The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-09-05

/
him in the afternoon, when it was
crowded, when hundreds must have
seen you together 2"
"Of course we came through the
Park together it was the shortest
way home. | cannot see any great
harm in that"
'it's not likely you are 80 Young
and inexperienced you can see no
harm in anything But be knew the
mischief be was doing only too well.
The wretch the wretch - Mild
Miss Parker would have been glad to
see wild horses tear him limb from
limb. However" after a pause,
"you must promise me faithfully that
you will never speak to him again "
"He said be would call jus: to in
quire bow | was" Keziab said, in a
low voice, which might easily have
meant that she hoped be would not
be told peremptorily to go away.
81 will see him if be comes" Aunt
Parker finally replied 1T is not iit'
ting he should pursue his acqusint-
ance with you, begun as il was un-
der such questionable auspices "
And in this decision kez'ah was
forced to aequiesce.
When, therefore, afler some delay
ed demur, Lord FeaIhersone was ad
mitted 10 Aunt Parker, her manner
was perfectly article. She sat bJli
upright, with a stony look il her eyes
and only frigid monosylIables on nel
lips.
II called, f" said bis lordship, will
much aplgnlb, go see Miss Leigh"
Yes 2" Aunt PaI ker asked, much
as though Lord Featherstone was the
boot makers man, or had come tc
take orders for a sewing machine
My name is Lord FeatherstoAe
as it?' lie might have been 10
the habit of assuming d zen aliases
every twenty four hours, 50 utterly
Indifferent and increduIous was Aunt
Parker's tone.
at was my good fortune to be able
to do Miss Leigh slight service yes
terday," he went on, still unbanizhod.
"A service ~ Miss Parker waxed
indignant at once 81 call it an iDju.
ry-a shameful, misctievous, unkind
act for which, Lord Featherstone,
although apprehend it is not much
| in his liue. should blush for very
shame ~
Really, madam"-he hardly
knew whether to be annoyed or
amused-"I think you have been mis-
informed Probably but for me
Miss Legh's neck would have been
broken"
Il know that, | know that and
almost wish it had, sooner than that
she should have so far forgotten her.
self" Miss Parker looked up sud.
denly and sharply, saying with much
emphasis, "0h, Lord Featberstone,
ask yourself-you are, or ought to be
gentleman a, least, you know the
world by heart-was it right of you
to take sucn an advantage ? Did
you think what incalcuable harm this
foolish, thoughtless mistake-wbich
is certainly to be magnilied by mslic-
ious tongues-may work against an
innocent, guileless child 2"
81 know | was greatly to blame. |
ought to have known better Bu. it
was Miss Legb's own wish to 90
through the Park, and | gave way"
"How noble of you to shift the
burden on TO her shoulders But we
will not, if you please, try to appor-
lion the blame The mischief is done,
and there is no more to be said, ex-
cept to make US the only reparation
in your powar.'
And that is-!" lie looked ut her
in surprise. She did not surely mean
to forsta'l him and demand that
which be came To offer on his own
acbord
"To leave the house, aud to spare
US henceforth the high honor of your
acquaintance
THAT | promise, Il you still insist
after you have heard what am
going to say. ! came to make repa-
ration, full and and complete, but not
in The way you suppose. | came t.
make Miss Legh-and if she aud you,
as her guardian, will deign to accept
of it-an offer of my hand"
Little Miss Parker's face was an
amusing study Her lower lip drop
ped, her eyes opened till they looked
like the round marbles on solitaire
board
lord Featherstone, you "
II trust you will net consider me
ineligible that you have no ohiec
tion to me personally, beyond a nat
ural annoyance at this silly esca-
pade."
"It is so sudden, so Unexpected
so-so-." Poor Miss Parker was
too much bewildered to find words.
A thousand thoughts agitated her
This was splendid offer, prineely
offer. matchmaker by instinct, as is
every woman in the world, she could
not fail to perceive what dazzling
prospects it opened up for her niece.
But, then, could any happiness follow
from sucb a hastily concluded match?
These latter and better thoughts pre-
vailed
Lord Fealherstune, it is out OF the
question, or at least you must wait,
say a mouth or two, or till the end OF
the season."
"The engagement ought 10 be an
uounced Immediately, To benefit Miss
Leigh"
"And that is your real reason for
proposing ? Lord Featherstone, j re-
tract my harsh words you shall not
outdo us iE generosity. We can not
accept your offer, although We appre-
ciate the spirit in which it is made. "
II assure you, Miss Parker, | es-
TEEN Miss Legh most highly. like
her immensely. am mos: anxious
to marry her"
The bare possibility that he might
be refused-he of all men ia the
world-gave stronger insistence to
his words
Miss Parker shcOk her head
"No good could come Of such a
marriage; you hardly know each 9TH
ar Va. sav Won like her Perhaps