The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-23
THE $50 EXPRESS.

THE $3.50 EXPRESS.
We had been married Just siA
months, and on our return from the
honeymoon had settled down fol
good and all at my dear old-fash.
ioned home, Sunnyside. At that
time / do not believe there existed
happier man in the United King
dom than myself. l possessed a
nice snug little property, with nc
inconsiderate rent roll and the es-
tate was not in Ireland, where "Ro-
ry of the Hills" might have made
me feel not quite SO secure in the
possession of the broad acres of my
ancestors. l had also just mar
ried, after n courtship in which
contrary to the usual experience,
the course of love ran quite smooth
ly. Besides all these blessings, l re-
joiced in good health and spirits.
What more could man desire to
make life happy?
Although | was thankful that my
property was not il Ireland, still |
had no dislike to the Emerald Isle,
as some of the happiest days of my
life had been spent there. For was
it not when | was quartered with
my regiment at the Curragh that l
met my darling Nelly in Kildare? ?
On seeing her, l gave up the bril-
liant career of a soldier, taken pris-
oner by her soft eyes; and, though
it cost me a pang to leave my old
regiment and all my friends, still |
felt there could not be a happier
or more contented man than myself.
"There could not be-" l repeated,
looking down in my wife's sweet
face, as we sat side-by-side beneath
a spreading llme-tree in the cool,
calm, and quiet of glorious Sum-
mer evening listening to the birds
singing.
AS these thoughts passed through
my mind, a boy crossed the lawn
and placed a telegram in my hand,
the sight of which Immediately fill
ed my heart with misgivings. TAX
ing the missive in my hand, / turn
ed it over and looked at the hand
writing on the envelope, as though
| could make out something in that
way.
"Open it Frank" suggested Nelly;
and accordingly l did SO.
1t was from my brothers wife,
and ran as follows:
John has met with bad acci-
dent. Do come at once, ifyou can"
Immediately l ran over in my
mind the trains that passed our lit
tie out of the way place. There
were only two. Then l would 60
by the $50 express the next morn
ing. This would be the first time
since our marriage that l had left
Nelly even for day; and she cried
at the thought of it. My prepara-
tions were soon made.
"What blessing wife is" ]
mentlly CALCULATED, as l watched
Nelly deity packing my portman-
teau, and thinking of a thousand
little things that in the fuss of this
sudden emergency / should most
certainly have forgotten.
Seven o'clock the next morning
found us al breakfast, Nelly herself
making tie coffee and boiling the
eggs, and making much of me, as
she ministered to my wants. l
looked at my watch.
Nearly eight, Nelly. / must be
off if | want to catch the train"
"Very well, Frank; am ready.
l will walk as far as the gate with
your"
1t was lovely morning, the her
aid of another Of those real Summer
days that we had been having lately
days that were so very warm that
it was impossible to do anything but
sit lazily under the trees by the
river with book and basket of
fresh dewy fruit 1t was an idle life
for a man; but a country gentle
man has good deal of time at his
disposal.
At this early hour everything
was cool and fresh from the heavy
dew: and Nelly, in her airy muslin
and blue ribbons, seemed in keeping
with the lovely cool Summer morn
ing. Passing into the garden, she
picked a little bunch of white shell
pinks, with sprig of oak leaf gera-
mum; and, reaching up she pinned
them on my coat, saying, with a
loving smile, they would remind
me of her when was far away. As
though l needed anything to keep
her dear face in my memory.
Over the lawn we went, taking a
short cut to the entrance gates. A
river ran through Sunnyside-a
deep. silent river, over which the
grand old trees bent their boughs.
Ne stood on the bridge and looked
down into the deep, clear water, and
watched the trout flashing merily
backward or lying still and quiet in
the shadow. Then we said good.
bye"
Nellie's ewes were full of tears,
which she bravely tried to keep.
write soon, Frank; l shall miss
YOU dreadfully; write the very
minute you arrive" :,
"Yes, darling. Goodbye, and
take care of yourself"
Il wish / might come TO the sta
ton and see you off" she said wist-
fully and then added as shook