The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-08-15


in an easy-chair and whiled away the |
time in the perusal of the local journals.
Whew! What's this?' shouted he,
presently, bringing down the front legs |
Of his chair with a thump.
Our well-remembered citizen, Will |
liam Manners, has returned"
" That's Jasper's clerk, amt it?'
Yes, Sir"
What do they call him well-re-
membered' citizen for ?'
Popular among the boys" said
Drake, drawing straight line carefully
with his ruler.
Hasn't brought back any money!
"Guess not"
And with this assurance Webb
breathed freer; but the news of the re-
turn of Kathie's former lover fortified
him in his determination to manage his
little affair that very evening.
After nightfall, supper finished, John
Jasper and his daughter got together
in the store, Johns long limbs dangling
from barrel, and Kathie, in very be-
coming white muslin, adorning pros
trate rye-bag, while the Pickering oil
lamps from overhead shed a sickly halo
on each.
John had had presentiment of evil
very naturally, for his mortgage was
three days overdue, and although he
had had notice to that effect, his knowl-
edge of the world must have told him
what to expect, only for desperate
clinging to hope which made him call
his expectations presentiments and treat
them as fancies.
TlionuSoinO fhoca fofhor
and daughter looked up and saw
Peter Drake coming, like fate. Some
one else was coming from an opposite
direction-two young men, one neigh
Dor, the other stranger, at first sight,
with black hat pulled down over his
eyes.
Webb's man Friday" exclaimed the
neighbor, in a whisper just loud enough
to reach every ones ears.
Peter Drake rubbed his hands nerv-
ously, walked into the store, refused the
profered chair conspicuously solitary in
the circle of light, and sat down in a
gingerly manner on the outside edge of
salt sack.
In came the two companions, and
walked straight up to John Jasper
Kathie was for running to greet them,
but look from her father checked her
Why, it's William Mannersp' said
John Jasper, in his kindly way, and
held out his hand. Then Kathie gave
hers sedately.
"I was afraid | might not be well
come," said Will, after pause.
go, yes" said Jasper, gently, "you're
welcome, William. might have been
little hasty while back, but / was
afraid you were going to get my girl
away from me, and starve her. he added,
with laugh.
suppose we might have done some
thing foolish, if we had been left to our
own devices"
Jasper seemed not altogether pleased
with the answer, and Kathie went back
to her rye-bag, and remarked to Drake
that the evening was growing cool. The
company generally felt sense of en-
| barrassment.
William Manners and his companion
easily, and a whisper passed between
them.
see you are engaged, sir" said Will
liam, and I'li come in another time.
Goodbye, Mr.. Jasper. Goodbye, Miss
AaLnle, ana passed out.
Kathie bit her lips to keep the tears
from coming. So, after all, Will. had
forgotten her, worse than forgotten her
Her heart swelled, her breast heaved
1t was as much as she could do to re-
member Drake's presence. She got up
and went to the door.
As she did so something caught her
eye Up a gentle declivity which led
directly down to Jasper's store, Just in
front of the pump and horse-trough
which belonged to Jasper's establish.
ment, stood a sugar-cask. For moment
the cask presented to Kathie's imagina
tion the appearance of huge tortoise
A head thrust itself forward and ther
drew back. This happened again ano
again in the course of a few seconds
The same sight presented itself tt
Will. Manners, walking away detected
and mortified.
"I wish had staid away" he said
"Is that Drake in the habit of visiting
thereT"
Why, no." said his companion
and / guess he is on some kind of al
unpleasant errand tonight. Jasper
mortgage hasn't been paid"
Will. Manners gave a whistle.
Why couldn't I have gone on anothe
timer" he said.
1t was at this moment that the hea,
retreated, catching gleam of lampligh
on its oiled surface.
HalIoaw said Manners. What
thatw
" Some boy after scrapings," suggeste'
his friend.
ToI ,Lo&
, watching his man Friday" cried VII
liam. What's that for, wonder?"
Two or three 1oungers, drawn t
Jasper's store by some secret bond Q
sympathy, or it might have been cur
osity, dropped in and perched then
selves on barrels.
There was no delicacy shown regare
. ing the hosts feelings, nor perhaps an
needed, for he might have taken Drak
into his private rooms if he had desired
, Drake had brought blue lightning frol
Kathie's eyes to fall on his devote
9 head.
= Whatever faint hope John Jaspe
! may have had of the clemency {
, Phineas Webb was at an end. Whateve
hopes Kathie may have had of Will. r,
! turning like hero Of romance to pou
q out his wealth at her feet seemed at a
end.
As far as mere human sagacity coul
a fathom, Webb was master Of the stu;
ton. He smiled complacently, thoug
K his quarters were by no means con
Portable, as he pictured to hin
d self the gratitude of the father, ii
smiles of the daughter, when he shoul
e have come in, thrown down his wallis
= left undusted since the day previo1
O with due attention to art, and shoul
l. have made his contemplated speech.
= As Phineas adjusted his necktie al
% picked little uneasily at fragmel
is of something adhering to his coat-sleev
the only thing that disturbed his Nap
2, leonic mind was the disposition to