The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-05-11
TIT FOR TAT.

servatory Rock. The setting sun
was casting long shadows athwait
the waving field of grain and steel
ing slowly down the rocky hillside.
She was a fascinating woman.
Her face was beautiful beyond de-
scription, and her voice had a sub
tie power, a caressing undertone
that sent a thrill through every fibre
of her companions being.
She and her widowed mother
were staying at 4 spacious farm
house in 4 lovely Connecticut val
lev. She had come there TO recup-
crate from her social dissipahons oi
the past winter in New York, and
to gain strength for new dissipation'
and triumphs in the fast approach
ing autumns.
1t was rumored that she had brok
en- many hearts and ruined NOR,
mems lives than she cared to count
but then ramor ioften lies.
He was tall, sunburnt man
with dark blue eyes, and mass o
blonde hair. lie was clad IN tn,
garb of simple farmer, but he die
not look wholly like tiller of the
soil. His brown hands were toe
shapely and his carriage too elegant
for a man country born and country
bred.
Still, he had been working on ths
Meadow farm during the summer
and in all his leisure moments had
been the constant shadow Of tho
woman at his side.
He was a man of passionate i'm
pulse, aad his heart was capable ol
an all-absorbing love or an all-de-
vouring hate.
As they walked slowly down the
hillside in the rich evening light.
the lady chatted half familiarly,
half condescendingly with her com.
panion, while helistened with part
ly eager, partly distracted air of a
man plunged in some deeply inter
csting experiment.
She talked with an air ofconscious
social superiority, and he replied
like man with a hidden purpose
and hidden strength.
As they came to low stone wall
he took her hand to assist her in
surmounting it. Upon the Other
side Of the wall he still retained hel
hand. She turned upon him with
a look of astonishment.
Thank you for the assistance
Mr. Chapman" said she, coldly
striving to withdraw her hand from
his. Il am quite able to proceed
alone now
lie made no answer, but still held
the little hand in his strong grasp
while with his eyes he seemed tc
be trying to search the innermost
depth of her heart.
A crimson food illuminated hel
face.
"Mr. Chapman, you will be kind
enough to release my hand at once.
This with freezing hauteur.
'But suppose | want it." he said
quietly, with a look full of mean
ing suppose tell you that | want
you for my wife suppose declare
that love you, that your beautiful
face enslaves me, that your soft voice
sets my heart on fire, that | cannot
viii not live without you?r
His eyes were glowing ike living
Goals and his face appeared trans.
figured with the passion of the mo,
ment. Then, losing all his COO
self-control, he burst forth in the
full tide of his overmastering love
"Ah, Christine, my darling, my
queen, my life" he cried, passion.
ately, "let me claim YOU as nay own
let me take you to my heart, let me
make you my wife. / am starving
Christine, actually starving for 4 lit
tie love from you. Say YOU love
me, darling, OF" he added, hastily
IF you do not now love me say YOU
viii try to. Give me fragment o.
hope, dear, a little crumb with
which to appease the hunger at my
heart"
He had dropped on his knees a
her feet and was looking eagerly
longingly into her fair, flushed
face.
With great effort she wrencheC
her hand free. Then. with cieamin.
eyes and tone that cut him like /:
knife, she said:
"You could hardly have chosen
more fitting opportunity or better
place to insult me, sir. Whethei
You are brute or driveling fool
cannot tell. Ihardly know whetheI
to feel pity for your ignorance o
anger at your audacity. You mar
ry me, YOU 7" she exclaimed. witt
an insulting laugh. do we mat,
cows with canaries, or jaekals viii
lambs? Come, sir, will ALLOW
that your speech is a little bette
than the average country clod:
will acknowledge that your man
ners bear some degree Of refinement
in short, tha. you are little abov,
your station in life; but to marr,
you, TO live on carrots and turnip
with you, TO contemplate a life o
patchwork quilts and rag carpets
why surely you are insane, ravin,
madi"
She burst into cruel laughter a
the picture she had drawn. ant
then, not even deigning 10 glanc
at the bowed head of the man he
side her, she turned upon her hee
and moved away.
With a bound he was before he
again.
Miss Cannell, Christine, hear me,
he cried, eagerly: "you wrong me
you do me cruel injustice. am
gentleman, every inch your peer.
he added, proudly, and | am rich
very rich. / can crafty your ever,
wish, / can surround YOU with eve
ny luxury. L"
She cut him short.
Enough. | thought you wtr.
crazy before; now / know it. Yol
a wealthy mani Do men of mean,
masquerade in homespun, in cottor