The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-12-24

a young man and woman, who ha
by this time come within speakin
distance.
"a little, sir, perhaps; we hav
had rather slack day at the bank,
answered the. former, pleasant. blue
eyed, fair-haired young fellow, albei
with q somewhat weak and change
less expression of face. His tall ha
and ught-ftting black frocS coat
apart from mis- remark, proclaimed
him straight from the city
II am not sorry either" be resum
ed, stretching himself with an cir o
WEAKNESS; .'aad | have been litil,
disappointed and vexed.n
"Ah! how so?"
4 why, father,' quickly answered
the young woman, as she entered the
sammer-house, and placed her henC
gently on the old mans shoulder
don't you remember | told you that
George was hoping to get a step
through Mr. Cores retirement! And
now it has been given to George
/ junior-and, Of course, be feels it as
bard"
"Well, well, | am sorry for that, u
answered Mr.. Hickman somewhat
vacantly "butit will come--it will
come. He's better off where be il,
anyhow, than if be had been in a
Government Office"
20, | question that, sir" broke in
the younger man.
"But don't, ~ was the rather sharp
response. You have at least the
satisfaction of working with clear
conscience; yen are not idling your
time in reading the newspaper all
dey, wasting stationery, and robbing
your country, you would have been
lif your father hsd got you post un'
der the Government. You know my
opinion of the way Government oil
ces are managed, aad Government
too, for the matter OF that. | nave
no patience with the waste and reck.
less expenditure that go on in all de-
q partments, while We hard working
folks have to pay treble the taxes we
need. No, George, | really don't
think | should ever have consented
to your marrying my Alice here ii
you had been a Government clerk.
Then, sir, am very glad things
are US they are" said Mr.. George
Woodwyn, smiling, whose position in
this family group is thus made eyi-
dent.
, Here, Lily, come along. here's
. daddy" ne went Oh, as a sweet little
: eury-haired girl Of about three years
: old came toadling down the path,
and ran into her fathers arms.
Shall We go in now and have tea
and grandfather will come in at six,
, won't he ~ J
| The father, csgsying his child, then
+ ssrolled up toward the house. His
wife fingered to say aa affectiorsie
, word or two, and 10 kiss tenderly and
with solicitude her parents cheek.
: He pst,ed her hand kindly, bat with
! some anxiety, evident in bis action
that she should not catch sight of the
contents of his memorandum book.
Alice Woodwyn was tall and
graceful woman of about twenty Eve,
having her fathers eyes and mold OF
: features Her profusion of warm
brown ringlets were restrained in
their evident tendency to fly out
wildly by cunningly devised band
of delicate blue ribbon, ending 10 the
ueatest and most coqaettish of bows
There was a rather sad expression ou
her gentle comely face IS she joined
her husband in the little parlor Civ
log upon the lawn aAd as she busted
herself in making tea and arranging
the details Of the ample meal spread
upon the snow white tabiecloth, she
said:
II don't think father seems quite
so well as usual, George | have no.
ticed for the last two or three days
something rather strange about him !;
leei little anAiOu-
Il don't see it," answered her hus-
band from he easy chair into which
he had thrown himself, while dane
ing the little girl upon bis knee; you
know be is at times somewhat petu-
liant in his manner, especially when
DE gets on the subject of taxes aud
the Government. Ii was a great
pity be retired from his business so
soon; be has never been quite happy
since"
"Ah, no, indeed but the unhappi.
mesa began some time before that. 1t
vas poor dear Toms rash determin-
alton TO go to sea that was his first
great sorrow; | mean his first great
sorrow since be lost my dear mother
Silly lad I, only TO think of bis turn
lag bis back upon such good pros
pec,s. such business as my fathers
was for him 10 step into, besides caus.
ing so much grief aud anxiety J"
Yes, be was great fool, no
doubt" answered the husband "but
it's an old story now; it's no use
talking of that; why, Tom has been
away for more than ten years, / sup
pose"
"Yes. But father has never got
over it; be never seemed to take the
same interest in bis business after
wards
Sill" said George, Il say it was
q great pity he gave 1t up; be is al
ways hsnkeriDg afer it now; can't
cut himself adrift; as you know, he
is constantly going into The city and
pottering about; | wonder what be
finds to do there so often. By the
bye, tha. reminds me, Judkins told
ME that be met him in Lombard
street nearly every dav during the
" hUle fortnight We were away last
month al Broads,airs and be had
always got bis little blue bag with
him. | wonder what he does there
Judkins asked if | could guess at all
Every body wonders at him."
We'll, then it's pity every body
has not something better to do," said
Mrs. Woodwyn II suppose that my
father can 90 into the city when be
likes, without consulting every
body ?n
Yes, certainly. But now tell me,
a lice, does il never occur to you as
strange and do you never think