The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-02-17

where's my hat?" cried Tom, in
great excitement, while the man was
telling how he had wasted time by 60
ing to the Office first, and, not finding
him there, had hunted him up.
"Let me go with you, Tom know
I can help" cried Prissy, as her lover
was springing into the light wagon.
"Oh, Prissy, if you only would"
"Wait until get my bonnet and
shawl and tell Aunt Martha. I won't
be gone q minute and frlssy rusned
into the kitchen, where her aunt was
ironing.
"Go, by all MEANS" said Mrs. Bald
win, when she had grasped the meaning
of the girls incoherent explanation.
"Stay as long as you are needed, and
don't worry about me-"
Miss Silence made no remark when
Prissy entered her room with Tom. She
was in great pain, and was thankful to
see even this member of the hated Bald
win family.
For three weeks Prissy was chief di-
rector at the farm, and managed SO clev-
erly that Miss Silence had no chance to
find fault. But the grim spinster had no
word OF commendation for the young
girls untiring industry.
81 calkerlate to pay you for what you
have done," she said one day, as she
watcned frlssy making bread: You
needn't think you're workin' for moth
in"
"I don't want any pay, Miss Silence"
said Prissy, with trembling lips; 81 am
only too glad to do what can, be-
cause" She hesitated and turned
scarlet
because you're in love with Tom, :"
finished Miss Silence. "Oh, you peedn't
blush; 1 know all about it, and, If he
chooses to break his head agin stone
wall, amt a-goin' to stop him."
At the end of three weeks Miss Silence
was able to be about again, and Prissy
went home, declining the $40 bill for
her services. But she had not been
gone three hours when the hired man
came from the farm, with two large
baskets, which he sat down on Mrs
Baldwin's kitchen floor.
Compliments of Miss Silence, and
she sent these in place of the money" +"
and was driving off in the spring wagon
before Prissy could recover sufficiently
from her astonishment to ask him any
questions.
The baskets were full If good things
of every sort, and til was q royal
Christmas dinner for tue Baldwins the
next day, much to the Joy of the chill
dren, who had contemplated, ruefully,
dining on mush and potatoes.
Prissy sent note of thanks to Miss
Silence by Tom, but she never received
an answer.
Time moved on, and Toms law bust
ness improved so much that he persua-
ded Prissy, against her better Judgment,
to marry him.
Miss Silence did not grace the impor-
tant occasion with her presence.
"Ive no time to be gallivanting off to
Weddings" was her excuse, when Tom
reproached her for this slight.
"She is such a peculiar woman, we
must not expect her to act like other
people; but she has a good heart in
| spite of her queer ways" said Prissy,
when Tom tried to make excuses for his
cousins remissness.
"But her greatest peculia-ity lies in
her not liking you, Prissy," said Tom,
kissing his brides soft checks. "And l
can't quite forgive her lack of taste"
All went well with the young couple
for more than year. They began
housekeeping in q modest cottage Tom
was paying for by instaIlments, and were
so prudent that they managed to gather
about them many little comforts that
made their home pleasant.
But fortune seldom smiles long at a
time, as we all know, and reverses will
come to every one. One bitter night in
December Toms house caught fire and
burned to the ground, nothing being
| left except a few clothes belonging to
Prissy and the baby.
OF course Mrs. Baldwin opened her
house to them at once, though it neces
STATED much crowding. Prissy sug-
gested an appeal to Miss Silence, but
Tom emphatically declined to make it
He was far too proud to ask for the helI
which he thought should have beer
earnestly offered. His last books anG
papers had all been destroyed in the
fire; for he had used room in the cot
tage for an Office, and getting LIVING
was rather uphill work. Christmas was
dreary enough that year, and even Pris
sy's courage sank at the thought of the
future.
"Tom Lowey will have chance tc
show what kind of stuff he's made of,
said Miss Silence. "He burdened him
self with wife and baby, and he'll have
to look out for 'em. I toldhi I'd neve1
give him dollar of my money. and II
keep my word, no matter what hap
pens"
Miss Silence had thought herself proc
against the weakness of falling i'll bu
In March she caught o severe cold, an(
pneumonia ensued. She felt she neve,
should get well again. and the docto
told her frankly that in all probabilit,
she would live but a few days.
81 want to see the lawyer at once,
that is the case" size said. "I mus
make new will"
Mr.. Simons, who had managed hel
business for years, came as soon as he
received her message, and the will wa!
made. He hardly left the house before
Tom called.
"Fm worse" said Miss Silence, feeb
ly, "but I'm not afraid to go. Per
haps I'm peculiar in that as in othe
things. Deacon Bonney and the minis
ter. Mr.. Craig and Mr.. Darby have al
been here a urgin' of their severa
claims. L told each O. 'em I'd conside
the matter"
WIZ tney De disappointed, Cousin
Silence ?" asked Tom.
Poor fellow he was in such sor,
strait that he could not help a desire t,
have some small help from his cousin.
hoard. He hardly dare hope she ha,
left him cent, and yet he was her onl,
relative.
"That remains to be seen," was tn
unsatisfactory reply he received to hi
question. But don't you cherish n
hopes, for amt left you cent"
A bitter smile curled Toms lips, bu
he made no reply.
81 suppose you think me peculiar il
not leavin' you my money, seein' yo1
are the only kin I've got," went on Mis-
Silence. "but you've taken such pre-
cious care to convince me that you don
want it, that I've believed you and acte
accordin'."