The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-05-22

will already-and il be bad not bee
quite heroic enough to forgive be
for preferring Toms welfare to hi
own, be must nave found grim sat
isfaction in the turn that fate had or
dered, in seeing the Thorne properly
shrinking from day 10 day, till ther'
was hardly enengh to butter thei
bread-till it was plain that Hitty'
sacrifice had been for nsught. Bu
when did ever sacrifice prove futile
Though it fsil OF It's direct purpose
does il not enrich the soul not only
of the one who sacrifices, but of al
behalders?
Ii vas near twilight of al autumn
day that Miss Hitty put on hel
warm bonnet and went slowly, will
a certain reluctance, up the bill 10
ward the Sesrle mansion she pulled
the brszen kuocker timidly. anG
stepped into the house, that nigh
have been her own, like any bsggar.
The dead Searles looked down from
the walls of the osker hall with cold
questionings 10 their pursuing eyes
in the eat drawing-room the wood
FIRE snapped with a good will. and
glinied gsily upon bronze and or
moul, upon the quaint mirrors set 10
garne,s, upon the yellow ivory KEYS
of The old piano. Anson Searle rose
to receive his guest with fash Of
surprise
rs it-you-Hitty y he cried
You"
Eyes. You did not expect me p
Expect you No. Have | reason
to expect you"
We sometimes expect without a
reason. | have come-expeeting
you to grant me q favor"
a favor ~
"Yes. 1t strikes you oddly thet |
should be brough, to beg q favor Of
you, does it not? But there is no
other friend upon whom | can make
even so shadowy Q claim as upon
you. Do you think | would ask
anything of one whom ! have served
iIl-ii | were not 10 extrem-
ity ?n
s"I hope yon will ask anything OF
ne, Miss Hilty-anytbiug you
want"
81 have become mercenary, NJ.
SearIe. I wan. money. Liddy and
I haFos made up our minds to mort
= Ee place we must have s., geo
Wse686t delay the place is not worth
50 much, | know, but IL thought
perhaps you would take it for securi-
ty, as far as it would go; and then
Liddy and | are not too old to work.
to earn money; and there's Tom /;
aud we would all strive to make it
up to you, sooner or later, principal
aud interest. | am dreadfully IN
business-like, perhaps but what..can
doy | must have money. | can't
lige-I can't without IL. Do ]
make it clear gn
.You make it clear that the Thorne
fortune has all leaked away | am
glad Of it. Pardon, but l have q
grudge against that same property !;
It has cheated me out of twenty
years happiness. Yes, Miss Hitty.
YOU shall have money ] have plen-
ty; am rich in everything but the
one thing I coveted But | cannot
take 8 mortgage; you can have mon
ey and welcome, but | cannot accept
a mortgage on the old place. Miss
Hitty; it is too sacred to me. Think
Of mortgaging the old apple trees
where we swung 10 the hammock to-
geiher, of bringing the garden, where
we dreamed in the summer evenings,
into a business transaction But all
the same you shall have the money,
Miss Hiity-r
"But oh you know | cannot take
the money uniess-unless-'
"Unless you take the owner with
Il? Was that what you meant to
saw I'm sure it wasn't; but for
Heavens sake, say it, Hitty. Don't
you know | vowed never to ask you
% marry me twice Do you want
me to break my word, ehs Now It
IS YOUR turn TO do the asking"
Il should think had asked
enough" said Hi.ty, the great tears
standing in her eyes "You are not
10 earnest, Arson Searle. You don't
want to marry me, an old maid ike
me, See how faded and gray |
am"
IF | swear / do want to marry
you. what will you say ?"
Il shall say, then: Why don't
YOU do so, Mr.. Searle p" She
smiled through her tears. What
will Liddy say when she hears |
have asked you to marry me ?"
"She will say you have done your
luiy Ike q man -