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

Eric opened the door with = mad
burst at this moment, and caught
the sound ofthese last words. :.
No one ?" he cried. 'You have
me I have heard these insane sus-
picions. Mother you are madl | will
stake my life upon this young la
dy's honor. Why do you not sus-
pect me ?"
Mrs. Chumleigh faliered and turn
cd pale.
MY son, what have you 10 do
with this young person
Il have this to do with her. he
cried iInpetuously. Il wish to make
her my wife, if she cares enough for
me.
@My God . exclaimed 8Irs.
Chumleigh, falling back in a half
faint.
Nice time for your declaration, I"
cried Francia Dormer, who had
heard these words, and now hurried
in with restoratives, her own face
ashley pale, but still with q malicious
CLEAN in the eyes "at all events
you won't be able to get a recon-
mendation for your wife from her
last placer
BY this time Won Arnheim had
come in, and Bertha. To Gertrude
the room seemed full OF staring,
talking people. She stood among
them like queen, tall erect, with
undaunded eye, but a fierce pain at
her heart.
Mrs. Chumleigh opened her eyes
to say, tragically
Search her things y and then
sank away again.
Won Arnheim, with true politencss
said
1T viii net be veil TO suspieioned
some ones NIT not no grounds TO
stand on, which was very lucid,
but not much calculated TO console
Gertrude on the whole. Bertha sat
crying in ono corner-husband and
fortune and coronet TO disappear
like the baseless fabric Of Il vision.
Oh, it was too much
Won Arnheim. who was really
not mercenary, stroye to comfort
her.
Gertrude walked up to the nurse
~ unchallenged, and sat down in
the empty room. The children had
been spirited away somewhere
the whole house was in commotion.
Eric's words, so strangely sweet,
seemed somehow to span this sud
den storm like q Fainbow-but new
er. never would she listen to him
while there was n shadow on her
good name.
1t was not hard to search the mea-
ger contents OF Gertrude's trunk
but everything was tumbled out in
a summary way, pockets examined,
even Innings ripped, and she heard
some one say, "Wot's the use, she
went out yesterday" with feeling
Of desperate evaporation.
She laid back her clothes. al OF
them, sadly, for there was nothing
now to do but to 90. She strapped
her trunk herself, and did not wait
for leave taking. Only she had a
kindly feeling for the imps, after all,
and looked about for them as she
vent down stairs.
She left a note for Mrs. Chunlleigh,
merely giving her address. Then
with such feeling of desolation as
had never yet wrung her young
heart, she started out.
The children were not about but
when she reached the corner Rod
darted out at her. His face smear
cd and tear stained.
aThey say you're goin' away" he
cried out, ''and | wasn't to see you
again /; but I've cheated en- bully.
want to give you this valentine
To-day's the fourteenth, you see, and
l like you better than any other girl
| know. ! fixed Is yesterday
painted it all myseli-there's two
hearts on meat skewer and an
alter and a bride-ail right, you'll
see."
Thank you, Rod, said Gertrude
with sob in her throat, as she
to give the boy kiss. u
do not expect any other valentine.
And she smiled through the tears
that dimmed her eyes as she looked
at the hugh envelope with its Off
cial looking seals, to which Rod had
his treasure.
\ moment after a quicl, step came
behind her. Then some one took
the little travelling bag out of her
hand, and. looking UP, she saw a
handsome face looking
down at her reproachfully.
"Going without one word to me?a
cried Eric.
And from that moment half her
burden seemed lifted. She found
herself actually smiling asshcreach-
cd her aunt's door
What is that billet-dour you are
carving SO carefully :" exclaimed
Eric, as he caught sight of the huge
Envelope
my valentine said Gertrude.
Then q moment after she added,
'Rod's work"
They stood in the little parlor,
then, by the window, as the young
girl turned over the epistle, and IL
nally opened it with half hysteri-
cal laugh. Such q yiilainous look
ing couple as Rod had executed i
but he had gilded ring on the
brides finger, which obliterated her
hand. and had also Il cable OF the
same FURNISHED metal around her
neck.
"By Joye what's this p exclaim-
cd Eric, seizing the paper '-do you
see what the rascal has tied on with
blue ribbon for q fancy cover-my
mothers coupons, by all that's jol-
~ y
Gertrude stared in speeches sur
prise.
The child had nickcd a whole
sheet of coupons and used them as
Il cover for his clG d'aurrs.
The neat little squares and num-
bers had evidently taken his fancy.
These were only part, to be sure.
but lie could probably give an ac-