The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-06-30

your letters ana II Archle Will not
give you them, they must be stolen
from him, that is all about it. 1t
would never do to let him hold such
power over your poor little head,
and it would be worse after YOU
were married than before it. You
are sure that he will not give them
up?"
He said he never would give
them to me"
Perhaps he has burned thcm.n
"Oh, no, he could never bear to
do that Why he idolizes them,
Kitty Just before he went away he
told me that they were laid in rose
leaves in the drawers of his Indian
cabinet"
VERY good. Grandfather sent
that cabinet to the parsonage |
dare say ii is exactly like the one in
his room. If so, it is likely grand
fathers key will open the minister's
too
"Oh, Kate, YOU burst not do such
a thing !"
Il dare under the circumstances.
! OF two evils one should choose the
least. Anything, almost, is better
than giving a rejected lover such a
power over YOU. 1t would be differ
ent if it was me- | would defy him,
and take the telling in my own
hands"
Il could not do that. Archie
might tease me to death first.
Il know, you dear, foolish little
woman. But YOU shall have your
letters, Maggie, so 90 to bed, and
sleep soundly on my good prom
ise."
"When ?"
perhaps tomorrow. Archie
dimes with the bishop tomorrow. |
shall find no better opportunity, !
think"
The next morning proved to be
one of those drenching days quite
characteristic of an English Novem-
Der. Still, about three o'clock, Miss
Leslie insisted on riding to the vii
lage. Her grandfather made some
opposition, but soon gave in to
"Kate's set way" and her decided
declaration, that she would be i'll
without her gallop."
Arrived at the village she stopped
at the parsonage door, and nodding
| pleasantly to the housekeeper who
opened it, she said she was very wet,
and would like 10 see her cousin, and
dry her habit.
THE parson was gone to the bish-
ops, but if Miss Leslie would come
in there was fire in his parlor, and
she could warm her feet and have a
warm cup of tea; and Miss Leslie,
after a little affected hesitation, and
a little more pressing consented to
do so.
She permitted Martha to remove
her hat and bring her some tea. Il
shall rest half an hour, Martha, and
if Cousin Archie is not back by that
time, / must 90, or else | shall not
reach home before dark
As soon as the door was shut she
glanced around the room. 1t was Il
coy place, full of bachelor comforts,
and pleasantly Uttered with books
and papers The Indian cabinet
stood in little recess between the
two windows. She quietly selected
her grandfather's key, and tried the
l6ck. 1t opened at once, and with
an ease that showed it was in con-
slant use, and the first thing that
greeted her was the faint scent of
rose leaves.
But the letters were not in the
drawers, and she was on the point
of closing the cabinet in despair,
when she remembered that her
grandfather's had a secret door that
Slipped away, and hid u closet be-
tween the drawers. 1t was likely
Archie's had the same. She sought
the spring, and it responded at once
to her touch, and there lay the let
tiers, all tied together iii one little
bundle. There was not more than
half dozen, and Kate, with a smile
of relief and satisfaction put them
in her pocket, and re-locked the cab
met.
She had scarcely done so when she |
heard someone open the front door
with pass key, and come straight
up the stairs. In 4 moment she !
had decided it was not Archie's |
footsteps, and it must be one of his |
intimate friends. In a moment, also
she had decided that if she did not
know, him he should not know her.
Whoever it was, he did not at once
come to the parlor; he went into an
adjoining room. removed his wet
coat and boots, and came lounging
in, with slippers on his feet and Il
cigar in his mouth.
Kate had Just finished arranging
her hat and gloves, and was going
quietly out of one door when he en-
tered by the other. For Il moment
they stood and looked blankly at
each other; the next, Kate advanced
few steps and said: 81 am waiting
to see the clergyman. Do YOU
know how soon he viii return. sir?"
II think he will be here immedi-
atelv," answered the newcomer,
whose first instinct was to say the
thing most likely to detain so beau
tiful a girl Il am sorry to have in
truded, but | will retire at once, if
you desire it."
"By no means, sir. | expected
my brother with Mr.. Fleming, but
as my groom is with me, there is no
need to wait, especially as it likely
to get dark very early"
81 left Mr.. Fleming at the bishops,
with three other elergymen. Your
brother"
"Oh, my brother is no clergyman"
and then suddenly remembering a
friend of Archie's who lived at least
ten miles away, she said: Il am
Miss Crowther of Hill Topper
haps YOU know Mr.. Henry Crow
ther ?"
The young gentleman looked at
Kate in utter amazement. In fact,