The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-02
throwing wide open the door of the
elepapt little narlor

WANC OpNtl bOOA VI
elegant little parlor.
The dining room also opened int,
the hall, and as Paul passed tn
door he caught a glimpse of a grace
ful little figure in neat print dress
with snowy collar fastened at tn
throat with a tiny gold pin; a mas
of brown curls tied back with a blu,
ribbon, and for second his eye
met the glance of a pair of laughin,
brown ones.
81 wonder who she can be p
thought Paul, as he and Miss Leslie
sat inthe parlor, settling the terms o
board, &c.
''If you would like to begin to
night, l will send John over to tn,
hotel for your luggage. Tea vii
soon be ready"
Thank you. | have brought my
portmanteau with me. My TRUNK
has not yet arrived"
A few moments later the tea bel
rang and Paul again had the pleas
ure of seeing the young lady il
print, who when he first saw hel
was occupied in arranging the shell
like china tea service upon the ia
BILE.
"My niece, Mr.. Ridgeway, Miss
Leslie"
Paul bowed low over the tiny
hand extended to him and thought
"Some orphan niece, no doubt
to whom in the goodness Of her heart
Miss Leslie had kindly given q
home"
During the meal Paul found nc
difficulty in keeping up a brisk con-
versation with the elder Miss Leslie.
She was well informed upon the
current topics of the day, literature,
&c. Altogether quite pleasant
sort of person to converse with.
Her niece said very little at first,
but soon the restraint which a
strangers presence always east over
her sunny disposition wore away,
and before the evening was over she
even INDUCED in her usual nonsens-
es, and flashed merry glances from
her laughing brown eyes upon our
hero. That night the last thoughts
of Paul's waking moments were of
those same brown eyes, and he GER
tainly dreamed of them the whole
night.
The next morning, contrary to his
usual indolent habits, he was awake
and astir before the rays of the sun
had fairly crept over the hill tops,
and with portfoli, under his arm
containing sketching paraphernalia
and his camp chair in his hand, he
passed through the rose-scented
garden and out into the dewy fields
beyond. Possibly the cause for his
early rising was an eager desire to
begin a sketch Immediately of a
wild romantic, spot which he had
marked for picture, or more prob
ably it was desire to see how the
broad lands which he coveted and
hoped someday to possess looked by
light.
"Why, it's a perfect Eden. " he
halting for moment and
gazing around him. "This place, to-
gether with the elder Miss Leslie,
would not be the worst fate to which
a man might be consigned, but sub
stitute her niece and it would be
veritable paridise. Bah Paul Ridge
way, don't you be fool enough to fall
in love with that brown-eyed witch.
What would you do with poor
wife? In fact, you are far too indo-
lent to marry the dependent niece,
instead of the rich aunt. To be quite
plain, Puol Ridgeway, you are lazy
You would rather live at your ease
than labor for even the woman of
your love; SO now prove yourself
sensible and let the head, instead of
the heart, decide for you in this
matter"
Our hero did not finch at all
from his own plain thoughts, al
though he certainly would have re-
sented it if another had called him
lazy. But it was the sound truth
he was lazy. He professed to be an
artist. but it was for more of an ex-
cuse to loiter around than from any
great gift or the love of art. 1t
was far beyond the limit of his scant
purse, or he would have been at
some fashionable resort this sum
mer in search of a rich heiress, in
stead of finding himselfin this qniet
place; but he called himself in luck
for happening to cross her here.
Paul Ridgeway would not have
soiled his dainty white hands with
criminal, yet he was ready
to do very contemplate thing
marry a woman for her money, and
rest content for her to support him
the remainder of his days. In short
he was one of those fortune hunters
Of which there are not few in the
world.
Early as Paul was astir, Flora
Leslie was returning from her usual
ramble, and his eyes glanc-
I'd down toward the meadow and
saw her tripping along the path, he
thourht he never saw a lovlier Wis
ion. With one hand she held her
iainty blue muslin dress from the
ground, Just far enough to display
her tiny feet, while her straw hat,
With its wide blue ribbyn, swung
idly from the other hand.
After feasting his eyes for some
time upon the lovely picture Flora
made in her innocent unconscious
ness, Paul hastened down the path to-
ward her, and nearly reached her
side before she heard his step in the
grass and turned startled glance
toward him. When she saw who it
was she blushed, and her glance fell
before his admiring gaze as he said ::
Pardon me, Miss Leslie; did l
startle you? You choose an early
hour for a walk"
"And you have taken the same
she saucily replied, the
roguish look coming again into her
eyes.
II have penchant for sunrise