The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-12-04
A HEART OF STONE.

The old clock in the wall rang out Ave
melodious chimes, az Cora Smith softly
closed the kitchen door, and ran to ths
little bedroom for her blue scarf.
Give o'clock" she said, as the last
stroke died away; "he is wondering
why I don't come, and l must haste
Msdge, little Madge, are you coming
with me t,-night7 am all ready"
Little Msdge, the twelve-year-old sis
ter. came flying through the hall.
"Auntie says you have forgotten to
get the potatoes for breakfast, and we
must prepare them before you 60
Never mind IL he does have to wait a
little for you; you've waited for him
many time. Come quickly and will
help you"
So sweet-tem pered Cora Smith united
the blue scarf, and tripped away to the
forgotten task as merrily as her little
sister, albeit her heart beat like an i'm
prisoned birds at the delay.
The West was all afame with the au-
tumn sunset ere the sisters closed the
cottage door behind them, and ran down
the garden path toward the site, where
ne was wsiting-in other words, where
hazel-eyed, sweet-faced Cora Smiths
city lover was waiting for his lady-love,
as she had many night waited for
him.
Almost every evening they met there
at the stile-their trysting place." he
said, Just halfway between her home
and his clearinghouse. He had pro-
posed IL, and she was nothing 10th to
accede-it was 80 pretty and roman.
tic. D.
Then, Auntie Smith was not Mt all
pleased with this dark-eyed young
stranger, and though she had not for
hidden him the house, both lovers knew
she preferred "bis room to his COM
pany." And 50, always with dear little
Madge at her side, she daily tripped
down the path through the leafy woods
to the halfway trysting place where she
met her handsome, dark-eyed lover,
Neil Rowan. How her heart futtered
tonight as she thought of him and the
warm love-light deepened and darkened
the soft bro wn eyesi
Neil, Neil" she said, almost .uncon-
sciously, aloud and little Madge clasped
her sisters hand closer, and looked up
in her face.
Do you love him 50 very much sister
CoraP
A swift, hot color came into the girls
cheeks, and then she paused suddenly,
holding the hands of little Madge in a
fervent grasp.
"Love him love HIM Madgef better
than all the world-better than my
youth, my life-aye, sometimes better
iha my hope Of heaveni And want
to be his wife, little Msdge, this good
mans wife, when the beautiful Spring
comes. i shall leave you, and auntie
and uncle TO be his. But this is our
secret, little sister, and only you can
share it." ... % -
And then her hands relaxed their
hold, and drawing the light scarf over
her shoulders, the pair tripped slightly
on. They were almost there-nearinp
the edge Of the wood, and the stile was
but n step away. Another step for.
ward, and then Msdge held her sister
back.
"Waitw she whispered; ct can see
two men on the scat, Cora. We do not
want to see strangers there"
mo-" she said drawing back in the
wood !" it is NeiIs friend, Willis Dean
We will wait until he goes for I do not
like to meet him."
Even as she spoke the figure arose,
and the sound of the voice came on the
twilight air, distinct aud clear. A
And what of this love affair, friend
Neil7 When is it to end, and how
Are you really in earnest, and do you
mean to marry the girlT
Cora Smiths hand closed upon the
arm of Madge till she shrank in pair
while they waited for the answer. Nei
Rowan laughed softly.
Marry herp he repeated. "She i.
just the subject for grand filtration
and assure you have done the thing
we'll. But for anything further-bah
/ am going back to town tomorrow
and this is our last meeting; so be off
old fellow, for i expect her every mo
ment."
just for one moment Madge Smith,
heart stood still in awful fear, for sh,
thought that Cora was dying. Tha
white, CHASTITY face there in the twilight
that motionless figure, those tie htly
locked hands, IL surely was not the fail
sweet maiden OF q moment before. Blu
the spasm passed off, and without
word, she arose, and glided noislessl,
away, and Madge followed her il
silence.
Neil Rowan waited until The ligh
had all died out in the West, and tn,
dew lay like summer rain on the gras
at his feet. His cigar was smoket
down to ashes. and his lazy reverb
was broken by the cry of the whip-poor
will.
She isn't coming tonight" he sale
mentality" that iscertain. The schem
ing auntie up yonder managed to pre-
vent IL this time. Oh. we'll, it saves
scene. I will drop a loving farewell
note, and 40 it ends-a summers smuse
ment. Hal humi' and Neil Rowal
strolled bomeward, singing half uncor
scipusly, "I won't have her, I know
won't have her, I know don't care
straw who has her, know"
The farewell note came to Cora Smit
the following night, but the fever-brigh
eyes never rested on the creamy page
for, ere the insane light gave place
reason again, death sealed the whit
lids. To such natures as this girrl
love Is life; and the rude blow this
woke her from the one bright drear
Of her youth, snapped the tender cor
that bound her frail spirit to earth, an
out Of the depths OF her awful gries, tn
kindly hand of death led her.
Day by day, week by week, month
30 sped the time until eight years wei
counted. Eight times the grass ha
grown over the little grave in the lionel
country graveyard, and again the D
tober winds rustled the scarlet leav,
over the marrow mound
Wonderful changes had the eigi
years brought. Side by side with tn
grave were two others. and the hea