The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-07-30

there as a token of . promise to give
him not only that finger, bat her
whole hand and heart. As be passed
the summer-house the sound of smooth
cred weeping from within smote pain
fully on his ear. Could it be Helen ?
He rushed in, and nearly stumbled
ovea 8 little black bundle of some
thing that crouched on the floor, with
its head bent over its srms, crying
and scbbing iu q perfect tempest of
tears.
Edward nearly fell, and did, in
fact, stumble, so shat be caught the
croucbing bundle Of black, and as he
steadied himself be also picked it up
and set it on is feet, And then, with
the moonlight shining on its little
flushed tear-wet face, and its luxuri-
ant brown hair all hanging about its
shoulders, it proved to be poor little
Hattie Thorpe. III
Miss Thorpel Why, I'm so sor-
lryl Is anything the matter 2" Ed
yard asked gently, fearing some mis-
fortune to the girl, or that she had
lost some relative; for he was not
aware that the little goyerness was
fatherless and motherless, and with
out q blood relation in the wide
world.
Hattie's tears and sobs r~edoubled
she placed her two hands before
her face, ana sank down on q seat
in an attitude of shame and despair.
Edward was the tenderest-hearted
Of mortals, and felt infinitely grieved
at such a spectacle Of grief He sat
down beside her. and drew the little
hands away from her face.
"Do tell me what is the trouble"
be said kindly.
"0b, Mr.. Edward" sobbed the
poor child, chow can | say it? Miss
Helen thinks / have stolen her tur'
quois ring
Impossible % exclaimed Edward,
shocked.
"0h yes, sir. Thank you, sir. II
is impossible, but she thinks So"
"Helen can't tbh k any thing SO
cruel. I'm sure you must be mistak
en-
"I'm not mistaken, sir. She said
so, plain, two or three times-tbat
stole her ring because you gave it tc
her, Mr.. Edward, and that | would
like to steal you, too"
Edward laughed, but a warn blush
stole ever his cheek. The silence be
came a triae awkward, and to break
it, be said:
That's worse nonsence than the
other. You wouldn't steal me either,
would you"
al wouldn't steal anything, Mr.
Edward, of course and besides
"l'm not worth stealing" Edward
interrupted.
"Yoa are worth anything" cried
little Hattie, with unnecessary fer
yor.
"But still you wouldn't steal me y
said Edward, laughing.
al couldn't, you know )" and the
large innocent eyes were raised ap-
pealingly.
I'm not so sure Of that" thought
Edward, unconsciously pressing the
soft little hands he still held between
his own. He bent over her in a
gentle, protecting way, and whisper
ed:
"You are O dear little thing, and
I'm surf you could do nothing 10 the
world but what is good and sweet,
like YOURSELF
And then what with the moonlight,
which made the girl more childlike
than ever, and the wet ~eyelashes and
pretty quivering mouth that trembled
like a baby's and the two faces being
so close together Edward kissed little
Hattie, and babe her not cry any more
as be would see her put right in eve-
ry way.
Hattie wasn't angry. He was JUS
like G nico big brother but D thrill
ed and trembled under his kiss, and
she dreamed all night of a fair young
prince with a beautiful turquois ring
and be could find no finger that fitted
it till be tried it on hers-just lik,
Cinderella and the glass slipper. Ed
ward was as good as his word, anG
spoke to Helen very seriously abou'
the accusation she had made agains
Miss Thorpe; but that didn't memo
matters for Helen really believed tina
Hattie had stolen the ring, and wal
indignant at her cousin for asserting
the contrary. A lovers quarrel wa
the result ; and Edward kept the new
ring in his pocket, and delayed thu
important question be had intended
to put when presenting it.
Miss Langley had o scene will
/, mamma, and insisted that the little
chit of a g~overness, with her make
believe child-like ways, and her de
ceit and hypocrisy. should be turned
out of doors; but mamma chose t,
take time to think about that-sh,
knew she had a treasure, and SD,
wasn't going to throw it away for th,
sake of a mere suspicion, possibly IN
founded. Besides, she had ~conscien
tious scruples about discharging Mis-
Thorpe without a character, aud per
haps running her prospects in life.
Mrs. Langley maintained this vir
tuous resolution for several days bu
que uoulezrous? What would 20,
have? Are even the conscientiouI
seruples of good mother to stand il
the way of her daughters advance
ment? Mrs. Langley very soon saw
that Helen was right and that Ed
ward was quite too much intereste'
10 the little governess; and Hattie re
ceived her discharge on the followin,
day, being permitted to finish he
week, to allow her the opportunity o
finding another roof to shelter he
poor homeless head.
But we all know the fate of "vaul.
ing ambition" and even the c~leveres
mammas do at times o'erleap discre
ton, aud suffer in a similar way; ant
il happened so on this occasion. II
as Mrs. Langley and Helen declare ]
Hattie was playing a deep game
these ladies threw her a trump carr
} and played itfor her. Edward foun,
the little goyerness crying again, an,
this time her despair was complete
for she was thrown on the world will
blemished reputation and the suspi