The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1879-10-08

of my wishes, | will not marry himl "
And the blue eyes flashed, and a
scarlet stain came on both cheeks.
Mrs. Herman laughed lightly.
You foolish child What weight
do you imagine your words have with
me? You will not marry him? Ellie,
you piii, and that settles it
g" No. mamma, it does not settle it;
for the very next time ] see Mr.. Val
entine | shall tell him So
For a second, Mrs. Herman grew
pale with anger; then she looked
coldly, sternly, at her daughter.
"lou will not dare do it against my
positive commands | will myself see
MIR. Valentine, and prepare him for
any insanity you may dare to perpe-
trate; and while l am pushing for
ward the preparations for your mar
riage, and Mr. Valentine is superin-
tending the re-furnishing of his seaside
villa for your occupancy, you will be
sent to the country to your aunt Hep
zihab's-a quiet, stupid place-where
you will speedily come to your senses,
and learn to thank me for having
saved you from yourself"
And, twenty-tour hours later, Ellie
Herman was en- route for the noun
tain farmhouse away up in the Jersey
Shawangums, and Mrs. Herman was
coldly congratulating herself:
"She shall marry him! If there's
any understanding between her and
Frank Fielding-which | have once
or twice imagined-I have effectually
put a quietus on that My letter to
sister Hepsy contained strict orders
that no living soul, male or female,
was to be allowed to see Effie, except
members of her own family; and
Hepsy was always afraid to offend
me-so there's no danger on that
score. And two or three weeks will
work wonders. She'll be glad to come
back, and finish the season at Long
Branch and Newport, as Mr.. Valen-
tines bride, and go to Europe in the
winter"
And then Mrs. Herman leaned back
in her chair and INDUCED in little
catnap, composed and claimed by the
plaudits of a good conscience.
x X x = X
Such a place as the Berrian farm,
up in the Shawangums Effie had al
her life imagined it the most dreary
desolate, forsaken place in all the wide
world, and her rapture knew nc
bounds when she found that it was
the very ideal of picturesque, roman
tic, luxurious loneliness, and that Aun
Hepsy was genial, jolly soul, brim
ming over with good nature and gooC
sense; that Uncle Zebedee was worthy
to be her husband; and then the girl
j essie Dunbar and Gwen Comfort
were just the very ideals of cousins
and they prepared to make pet anc
plaything of their beautiful, daint.
city cousin, who somehow (they di'
, not quite understand was in a sort O
disgrace on account of a rich suite
she would not accept submissively.
, To Effie, the life in the country wa
Just perfect. To get away from Nh
/ Valentine and his attentions was haI
; piness enough and still adamantin
in her resolution to "never, never
marry him, under any circumstance
: she nevertheless contrived to have
3 very good time with Jessie and GweI
: uncle and auntie, and
Jessie and Owens brother, uncl
and auntie's son, Effie's own cousin
} whom astute Mamma Herman. ha
: quite forgotten, had at least placed a
D innocent estimate upon.
3 However, they became astonishl
i good friends, Harry Berrian and Eff
7 and before month had passed Eff
Y had confided all her sorrows to he
handsome, sympathetic cousin, VIII
assured her vehemently that it Wa
e an outrage that she should be so d.
t hberately bargaincd for; and tina
g were he to be her counselor, and 81
d followed his advice, she would site
s to her resolution, and never give b,
S hand where she could not give h,
n heart
y And then he looked at her in a
eager sort of way, and Effie droppe
e her eyes, and that was all that the
was about it.
r 1t seems as if fate itself was wor
7. ing in Mrs. Herman's behalf, for NJ
W Valentine had not at all taken it ami
Of when she informed him she had Sci
a "Efie, DEAR" up among the mou
1t tains for a few weeks recreation,
E. that she might be bright and fires
a spirited for the wedding. Indeed,
his own heart he felt considerably I
lieved, and was gayer in his ov
y spirits than he had been for many
ID day.
Until, very suddenly, terrible ,
ID tack of rheumatism seized him, al
D. put him completely at the rath
r. doubtful though well-meant mercy
h.o h.naA 10. on1 -, cka