The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-06-27
JAMES LOVER.

Jane Haynie!v exclaimed Mrs.
Crane, sharply, you must certainly
be in love, and you know well enough
iha, | have no patience whatever
with that kind of foolishoess. Here's
pie burned TO a coal 10 the oven,
you upset the milk pitcher, put salt
in the sugar bowl, and forgot to make
the coffee tor breakfast. What pos
sesses you, girl ?n
James fair face flushed, but she
made no reply, but kept on kneading
the bread on the bresd-board.
You'll tell me, won't you, Jane ~
said Leila Crane, coaxingly. coming
to the side Of the girl who had been
the same as sister TO her for
three years
Yes, after a while,D replied Jane,
quietly
And I'm sure, ma" said Leila,
"wby Jane can't have a beau is jus,
because YOU are afraid of losing her.
She is perfect treasure. Hurry up,
Jane, and come up stairs and tell Inc
who your lover is.n
Jane smiled as she said: Il have
no lover, Lelis.n
But after she had kneaded the
bread aad done half a dozen other
little things about the kitchen she
went upstairs to the low, farm house
chamber, where Leila sat braiding
her hair, a small mirror on her lap
"Now tell me all about it, Jane. u
Jane took a seat on a ricke,y cane
seated chair and pressed her hands on
her head as if trying to recollect
something she had TO tell.
II know | was careless this morn
ing, Leila, and your mother bad a
right to be vexed, but | vas so wor.
ried and frightened last night that
could not collect nv seases this
morning. You see it was lovely
moonlight night, aud after YOU had
all gone to bed | thought ] would
run out in The grape arbor for a
breath OF cool air. Ii seemed to me
it would refresh me. felt so tired
with ironing in the hot kitchen all
day. Well. | sat down on one Of the
benches, and was thinking low I'd
trim my blue camb.ic. when I saw q
man come out from behind the lilac
bushes, right by the arbor and GO to
the pantry window Nv heart beat
so loud | was afraid be wonld bear
it. He stood there few minutes
with bis head bowed in bis hands,
aud then be took something from bis
pocket aad began to uufas;en the
blind All nv fear seemed
tp die away, f,r thought of your
Aunt Lucy lying in the room next to
the pantry. aLd knew it would kill
her outright 10 her weak state if she
yas frightened at all, so / ran up
softly and stood right before him
He was 30 startled that be left the
rbisel 10 bis hands fall TO the grouDd.
and said to me in queer sort of
voice: Well, who are your I'm
Jane, said, and beg you won't get
into the house, for there's sick lady
there, and if she was to be scared by
you il would kill her, Miss Lelis, lie
turned away his head and when /
saw bis face again il was white as
Ibis wall. I'm starved, be said, aud
| felt the tears come to nv eyes. for
he spoke in such hopeless, detected
tone. took hold Of his band and
LED bin around to The kitchen door,
and then ! got out pie and cake and
meat, and he ate rs il be was famish-
ed When be was through be took
from bis finger q fiuely-worn gold
ring-sep, it is here and Jane show
ed an old geld ring. "He said it was
once bis dear mothers, aud be told
me had been so good to him. the
first kindness be had receised since
be had left prison. ald be begged ne
TO keep the ring uatil we meet again.
and lhen be went away"
What did be look ike, Jane :"
asked Leila. deeply absoibei ! in the
sscry-
lob, be was quite handsome; his
hair eurled ia liitle golden rings all
over his heid, and his eyes ! oked a
dark hlue to me, aud be had very
sweet Voice. and acted just like
gentleman would 10 any woman
And 10 fhitk Of bis being in pris-
on" said Leila, compassionately-
Poor man Jane he is the lo, e ma
spoke about. Yoa see be must have
fallen in love with you. and that is
The engagement ring | think you
are good enough for any maa, jane,
but Too gcvd for f-ion.'
I,ou'G call him that, Leila AID
Jane lock d paiasd
The tao girls agreed not to tell
Mrs Crane OF the nights adventure,
fer fear cf her hsrsh criticisms, but
" hen sloae they frequently spoke Of