The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-05-22
HIrIY THoRNE's DIrY.

1--WE might mortgage the place, ,
said Miss Hitty, slgbing
And retire to the almshouse, eh?n
returned her sister
But what alternative is open to
usl Shall We allow Tom to come
to grief?"
Tom richly deserves all the grieI
that will fall to bis share, poor fel-
low. Such schemer Expected to
make a fortune for US all, forsootb
that We might flaunt in our velvets
drive our span, and fare sumptuo1siy
every day 0ne dollar for us and
two for himself, | reckon. What
should such hoy know about specu.
lation! It's the old story over and
over Specializing with other peo-
pies money is little indiscreet, 20
say the least. / should have chosen
sackcloth and ashes rather than vel
vets Won by such means"
Certainly. But now that Tom is
involved, nothing but money will ex-
tricate him. There's nv watch, the
heirloom from Grandma Pentecost
there are fifty diamonds bedded in
the case, if there's one"
hose diamonds, every spark Of
them"
Not ID mention the pearls and
emeralds."
"Doubiets and split pearls. ] dare
say"
you are 50 discouraging, Liddy
We must have money. | don't sup
pose that the watch would bring one.
tenth of the sum, but it would help.
Dear dear there's Hannah de
Roihchild with two millions Of in.
come, while you and | can't raise
s., 600 though we should break our
hesrts-nOt even to save an old and
honorable name from contempt and a
foolish young fellow from ruin. Alas.
alas ~
You know, Hitty, it might have
been different" suggested Liddy,
her eyes wandering toward the old
fashioned square mansion crow ming
the bill within sight, with its fringe
Of elms and its spicy orchards be-
yonG. You might have had enough
and to spare, Hitty-enough to keen
Tom out Of temptation
And it was q temptation to poor
Tom, no doubt" returned Hitty, ig-
noring the slllsion, seeing so much
money lying idle, and such a chance
for doubling it over aud over. as be
fondly believed
"Pshaw A Thorne bad no basi
ness to be tempted Was eur grand.
father tempted st the time of the en-
barge, VIXEN be could have had false
papers made out, as every body Yves
doing, and save his fortune, and left
US all independent? II we mortgage
the place il won't bring s., 900; aud
who could we call on to take the
mortgage, and what should We do
after ward-lise in 3 tent, Gypsy
style? o, Hitty, if you hadn't been
SO headstrong about Searl, all this
would have been spared u.s."
Don't speak of it, Liddy il hurts
me still How could I know wha,
would be best ?" Aud Miss Hitty,
pacing the long room with head bent
paused al the easement, and saw the
sunset reddaning upon Sesrle Hill
and touching the window-paues ia.
to jewelry. The twenty years ol
happiness that might have fallen to
her share up yonder had proved
twenty years of silen: endurance
merely. She had watched the sea.
sons as they passed over the Hill
with an interest she bad hoped would
die, but which had only strengthened
with the years-the lovely dallyin 9
of the spring-time, the summers
overflow Of bloom, the splendor that
autumn wears, the white magnif.
cence borrowed from winter. If
twenty years ago. Hitty had loved
Arson Searle well enough to die for
him, if need be, she bad loved little
Tom well enough to renouuce hap
piness aud children and love for his
sake, and to live u through the bar.
rem, hopeless days without q mur-
mur. Tom had come to her arms a
forlorn snd helpless two years-old
baby, without father or mother, when
Hitty was eighteen, and her love had
grown with her growth and strength
ened with her strength. Toms
mother had eloped with her music.
master, and had broken her fathers
heart: and when the old gentleman
died be had left respectable fortune
the interest for the benefit of his two
living daughters, the principal falling
to their children and only in case
Liddy and Hitty died withou, Ieav.
ing direct heirs could nothing more
n