The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-07-26

L eS, she SAID, trembling, Il must
confess, and | do repent, eveL in his
complaint against Heaven. Alone
in the world Sometimes that hap
pens"
And here let it be explained to the
reader that by an accident in the
cradle the writer of the diary had
been made physically repellant, and
his sensitive soul exaggerated his
misfortune into barrier between
himself and the loving sympathies of
all mankind. As for womankind, ne
knew not-for his mother died at bis
bir,h-even its maternal tenderness
Leonard, dear" Miss Thatcher
went on. ''you will think me, per-
haps, the most superstitious being;
but think-and the idea has gath
cred some reasonable pleas-I can
not help thinking that this book is
framed as a mode of bequest. | be-
lieve the writer, your fathers brother
stung with the bitter thought that
bis hard earned fortune would be
spent by those who never knew or
cared for him, devised a method bv
which part Mt least should be the
reward of affectionate gratitude"
She explained to him then her
theory Of the maps, and ber instinct
i've construction of one particular map
which she had studied at the very
last reading in the old mill.
Leonard Mansfeld's cheek flushed
as he listened At the close be said:
"Your reasoning is sufficiently plaus-
ible to deserve to be tested, and go
it shall be. But first promise me one
thing; promise me that if this mira
Gle Of intuition proves true, you will
be nv wife to morrow My darling,
you shall not say, No +" He pre-
vented her, indeed, in a lover-like
way from saying anything And
silence is yes" to love.
The last day of August the whole
village was thrown into a torment Of
excited curiosity. The excitement
began in one Of the twin houses on
the Meeting house hilln at FIVE
o'clock 10 the morning Miss Tabitha
Butts stood in her nightdress peep
ing through the blinds of a dormer
window. She never could tell. as
she declared afterward, what made
her peep.
She saw the back door of ''Dick
Seaman's" open, and Louisa Thatch-
er look mysteriously out Then she
saw Tim, the miller't boy, creep
stealthily around the porch with a
pickax and spade, which he gave
Thatcher, who disappeared with them
into the house. Then Tim, stealing
back as far as the lilac bushes. and
cautiously surveying all approaches,
put bis hand over his mouth and
gave a low whistle. Immediately
from the horse shed by the church a
man came very quickly, and, nodding
to Tom as be passed, fastened to the
highroad: Miss Tabitha was sure,
although his cap was drawn over his
face, that this man was the young
stranger the in village who had been
so infatuated with Miss Thatcher.
Then Miss Thatcher came to the
door again and beckoned TO Tom,
and whispered; and he went, around
by way OF the plum orchard, 10 the
mill.
A pickax and spade, Miss Tabitha
had cold shivers; she could think of
nothing but a grave. When, two
hours atterward, the coast being
clear, she sped across the garden
pateh'tO the "meetin' house shed" I"
her fancy lost none of its horrors, for
there, in the northeast corner, was a
space Of fresh turned mold.
Miss Tabitha went home. put on
her sunbonnet, and was down TO
the village in no time"
The next excitement was at the
somnolent dwelling of old Squire
Wells. Mr. Mansfield had been
eloseted with him an hour. And
when the squire reappeared be near
ly upset his ancient wife in the hall
way in haste TO get his hat and coat,
and choked till be was scarlet, scream
ing into her wrong ear that be was
going to [. ION buzniss," OFF he
went at such a novel pace that the
poor danes feeble faculties aroused
themselves to concentrate upon one
fatal remembrance: when an old
horse that has alters walked takes to
runnin' away, there's no ind o. dam
age"
Excitement third was a sealed
letter dropped by Mr.. Seaman's Ezri
into the post-of1ice at ten o'clock, the
hour of general delivery, directed to
the trustees of the district school,
which body. being in quorum on the
spot, opened at once the resignation
of Miss Thatcher in favor of the high
ly recommended candidate for the
winter team. to whom they had kind
ly given her the preference.
Excitement fourth attracked faxen
barred Nettie's mother, a pleasant
faced little widow, to whom Tim,
who bad ridden to T. and back again
at breakneek speed, brought note
from the minister of u. saying be
would sup with her that esening, "if
agreeable" as he was coming to Red
Cedar Pond sin virtue Of his Office,
a sentence underlined like a pleas
antry, that 50 upset the good widows.
brain as to spoi! the count of her one
two-three-four cake.
Last Of all, and the grand excite
ment of the day, was the ringing. at
four O'Clock in the afternoon Of the
meeting house bell Who is dead!"
every one asked, as the FIRST few slow
strokes were counted but once fair
ly set going, the old bell tripped up
all calculations fifty, eighty, hun
dred; still on; quickly, jabilantly-I
ringing not for the dead, but for the
living; ringing for wedding!
Such a scamperiDg as there was
up The Mill bridge road. There was
no lack of witnesses to the simple,
solemn service, and of the coming
down the aisle, on the arm of her
proud young husband, OF a delicate
i;,,lo h.;5o ,y;,h ,oourainc laid esida 4