The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-08-29
MvRA wuLBuR.s MISTAKE.

was taken Into the teuder care Uf hil
loving grandfather and bis aunt Jane
a venerable spinster, whUse severity
wss must wholesome restraint upOi
bis grandiather's extreme indulgence
Old Mr.. Gurham being u nsn OF euor
nous wealth, his grandson and bell
was the mort favored of boys ant
youths, every whim Of boyisb anC
youthful fancy being granted a. sooI
as expressed
And -, when Gilbert had attained
The aye OF twenty one, and blushiDg
ly announced his undylng love toi
/ Miss Myra Wilbur, the belle of many
watering places and seasons, and
some 1--WE years his senior, his grand
father only nodded aud said:
Suit yourself. my boy, suit your
self"
So u magnificent diamond was slip
ped on Myra's iDger, and Gilbert en-.
tered into FOOLS paradise, blind IL
the fact that be was the dupe Of an
accomplished coquette, whose whole
hard nature was Incapable Of the
tithe of love that was laId at her feet.
For, being sensitive, poetical and
uveriuduIged, the by made unto
himself aa idJl, aud calling it Myra,
worshipped it
And the actual Myra, being emf
nently practical, worldly and mercen-
ary, erected u gold idol of unlimiied
indulgence and riches, aud calling
that Gilbert, wrrshipped IL
Mr.. Gorham, although be was old
and feeble, took carriage aud drove
from Fern Nook, the family country
seat, to Poolsville, the town hunored
by Mrs. Wilbur's presence, aud made
formal call
After he was gone, Miss Wilbur,
turning to her mother. made strange
speech for a maiden just betrothed,
for she said:
after all, mamma, rich widow
is better than rich wife, for ste can
spend the money then, uncontrolled. +"
"WeiI, my dear ?"
81 was only thinking that Gilbert
told NE once be was entirely depend
ent upon bis grandfather. having
nothing while the old man lived"
at would be wei, then. to keep in
the old gentleman's favor"
Evidently Myra was of that opin-
ion. She worked pair of soft quilt
ed slippers for the aged feet, she sent
flowers aud dainty dishes to Fern
Nook for dear Mr.. Gorbam she
made herself a hundred fold dearer
to her infatuated lover by her delicate
attentions to his relative.
Business connected with the settle
ment of claim of his grandfatber's
against the Government called Gill
bert to Washington, early in the win
ter following his betrothal. There
was the usual pathetic parting, and
with assurance of Myrs's undying
love, the young man left Fern Nook.
After two months absence, when
he was preparing to return home, a
telegram reached him:
'swait in New York to see me- VIII put up at
the Grand Central JANE GORHAM."
OF all strange experiences this was
the strangest His aunt Jane leav-
ing home to visit the metropolis
Gilbert vainly tried to remember IL
ever she had been absent from home
before, and thoroughly bewildered,
hurried to meet her.
His first surprise was to find her
gentle and kind, all the grim severity |
Of her manner gone. Her kiss upon |
his lips was as tender as Myrs's
own.
my boy" she said, IL have news
Tor you that will distress you, but
before | tell that, | want you to
listen attentively to some business
details that were never of any special
interest to you before You have al
ways supposed Fern Nook and the
wealth that sustains it to be your
yrsndfather's."
And are they not 2n
NO, my dear, they are mine.
I our grandfather holds lie lease
,nly Of the house and half the in
,ome. The property was all his
sife's and left TO me, with the lease
IS said, to nv father during life.
While we were all one family and
Tou the heir, it was quite unnecessary
o make any talk or fuss about the
natter; but now, it is as well TO
understand my rights and yours"
Now ?"
Your grandfather, my dear being,
eharilably believe, in bis dotage,
as married-Myra Wilbur ~ {,
L. was a crushing blow Gilbert
wayed 10 and fro in bis chair, ard
ben fell insensible. Il
His ideal poetic life was more real {
D him than the actual world about :
i'm, and be suffered acutely. But
L. aunt was the bes: of eomforters '
,r, while she was full of tender 1
sne was eminently prsc-
esi, aud With clear, forcible words {
be made him realize fully how uo-
Iorthy was the idol be bad wor- I
hiped-
With ber own personal property
be had brought from their own
ome, she took house in New York, .
here they both soon felt at home,
no more to Fern Nook
ben, with true practical Kindness
be persuaded Gilbert to allow her to e
ny him a partnership 10 q light
asiaess, and reused him from bis :
resmy, sensitive moods, to active, Q
atural life.
He might have been soured and .
ard, bat for the love Of this old 8
'aid. who had never before let him Q
lad the tenderness of her heart u
at. while be suffered keenly, his '
anhood developed, and be was . q
ronger, better mau for his disap- y
ointment
When Myra's name ceased TO be .
'rture, Aunt Jane made herself .
nown to old friends of her girlhood, Y
I'D gathered about her 9 pleasant,
,eial circle, where Gilbert was soon c
fsvorile- There was no hint of the d
hope when she said very u
lieily: a
Any attention you can pay to y