The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-08-20
A sEAsHORE IDYL.

DEAREST GERTY:
Doing precisely as I'd be done by,
write in the greatest hurry to tell
you that, unless you can prevent it,
your father will be married to q fas-
cinating, intriguing kind of cousin of
mine, who is doing all in her power
to make him and every one else in
love with her.
What scare for nothingl' inter-
rupted Jack. He is only in love /
thought it was all fixed
Wait until you hear more,' sol.
emnly replied his sister:
She is a widow, and fatally, dan.
gerously charming. hate her, but
am forced 10 ackno wledge this. Ev-
cry creature, except me, whom she
looks at likes her. She has light ha-
eel eyes, wonderful hair, al exquisite
white skin, and, whether she walks
or sits still, looks up or down, is ire
sistible. Her vely voice would charm
the bird of the tree. / hate Der be-
cause am jealous of her, and, al
though she purrs over me, will not
be friendly. Very well. I'll come to
the point. / heard your father en-
treat, beseech her, to marry him. 1
listened; yes, l was so base, even
as that-sat near q window-they
were on the piazza. He told her he'd
settle million on her. alluded to all
of you, and seemed to think none but
William would ike it.
There is no use in my saying
more. Come on in full force. She's
q cowardly little thing-has scruples.
l think you can prevent it.
Yours with much sympathy,
NINA MONTGOMERY
Mrs. Grant laid the letter grsvely
down on the library table, gazed at
the three with questioning glance,
and languidly inhaled the perfume of
her blue violets.
How can father be such a fool p
exclaimed Jack; 'he is seventy years
old
Poor father = said Archie. How
devoted and kind he was to mamma
Let him marry if be plesses.'
You little know wnat you are say
ing,' skriekad Gertrude. Let him
marry with sarcastic ar. The |
woman is an artful, designing mink
Do you suppose she'll be content |
with her million? By no manner of
means. She'll never rest until she
has us put out of his house, and out
of his heart, and out of his will. |
She'll take possession of him. I've
heard too much of rich old fathers
and young step.mothers. Mrs.
Brooks made her husband leave her
every bit of his property, cutting off
his daughters with shilling. When
the poor man wanted to retract-l
make a new will or some.hing-they
said be had an attack of paralysis in |
the meantime, and was incapable.
Actually, when be wanted to alter it,
with death staring him in the face,
be couldn'tl l feel awfully sorry for
papa added Gerty. He has had q
very gloomy life, and if be were 9
younger man-but how long could !
he live with his pert young widow ?
Threescore years and ten, the Bible
says, is the limit, aud he has attained |
it,
i wish William was here,' ex-
claimed Archie, he'd tell US what to
do
He'd tell US just to make the best |
of it, cried Gerry.
William would let father cut his
(William's) throat cheerfully if be
were 80 inclined. He doats on papa. |
So do we all, she added with sigh, |
only we don't want him to be mar.
ried. 1t is undigni6ed, it is prepos-
terousv with rising indignation. we
can preventit. Nina says she's cow
ardiy let us use our utmost endesv.
ors. l shall start to-day. Harry
telegraph papa to secure rooms for |
me; and, Archie and Jack, you come |
as soon rs 1 send for you. In the
meantime Ill write to William-he |
is at the White Mountains-and I'll
lay the whole matter before him. I'll
be chooses to evsde the responsible |
ity, be may; be cannot say that be
has not been warned
Dear papa, / could not live with |
out you . moment longer whisper
ed Gertrude IS she emerged, faint
with fatigue, from the numbering
coach and kissed the old gentleman
tenderly.
Her maid followed sith bags and
wraps.
Il rather thought you'd meet me
with carriage at the station che
continued, gently reproachful.
i am sorry, my desr,' replied Mr..
Lee, with some embarrassment, bat
/ hoA a. - n