The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-22
LIFE FOR A LIFE.

Show mc the region 50 wondcrous fair.
--------------
\ LIFE FOR \ LIFE.
Bcrtrode Dodge was blue Itwas
Augus weather-there was no air
stirring rom one arid noon until
the next, and the insects hissed ma
liciously ali day long in the parch-
ed grasses. Perhaps that was the
reason that Bertrode wss blue.
Perhaps it was that rs she walk
ed Growers Tract, day by day, and
saw summers limited completion
in the red apples burning among
the gray-green boughs, the hay-fields
at aftermath, the purple tasseled
corn, and yellow wheat, that she
felt her life to be aimiess. She had
let the summer come and wane
across her passive existence. The
previous winter she had said, Il feel
ice-bound now. When summer
comes, viii shake off this merton
and redeem to-day
Yet the summer was rapidly pass
ing and she was still a-dream. The
hour never seemed to come which
called her to eXertion. Wei,
Loves young dream" comes but
once it was all well, perhaps.
Growers Tract and her farmhouse
life was not dull as she had expect
ed it would be when she returned
from her mountain tour year be-
fore only at times the outdoor
sounds and the ieisurely growing
works of nature oppressed her. In
the winter she had been gay, look
ing at the sunset across the snow,
watching the chick a-dees, and
searching the woods for purple mer-
erion. In the spring the long walks
to the post-ofiice had been full Of
joyful fancies and golden realities ;;
she loved the sweet country sights
and scents more than ever before in
her life.
But in August something seemed
to oppress her. The sky burned too
blue, the woods were too calmly con-
tent in their greenness, the days
closed too beautifully in their ripe
splendor, as she walked the Tract at
sunset, coming from the post-ofiice
coming always empty-handed.
Yes. something was wrong, and
when she realized it fully, she said ::
Il am idle-I am stepped in idle
ness. l have been doing nothing
for a year. Now / will have some
work, and Dick may go to the post
office. care too much for those
letters"
Whatever those letters might be,
there came no more of them. \
certain gay tourist drifting about
the world, forgot to write them at
last perhaps Bertrode was pretty,
but one travelling everywhere meets
many pretty faces.
Bertrode's check grew thin and
white. Her mother saw that she
struggled to suppress growing irri-
tableness. But She worked unceas-
ingly AZ her new employment Of
teaching the district school Of Gro
ver's Tract. She devoted herself to
the children. Their parents said
they had never learned so fast. Bert
rode smiled only family at their
praise. One day, coming home
from school through the woods, she
flung herself down among the ferns
and dry grasses.
1T is dust and ashes!'' she cried.
The sky cleaned blue through
green boughs overhead, and bird
sang cheerily in neighboring bush.
She lay there until she felt the dew
falling. As she rose up, something
rustled at her side. She looked
down great rattlesnake was slip
ping through the grass, going from
her. apparently unaware of her pres
encc. Fascinated, immovable, yet
full of horror, she stood and watch
cd the creature. For moment it
glided steadily on, its course so di- |
rect its appearance so deadly and
subtle. that she felt spellbound as
she regarded it. Suddenly; with a
thrill of horror, she saw the reptiles
aim it was making directly for a
shady spot, where a man lay asleep
beneath the trees. One moment |
more would be too late to prevent
the threatened attack. Starting from
passivity, she seized stone at her
feet and hurled it full at the Great
ure. He had Just paused and rails
ed his crest TO view his position,
when the stone struck him upon
the back of the head, and with a
yengefll hiss he leaped into the air,
then fell at full length upon the |
ground and slowly expired.
Bertrode stood looking at the dus-
ty length and bloody head of the
dead snake, her mind in a sort OF
wonder that anything could be so
loathsome, when she heard her name
spoken. She raised her eyes and
saw Fennel Gould standing before
her. 1ne young man lookeu at Ile
snake with sort of shudder, and
said
"Bertrode, you must have saved
my life"
Il suppose / did," she answered.
The creature was coming directly
toward you. Did you ever see any
thing SO horrible, Fennel ?'
He took her hands she hardly
glanced at him.
Darling" he said.
She snatched her hands away ina
sudden impatience.
"Don't p she said. Il wish you
wouldn't, Fcnnel."
''But | love you.
II cannot help it."
He regarded her sorrowiuily. She
took her shawl from the grass and