The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-05-25
A STRING SHOWER.

a SPRING SHOWER.
Mrs. Travers' morning room was
the ideal of luxurious elegance, and
the lady herself made charming
picture as she lay back amid the
crimson cushions of her cozy easy
chair. One da.ntily slippered foot
impatientlY patted the floor, and
an indignant flush dyed the clear
olive of her cheeks as she closely
scrutinized the countenance of the
rooms other occupant, her handsome
brother Hugh.
He was standing by the fire, one
arm resting on the low, marble man
tel, an amused smile covering his
lips as he regarded his irate sister.
Mrs. Travers in her intent search
of his face saw the smile, and then
the vials of her wrath burst on the
head of the unlucky offender.
Il declare, Hugh Castlemon, you
are the most provoking mortal /
ever sawm she exclaimed, with
flush of her sparkling black eyes.
Just see how you are spelling all
my plans by your stupid obstinacy.
| have written and invited Elnor
Vance here, and stated particularly
that you are staying with me and
were anxious to meet her. l sent
the letter yesterday, and now she'll
come and find you gone. OF course
she'll know that you only went to
avoid her, and what viii she think ?
Don't stand there smiling at me in
that tantalizing kind of way, for
have no patience with you at ALL"
And, with toss Of her ietty
braids, Mrs. Travers tightened the
rose-colored cord girding her pale
gray robe de chambre, while Hugh
broke out into a little laugh.
"Why, sister mine, you don't
know how well your little temper
becomes youm he said smiling down
into the flushed face. "Butserious-
ly, Flossie, | don't see why you
should fly into tantrum because l
take jaunt into the country for
recreation from the dull care of
lawyers office"
Recreation, indeed !" exclaimed
the lady, with an impatient gesture
Don't, Hugh-don't run away with
the idea that / believe anything
like that, for | am well aware that
you are only going to avoid meet
ing Elnor Vance, though why you
should do so is an impenetrable
mystery to me"
The gentleman made an impa-
tient movement.
"WeH, Flossie, | acknowledge
that is my reason for taking myself
off just about now," he respop led a
look of seriousness settling on his
face. why, sister, do you suppose |
that / would stay here for amoment,
playing the devoted to Miss Vance,
simply because she is an heiress? |
or that / would consent TO stand |
quietly by while she coolly meas
ured my physical and mental quail |
ities with view to matrimony? !
Heaven forbidl And, Flossie, l |
must say that in the matter Of a |
wife / prefer to do my own selecting,
and certaenly my choice would
never be one who could, even in the |
slightest manner, appear rs hus-
band-hunter."
"Hasband-hunter, indeedl" ex-
claimed Mrs. Travers, now thor |
oughly angry. 'As if Elnor Vance,
the heiress, with the beauty and ac-
complishments that she possesses,
would stcop to such thing Oh!n
sarcasticallt, Il think it is a most
excellent idea of yours, this of going
away; for, should you stay here,
and Elnor just chance to smile on
you, your insufferable conceit would
Immediately construe it into an
avowal of love. 1t is certainly a
blessed escape for her"
And, with this Parthian shot Mrs.
Travers and her sweeping train sail
ed maiestically from the apart
ment.
Hugh gave long, low whistle as
his sisters plump form disappeared
through the doorway, and then he
laughed softly to himself; for he
knew that the pretty matron's little
temper would soon be over, and by
dinner-time she would be her own
lively self again.
While all this was taking place
in the Travers mansion the subject
of the conversation was bending her
golden head over Flossie's letter.
The pleasant chatty contents brought
a smile to the sweet young face; but
suddenly the smile vanished. and,
with puckered brow and compress
ed lips. Elnor read the concluding
paragraph of the. closely-written
cpistle.
sNa C2serie,n ran on. in Mrs. Trav-
ers' gliding chircgraphy, ''you have
SO often promised to pay me a visit
that now / am going to insist on
the fulfllment of your word, espec-
ia,ly as Hugh is with us. Iou re,
member his likeness that | showed
YOU while we were at school togeth-
er?) He is particularly anxious to
see you.' This last clause being
an inference on the part ofthe writer.
$50, now, dear, you must come and
stay with us until the warm weather
sets in, then go with us to Long
Branch. Hugh viii, Of course ac-
company us there, and. Well,
strange things happen sometimes
BE sure to come, that's a darling,