The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-05-12
wITHERED LEAVES

For over five years | have been
spoken of as an old maid. and | ven-
ture to tell how it came TO me. am
only thir,y-fve, yet my dark hair il
silvered, aud nv once brilliant eyes
are dim with tears that will come in
spite OF me when | think of the gold
en- summer time when | FIRST me,
Earl Vincent.
Ii was such day as it is now
calm, serene, cloudless, with just a
faiEt ripple of air in the heated atmos
phere. remember it 80 well, yet i,
has been fifteen years ago. My
father was a physician, we lived
about two miles from the bustling,
busy city, in a sweet, pretty little
cottage. that had been my home since
| was wee baby.
Earl Vincent was the son of my
fathers college cbum, and being in
the city be invited Earl to come home
with him, and spend few weeks at
Rose Cottage. l can see him now
walking up the flower-bordered foot.
path, by papa's side, SO tall, noble
and handsome, that my dark face
flushed, when | perceived he was
looking at me with his calm, dreary,
hazel eyes. | knew / looked well,
some people said | was handsome,
with my slender, stately form, and
fine dark eyes.
Earl this is my daughter" said
father, kindly layisg bis hand on my
raven black hair. Claude, allo W
me to INTRODUCES Earl Vincent"
He took my idle, white hand, and
bowed courteously over it.
81 am pleased to meet you, Mics
Norris" was all be said, but my
heart beat gladly as be spoke. We
erjoyed our pleasant tea on the cool
seranda, and after that We went u
the parlor, and Earl asked me to sing
TO him Of all my accomplishments,
music VAS my very life. possessed
rich mellow voice, and i did not
hesitate to sit at the piano and sing
one Of my favorite airs lie Refine "
He stood entranced as my wondrous
voice filled the airy apartment with
silvery sweetness, after had finish
I'd be leaned over the piano and said
frankly:
"You have magnificent voice,
Miss Claudio; did you ever sing in
public 2"
"OGce," l answered smiling, "at a
concert. papa aished me to; | sup.
pose he wanted the public to know
what q sweet voice his daughter
Dad !"
laughed merrily at bis earnest
face. how handsome be was, leaning
with such indolent, unstudied grsce
over my piano, my foolish heart
throbbed with pleasure as his dreamy
ewes met mine. We walked 10 the
moon lit garden after that, and as he
talked TO me, SO eloquently, with his
eyes full of fire and animation, | felt
that my heart was no longer nv Own
That was the commencement. we
took long, pleasant walks together.
we rode and drove frequently, talked
of poetry and flowers, until / was
perfectly dazed with happiness. !
knew be loved me. but he never had
spoke of that tender passion, and l.
we'll, l loved him as well as my warm
passionate nature yes capable of low
ing; my life was like 40 enchanted
dream, until Mabel Stuart came to
Rose Cottage She was a scboolmate
of mine, and We were bosom friends,
a more beautiful girl l never beheld,
q dainty, fairy-like creature that al
wsys reminded me Of SCOTS lines:
"a lovely. laughing face, halsed by golden hair,
Dimples hiding in her cheeks. most divinely
fair"
1t was night when she first met
Earl. We were seated. she and !, in
q ulsacout iltbic icic-u-tCtCf CioSC w
the open window. The wax lights
shone brightly down on her perfectly
beautiful face, the calm breeze stirred
the pale, golden ringIets that cluster
ed over her blue, veiued brow, and
the folds of her delicate evening dress,
fell gracefully around her slender Pc
tite figure. 1 gazed at our two re-
flectiens in the mirror opposite us,
she so fair and bewitchiDg ; l, yes, l
was handsome, in my dark, rich silk
and white lace, but for all that the
contrast was painful to me, for when
Earl came in, be started in surprise
when bis eyes fell on Mabel-he
greeted me kindly, almost tenderly,
and presented him to Mabel with u
dark shadow of pain in my heart.
She was brilliant converssiionalist,
and the hours passed only too quick
Iv I woo surorisod uhan tho tin =