The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-11-03
aOf him. never. His older broth

''Of him, never. His elder broth
er died more than q year ago. I sup
pose Alfred died many years since
he was very frail and delicate.
thought it was Ill health"
Poor Aunt =
Nay, child, / was very happy
while my dream lasted and neycl
will believe but that Alfred in hi,
love for me was quite sane. and per.
haps more sincere than many wisel
men,"
After this confidence Miss PhnbC
seemed to take great pleasure in
speaking of the romance Of her
youth. Often the old and young
maidens sat in the twilight discuss
ing the probabilities of poor Aired
Compton's life and death and every
discussion left them more and more
positive that he had been the victim
Of som9 cruel plot. The subject
never tired Miss Phoebe, and Julia,
in the absence OF a lover of her own,
found in il a charm quite in keep
ing with her own youthful dreams
One cold night in the middle Of
January they had talked over the
old subject until both felt 1t to be
exhausted-2t least FOR the night
Julia drew aside the heavy satin
curtains and looking out, said: 1T
| is showing heavily, aunt to-moE-
row we can have q sleigh-ride.
Why. there is sleigh at our door
Who can it be ? a gentleman, aunt,
and he is coming here
"Close the curtains, child. 1t IS
my lawyer, Mr.. Howard. He cprcfn-
iscd be would call tonight. "
"Oh, dear / was hoping it was
some nice strange person.
Miss Phpbe did not answer her
thoughts were far away. In fact,
she had talked about her old loYer
until there had sprung up ariew in
her heart a strong sentimental a1lec-
ton for his memory ; and when the
servant announced a visitor on bus
iness. she arose with a sigh from her
reflections, and went into the recep-
ton room.
In a few minutes Julia heard her
voice, in rapid, excited tones, and ere
she could decide whether TO 90 to
her or not, aunt Phoebe entered the
room, holding BY the hand a gentle-
man, whom she announced as Mr..
Alfred Compton. Julia was disap-
pointed to say the least, but she met
him with enthusiasm. Perhaps
aunt Phoebe had quite uneonseious-
ly nagnified the beauty of the youth
ful Alfred certainly this one was
not handsome. He was sixty at
least, his fair curling locks had van
ished, and his fine figure was slight
ly bent BUt the clear sensitive face
remained. and he was still dressed
with scrupulous care.
The two women made much Of
MIN. In half an hour Delmonico
had furnished a delicious little ban
quet. and Alfred drank his first glass
of wine with an old-fashioned grace
TO his promised wife. Miss Phoebe
Wakefield, best. and loyeIiest OF wo-
men"
Miss PhGbe laughed, but she dear
ly liked it and hand in hand the
two old lovers sat, while Alfred told
his sad little story of lifelong wrong
and suffering of an intensely nery-
Gus, self-conscious nature driven to
extremity by cruel usage and many
wrongs. At the mention of DR.. Or
man Miss Phebe expressed herself
a little bitterly.
Nay. Phoebe, said Alfred; what
ever he was when my brother put
me in his care, he became my
friend. To his skill and patience /
owe my restoration to perfect health;
and to his firm advocacy ofmy right
and ability to manage my own es-
tate ] owe the position l now hold,
and my ability to come and ask
PhGbe To redeem her never forgot
ten promise"
Perhaps Julia got little tired OF
these old-fashioned lovers. bat they
never got tired of each other. Miss
PhGbe was not the least abashcd by
any contrast between her ideal and
her real Alfred, and Alfred was new
er weary of assuring her that he
found her Intimately more delightful
and womanly than in the days OF
their first couTtship.
She cannot even call them Il ''sil-
lyn or foolish" couple, or use any
other relieving phrase of that order,
for Miss Phobe-or rather Mrs.
Compton-resents any word as APP
piled TO Mr.. Alfred Compton that
would imply less than supernatural
wisdom and intelligence. No one
but those who have known him as
long as ] have she continually
AYERS, "can possibly estimate the su-
perior information and infallible
Judgment Of NV husband.