The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-07-25

some tea"
They were soon put out of their
discomfort by the entrance of the
landlady bearing handsome lamp
which gave brilliant light.
"I've brought you nv gentleman's
lamp, ma'am be is away just now !;
that is why I have been able to ac-
commodate you; for he's most oblig
ing, and don't mind my letting bis
rooms-this one and the one inside
behind the folding doors. together
with the one have given the young
gentleman up stairs, which belongs
to his man-servan.- May l ask
what name, ma'am 2"
Mrs. Arlington; and the young
gentleman is my son."
| Mrs. Grifii.hs glanced at the tall,
elegant woman in widows weeds,
and thought 10 herself: "She looks
more fit to be his sister than his
mother; aud is a sweet looking lady
anyway, whoever she is;' and she
was glad she had taken her 10 and her
son, if such be were. And then she
hustled out OF the room to prepare
their meal.
As soon as they were alone Mrs.
Arlington gazed around the room in-
differently. 1t was of the usual
stamp of lodging house apartment,
furnished according to the taste and
means of those who take to letting
for livelihood. A dismal horae-
hair suit were the chief articles of
furniture, supplemented by others
which stood ont 10 contrast against
the horse-bair back ground, a good
piano. an barmonium, q book case
With glass doors filed with q choice
selection of the best works, and an
easel. On the walls hung several
good paintings, one of which was the
portrait of beautiful young girl.
"Some artist must live here, l i'm
agine," said the lad, as be went from
picture to picture examining them.
finally stopping before the portrait of
the young girl that hung immediate
ly over the chair in which Mrs. Arl-
ington sat.
II dare say," she replied wearied-
ly, as though it were a speculation
which could not possibly concern
her. and too glad of repose to be
reused to any sense of curiosity upon
the subject.
Just look at this, mother; it is so
pretty"
81 cannot, Fred; | am too exhaust
ed to turn round. / cannot possibly
think of or look at anything until I
have had cup of tea Ah here it
comes. Go and pour ;t out for me.
and never mind the picture. But /
forgot. ! am unfeelisg and unnatn-
raj to tell vou not to mind, for you
are just at the age when young girls
are beginning to possess powerful at
traction for you; but you must put
the pleasing delusions cut of your
head until you have passed your ex-
animation for Ssndhurst; that is the
move in chief toward which all your
energies must now be directed. !
long to see your poor fathers wishes
fulfilled, and shall not feel quite con-
tented until you are gazetted into
the Army then my trust will have
been accomplished. How many
years is it now, Fred since you FIRST
became my child"
Ten"
Yes; you were q little fellow
when | FIRST took you in hand as your
governess, and you learned to love
me SO well that your father asked
me to be your mother"
"Was that v by you married him?n
inquired the lad as be brought her a
cup of tea. Didn't you care for
him for bis own sake? You always
seemed to-"
Yes since you could observe; but
not at first, Fred-not at FIRST. had
no heart for any one or anything just
at that time but may hap for a little
child like yourself, who was mother
les and needed tenderness. 1t was
Just such an uncared-for flower which
alone could have saved me then, for
tai gone through bitter sorrow,
born If my own caprice aud foolish
ness; and through it l LOST what
never could be mine again. / must
have died Ct despair had l not set
lnyself the task of working cut my
wrong doing in atonement, if not to
the person-lbat wss impossible-at
least to some one Of Gods creatures
who might need me; and it was at
that very time l took up the paper
containing your fathers advertise
ment for q governess. 1t served me
for suggestion and field wherein
might find that for which sought.
had never been governess; but l
determined TO become one, notwi,h-
standing the opposition ofmy family,
who could not comprehend. and
strongly disapproyed Of nv taking
the step; bat l carried my point
through our doctor telling my moth
er she was wrong to oppose me, as
nv mind needed distraction after all
had gone through, and tha. my
choice, so far from being reproved,
ought rather to be commended. since
1 had preferred it to the Injurious
remedy uf round of amusemeots, 80
invariably prescribed for distraught
spirits, which need instead the
healthy medicine of some reasonable
duty tc restore them to their former
mental composure Thus became
free to answer your fathers sdver-
tisement, and was selected by him
for the post oddly enough And that
is how l became your mother, Fred
| have tried to fDl6ll my trust; per-
haps that has atoned."
"Atoned for what?"
"Ah, never mind! 1 was only .
young girl then. vain and impericu,,
because found ] possessed . most
dangerous power the power OF
making whom l would love me-
precious gift, which did not know
bow to value rightly until. But
never mind. asie recalling hy-I
cones. Life is such q perpetual
stumbling up hill with most Of qs, it,
is no use retarding cur journey by
as.loes rsfroanoctian. On whan 4 An