The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-16

"Oh, We'll be quiet you'll be Sc
pleased !" exclaimed the boy, with a
docility that would have alarmed
Gertrude if she could have stopped
to think about it.
As it was, she hurried her prepa-
rations, only remembering TO take
the flowers with her, as she thought
they might cheer the sick room, to
say nothing OF her own reluctance
to part with them.
Her ride in the cars lasted only
bali an hour, and she found herself
before the little brown cottage, which
was the only home she remembered,
as she had been left an orphan to
this aunt's care in her earliest child
hood. Poor and plain as everything
appeared a thrill came over her at
sight of it, and she hurried with re.
al anxiety into the house, whose
door stood open.
Aunt Rachael was in bed, and a
neighbor's girl had come in to wait
on her. The old woman had a
sweet, patient face, and her eyes
lighted up as sine saw the young
girl in whom all her love and earth
ly hopes were ccntered.
IL feared | had done wrong to
send for you" she said, "but there
was q little business TO settle. Do
you know, my love, the age OF miri-
cles is not over ?"
Gertrude smiled and held her
aunt's wasted hand very fondly.
I've told you that the housc-all
j have-night be taken away from
me at any time. What do you
think of my having a couple of
thousand sent me yesterday-enough
to pay off the mortgage and leave
me five hundred dollars ?"
Il should say you dreamed It,
aunty."
Look in the top bureau drawer,
and you will see the check. | think
the surprise and JOY. of it has been
too much for me. To think Jamie
has remembered me now that his
fortune is made in India My god
son, you know"
Gertrude had the check in her
hands, and viewed it with delight.
You see, my love, the action 10
forclose the mortgage has just COM
menced, and / could not rest mo-
ment till this business was arranged.
You can do it for me and Bess here
will keep me company"
Gertrude was quite relieved TO
find that it was anxiety more than
illness which had prcstrated her
aunt; and she at once set about per-
forming her task, which she did by
calling on an old friend--a lawyer
to aid her. She had the satisfac-
ton of leaving the old lady calm
and comfortable in the evening.
She found it quite dark when she
reached the house, and felt a symp-
tom of relief that the family were
not yet returned. The children, to
her surprise, were IN bed, . state of
affairs which she did not doubt had
been accomplished by bribery.
But the silence and rest were new
sweet, and she sat down to
the hemming Of some interminabIe
ruliies with which Mrs. Chumleigh
kindly kept her employed. After .
time shutting of doors, laugter and
lights woke up the quiet
house, but no one disturbed her.
The next morning Franeia swoop-
cd in just as lessons began.
"Well, you look serene" she said
"Do you know there's an earthquake
down stairs p
'Oh, what a fibber you are, Fran
cia Dormer !" cried Rod, indignant
ly. IF there was an earthquake it
would have swallowed us all up"
"Well, look out /. Bad boys get
swallowed the first thing" said
Francia.
This, however, is financial one.
They've lost ten thousand dollars in
Lost ?" questioned Gertrude.
"Yes just faney-Bertha's dowry.
It's been stolen, and. what's worse,
Won Arnheim won't be married with
out it. He is desolated, but firm i
it's the law of Naterland."
Francia was Just as careless and
smiling. as she talked of this loss,
as if had been a pleasant bit of gos-
sip.
Gertrude with her ready sympa-
thy, was ON the point Of asking sew
eral questions, when she noticed the
open-eyed children.
''Oh, ] forgot. was to ask YOU
to step down into the library" ex-
claimed Francia, and then, after pop
ping a sugar plum into the child
ren's faces, she danced away
Gertrude went down with feel
ing that she was to be called to ac-
count for her absence the day before,
but quite convinced that herreasons
would satisfy any right minded per-
son. So she met Mrs. Chumleigh
with a face so serene that the afore-
said lady was somewhat staggered
in the belief to which she had rapid
ly come within the last hour.
Il hear-and must say that | am
exceedingly annoyed to hear-Miss
Winthrope," the lady began, with
extreme aucidity, "that you absent
ed yourself the whole of yesterday
from your duties without leave. Was
this a premeditated thing ?n
Certainly not Gertrude began
impulsively and then as rapidly
as possible explained the affair.
'Do you know what has happen
ed here ?" asked the lady.
about the coupons p asked
Gertrude.
Eyes it's u robbery, you know"
Il scarcely understood. / am
sorry-it is great loss" said the
girl.
1T was taken by someone in the
house." Mrs. Chumleigh wenton ex-
citedly. "My desk was opened, the
coupons taken. the desk relocked,
and the key put in the usual place"
and she fixed a penetrating glance
on Gertrude's face as she spoke, and
added after a seconds silence at
was taken yesterday after re left the
house,