The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-05-25
for You don't know how much good
a sight of your dear face viii do
Yours eternally,


FLossIE.
"P. S.,-Write at once on what
day and train to expect you, and |
will send Hugh and the carriage 10
meet you. +.
"P. S. No. 2.-When l showed
your likeness to Hugh he was eapti-
waited at once, and declared he had
never seen so charming face. What
will he say to the original?
+. T."
Mrs. Travers was correct there /;
just how much so she did not know.
The truth was, although nothing
could have induced him to acknowl-
edge it, Hugh had fallen half in love
with the pure, patrician face of FL
nor's photograph, and in his heart
of hearts be had invested her with
all the attributes which adorned
his exalted ideal Of feminine perfec-
ton; and it was with secret disap-
pointment that he had heard of her
intention to visit his sister, after
what he felt sure Florence had hint
cd at in her letter For Mrs. Trav-
ers had taken it for granted that FL
nor would come, and Hugh's high
estimate of delicacy could not but
be offended at what he considered
well, to put it mildly--a visit of
Inspection for he really believed it
to be that, Notwithstanding his SIS
ter's vigorous protest to the contrary.
But in that, he acknowledged 10
himself, be might be mistaken, and
if so, why, Miss Vance would have
every reason to believe him a for
tune hunter, should he remain to
play the devoted during her stay
with Flossie. so he considered it
the wiser plan to take himself of,
which he accordingly did, telling
Mrs. Travers to call it sudden busi-
ness, or anything else she liked.
What Elnor thought of him we
may Judge by the exclamation that
greeted the close of her friends epis-
tle A bright, angry flush burned
on either soft, rounded cheek, and
the blue eyes flashed with indigna-
ton, as their owner sprang to her
feet, tossing the letter aside, clench-
cd her dimpled hands, and, proudly !
cresting her royal head, exclaimed,
passionately:
"Does florence Travers think for
one moment that | would be gull |
ty of the unwomanly conduct at |
which she more than hints in this |
letter? Does sine suppose that | |
would seek her brother-would visit |
her house with the avowed inten- |
tion of making his acquaintance ? /
All, Florence, you make q great /
mistake if that is your idea of Elnor
Vance, and | have made a greater
one in the estimate Of your brothers
character. Judging from the pic
ture which you showed me | con-
sidered him q noble, refined gentle
man, but / see / have been mistal,-
en-. 'He is particularly anxious to
see me, is he? Well, Mr. Hugh
Castlenon, | do not think you viii
have the pleasure of playing attend
ant cavalier to the heiress just yet
awhile"
And the scornful emphasis on the
word ''heiress' will give US an idea
of her suspicious as to Mr. Castle
mons anxiety" to see her.
Il had intended visiting Flossie
this spring anyway" soliloquized
Elncr. seating herself and speaking
in n low tone, ''but this" with
contemp;uous- glance toward the
letter, 'has completely altered my
purpose. 1 had anticipated so much
pleasure, too" in desponding tone.
"But. oh, | know what I'll do"
with sudden Frightening Of the
sweet face. "I'll 90 right down to
Aunt Sallie's and stay there the
whole spring and summer. Dear
old Appletonl | can fancy | smell
the honeysuckle that grows over the
front porch and peeps in at the
kitchen window. And dear Uncle
John and Aunt Salhei How glad
they will be to see their little Mel
lie ! There III be safe from fortune
hunters, at any rate. | will throw
aside the heiress and simply be
country Nell. But now / Will an
swer Flossie's letter, telling her /
viii be unable to accept her invita-
ton this time"
One week later found my heroine
4 guest at her Aunt Sallie Wares,
whose substantial farm was situated
about mile from the bustling little
village of Appleton. The soft breath
of spring had just begun TO awaken
into life the jonquils and barebells,
and the sweet blue violets, when
Elnor reached the place Uncle
john and Aunt Sallie welcomed
their little Nellie with open arms
for they loved her for her own sweet
self alone. Aunt Sallie had nursed
her through severe spell of sickness
in her infancy, and since then had
loved her as her own.
Elnor's visits to the farm were the
gala days in the lives of Uncle John
and Aunt Sailie, and they never tir-
ed of petting ''little Nellie" as they
always called her. Elnor, too, low
ed to be with them, and it was a
sigh of perfect content that she
breathed as she sat the first evening
of her arrival in a low rocker on
the front porch, inhaling the fra
GRANGE of violets and honeysuckles. I
and thinking exultantly how she /,
had outwitted the two conspiratoIs,
as she mentally designated Mrs.
Travers and her brother.
The gentle afternoon brcezes
were stealing through the vines
that clambered over the front porch
of the Ware homestead, every
breath drawing fresh incense from
the sweet flowers nodding their
fragrant heads beneath the soft
blue of the April sky. Down the
road, leading through the wood op-
posite Aunt Sallie's, Elnor slowly |
walked along, every now and then
stopping to pick daisy or butter
cup from the myriads around her.
She was on her way to the village
post Office, thence to stop at the
z. = = A 4