The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-08-14
Miss Eagcrso,i,s Letter


Of Mr.. Strong's," | said, referring tt
one visible from the window at which
| was seated; ''it is quite an orna
ment to your whole village"
Little Miss Ingersoll sighed, a:
she always did when Mr.. Strong OF
his belongings were mentioned.
She was q tidy old maid of about
fifty, who kept the village school,
and during the two months Of sum.
mer holiday, rented her only spare
room for G boarder Five years ago
l vas the boarder. and my hostess
hsd made me at home in the most
genial seuse Of the word.
We were fast frieuds in a month,
and had exchanged many condolences,
so | was not surprised at the new
one reposed in me, after that long
sigh.
You'll soon be going" said my
hostess, "and | must clean house be.
fore open school. ! never clean
house now without heartache."
| looked sympathetic, though the
speech was rather vague
"Bu. for one house cleaning said
my companion, u should now be Mrs.
Gerard Strong, and live in the house
you we're just admiria5"
| did open my eyes then Before
nv mental vision there stood a portly
fgure, 4 broad, red face, surrounded
by iroagTay hair, the figure aad face
Of Mrs Gerard Stroag, the wife Of
Gerard Strong. the millionaire, the
great iron founder, whose factories
and the colony Of workmen thereia
employed, really made the village of
SiroDg's Corner, az ofshoo, from Sd
older village of scattered houses. cali
ed by the Gnmusicel name OF Potts
Mills.
Yes, nv dear, continued the lit
tie old maid, wiping a small tear
from the corner Of her faded blue
eyes, be was my lover thirtv-.wo
years ago. Ii it long time to look
back upon-more than your whcle
life. Gerard was not the rich man
then that he is now, but the soa OF
the blacksmith al Potts Mills
Hooked / ct the prim little figure in
its dress OF cheap print, most dainti-
ly made, and finished with soft white
railies at the throat and wrists: at
the cosy sitting room, that was but
scantily furnished though exquisitely
clean, and frightened by muslin cur
tains and saueers CT garden flowers /;
and at the scDool room beyond, whose
doors we're open to admit the air.
Thought OF Mrs. S:rong's velvet
lined barouch, with It's superb hors-
es OF her magnificent dresses, and
the probable grandeur OF the Inside
of that house, whose walls were so
imposing, and contrasting the posi-
tions, curiosity got the better Of cour-
tesy, and | asked
How did it happen 2"
Ny curiosity was rewarded,
whether / deserved it o. not. Miss
Ingersoll evidently not unwilling to
tell the story, for sac smiled and
said:
DO you really care to hesr about
it?"
Il really Do"
"Well, my dear, tbiriy-two years
ago wben / was a girl Of eighteen.
there were 20 factories or workmen
aboat here, and Instead of the bust
ling place that il is now, the village
was collection Of farms, living far
apart Ny p sreuts owned q small
place, and we weIe quiIe coutented
to farm for living, while Gerard
Strong was the son Of tie village
blacksmith, but not contented at all
He was nv warm, true friend from
the time we were little children. and
be would tell me often Of bis hone TO
get away from Potts Mills. and
make his fortune as grea. maehin-
ist in Pittsbarg or some other great
city
"You should have seen him how
his eyes would fash and his shout.
ders s;raighten back when be talked
about going into tie great world TO
make his fortune He was alwsys a
handsome man, and had q passion
for working in iron, aod 6 hope 10 be
one day at the head Of great Foun-
DRY.
As he l. row." I Fen;u-ed to re-
marx.
"Yes-but / cant tell ;he story if
scu keep en- interTup;ing me-
| asked pardon, and promised to
cEend no more, aud then Miss In
gersoll remarked
Il supp ase ills teaching 50 long
makes il confusing for me to be in
terrupted I never allow Il
Where wss Il Ga, I remember.
Wei. IS | was saying, Gerard used
to teil ne all bis hopes and plans.
His mothers blcther vas g great
maehinist in Pittsbu-g, and he hoped
ct some iature iiCe 10 be allowed to
learn the ba3iuess he liked SO well,
there. In the meantime he bought
ell the hooks be could sa0rd, studied
hard. and hammered out horseshoes
upon his is.her's anvil.
"Bat when We talked Of the fc
iure, though | listened and eCeour
aged Gerard, there was NJ love-ma
king between " Young folks were
more reserved in those days thar
they Gre low.
Here the little lady drew hcrsel
up primly, and looked SIS If she defeC
any contradiction. But 1 yeaturet
no remark, and she continued:
"In October, during nv eight