what have to saw to
you. | am poor girl, Mr. Detmold.
have not a penny in the world.
Go aud tell the other young men at
the hotel that my uncle has willed all
bis fortune away from me-" The
young man stood as if petrifed, and
she swept on down the path before
him.
A quarter of mile of rapid, al
most breethless, walking through the
underground brought Nelly suddenly
against the Sanskirt professor, who
bad carried bis lexicon out into the
shade In a moment be had con-
fronted her, his sallow face beaming
with happiness.
81 am so glad to ind you here
alonel" said be. "For days | have
sought an opportunity to speak"
Don't say it," cried Nelly, with
tragic despair. Let me speak to
you. | am poor girl, aud it is all
i mistake about my being an heiress.
The General has willed away from
me every penny of his fortune
Miss Mortimer" exclaimed the
professor, in a panied and reproach-
'ul voice, Chow could you think me
20 mereensry? have loved you fer
Yourself alone"
'Don't, DON'T" cried Nelly, in
)Iaintiye tones. "You are a good
nan, worlds above me, but / could
lot marry you. | should be mill
,tone around your neck"
She ran from him abruptly and
lashed into the thick woods farther
md father, deeper and deeper, losing
breath, then stopping 20 listeD if she
we're followed She was in a strange
,laee, where large, s0mber trees
grew. II waslste 10 the afternoon. |
The sun was setting, the twilight
,athoring around her, when Nelly /
ested on a mossy log and leaned 4
Igaiost a tree trunk with her feet in .
be ferns. She was sobbing, because I
he felt utterly miserable, dele eied I
md sbandoned. IL seemed as though 1
Ier grief would never spend itself I
Ind stealthiIy the night came on.
suddenly there was a crunehing and
Of bushes near BY, and
SelIy spraDg up with little scream.
Don't be afraid,n said a deep
lanly voice she knew well; | will
OF harm you. Miss Mortimer p ex-
Iaimed Col Hawley you here alone,
lilies away from the hotel. | know
be aversion you cherish toward me-"
e added, coldly. "but you must al
wv me to see you to the house"
Nellie tried to hide her tear-stained
ice. Il know that you dislike me,
ol. Hawley," she answered, "ard it
unnecessary for you to impose so
isagreeable a task upon yourself. i
IN walk home perfectly well alone.
Miss Mortimer" said be, ignor-
g this speech, 81 see that you have
cen weeping, and / know that You
ave quarreIed with your uncle lie
as on the point Of doing you a great
rong. But let me relieve your
ind 10 regard to the money. have
.asoued with him and the new will
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