The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-02-28

iupSIf u loO WIN SAfS 10 VIZ fAS.7
ure of your company, will you help
us about those minerals, and carry
the box and hammer ?n
! His pleased face made her feel as il
she were an old woman who had
gratiGed q little boy. She could
have patted his head. They started
on an October afternoon. Emily
feared for the walk down e rough ra-
vine, and suggested that the girls
should look for ferns and MOSES, for
she meant to offer her arm to Mr.
Cornbu-y, aud assist him over the
wild path, which she knew. She
could but see how great his lameness
was out-of-doors, how it injured bis
line proportions. Mrs. Cornburv was
cruel and absurd about it. A loving
heart would grow to forget it. The
girls came back to them as they sped
on aud went out of sight How
pleasant il was The quail cried in
the hedge, the tiny squirrel scratch
ed the beech trunks, and the mild
winds shook showers Of rus;ling
leaves over the path-Autumn's n.y.
ing seconds from her dial trees. They
reached the ravine up the banks
delicate biIches 1uttered, and gilded
the gray air the roadway was full
of rolling stones, loosening from the
soil by the September rains. Mr..
Cornbury directed Emily's attention
to the clouds, swelling masses Of
thick vapor gathering over the ravine
like wind-blown drifts of snow. Look
ing up, her footing gave way over
loose pebble, and she would have fal-
len bat for Mr. Cornbury. She never
doubted his. strength or pitied his
lameness afterward.
II know these deceitful stones" be
said, dryly. Thank you for your
care suppose We exchange. Are
you hurt 2"
a trife. | believe my boot must
be unlaced." This was quickly done.
He gave them to her and then limp
ed on. The same thought struck
them, and looking at each other, both
suddenly burst into laugh.
'Droll world A pebble has made
US kin, Miss Fairford."
She wished she could think Of
something to say, botanical, geologi-
cal, anything but somehow a
strange silence oppressed her. He
continued q moment
IL may thank you for something
besides your care. You have re-
minded me of what any man may
have with healthy mind, for some
how / have long believed | was not
capable of happiness Yes, you
have restored me to an ancient self,
when | only had time for a brief
glimpse OF it."
"You owe me nothing, sir"
Nothing Do you not know bet
ter than that ?''
They turned the path, and saw the
girls beckoning to them +; but Emily
declared she must rest. and begged
him to 90 on While gone, she med
itated this wise Emily, look your
self fairly 10 the face before you ad-
dress any higher power Don't fall
in a fog of sympathy and follow
"a light-o'-love,' which may leave you
in a quagmire. Suppose man is SOL
itary. or how pleasant to share
solitude | wot of! Emily, you must
give up going as governess-take
up another trade, far, far from here"
what are you thinking of ?" he
asked, suddenly, returning.
"0f the selfishness of the heart, and
that it is time to move homeward- |
feel quite recovered"
is the heart selfish when it is
deeply moved, or when it is dead of
its own coldness p he asked, looking
intently into her eyes. 81 have late
" bad the impulse to be generous to
the whole world"
"If we look into the heart, we fan
cy it is affected, so doctors say; ques-
tions, therefore, about that organ may
make US morbid"
On their return be was silent, lis
teDing TO q voice-echoing from
where Eden, perhaps. Should
this voice De heard, or silenced :?
Manlike, he shifted the burden upon
the next hour, and who can tell what
an hour may bring forth Emily
shut herself in her room on the plea
of headache. Her pain called into
life the old, old memories, and those
at this moment were as faded, scent
less flowers petal by petal they fell
from her heart forever. Well, her
dead knew the way to bury her dead
"a womanly task. At breakfast,
when she appeared, the tri-weekly
mail was distributed, aud there was a
letter for her. Running over it hasti-
", as Mr.. Cornbury watched and
Judged, an exclamation escaped her
which seemed involuntary, but which
his instinct told him was uncalled
for.
''No i'll news, | hope ?" be asked,
with a meaning that did not escape 1
her.
'News that compels me to go home
at once, Mr. Cornbury" A wall of
darkness suddenly built itself before |
him, with Emily behind it forever
the dearest, sweetest friend be had /
ever gained. He knew, too, that be
must not ask her to stay, nor to re-
turn. Ill-fated doors Of a hopeless
house-would that they could never
open
"Arabella," said Emily, hushing
the chorus Of lamentations, IL hope
you and Amelia will go to to the sta.
ton to hear my parting sermon.
have some studies to sug gest."
81 declare" said Mrs. Cornbury,
Il am quite upset. Our relations are
adjusted Don't you protest
against it, Mr. Cornbury. / am re.
ally getting used to Miss Fairford"
''She must decide for herself"
was the reply.
"But her duty to the girls z''
"Duty has different meanings some
lines"
Emily could not play the bypocrite.
She longed for the hour of depart
ire When it came, and she was
shut in her room, message came