The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-07-27


Justify at sight of him, and Viva &
listen for the sound of Lis firm foot
s.esp on the garden pas's.
One evening, when t.ss soft May
wind was swaying the ~iady-iing-
ers." as the children called them,
over the door. Viva snatched up hel
hat and strolled down TO the pretty
rustic gate.
Just a little more tired than usu-
al after desperate struggle to teach
an irritable obtuse pupil the myste.
ries of crochets and a yers and
demi semiguavers.
She stood there, fair girlish fig
ure. in her soft white dress, a great
bunch of blue meadow violets at her
slender throat aud vast. The
scented wind gently loosened the
dark-brown hair, and blew fitiul
drift of rose-bloom into the pure pale
face.
Very pretty.
We'll. Clifford Chandos thought
so. at all events, as he cene along
the uneven country road With his
light, firm football.
Good evening, Miss Rayner'
She turned suddenly, the faint
flush deepening to carnalion.
"Good evening, Mr.. Chandos.
| think person can give one
very tolerable shake hands without
holding ones hand quite minute.
Butapparently Mr.. Chandos thought
differently.
Miss Rayner, viii you come lor
A wall-iust little way down the
road ? There is a show place there
| should like to have YOU see"
He asked pleadingly and hurried
lv, as though fearful Of a refusal.
rs it far?"
"No," eagerly "quite near, Be
sides, Miss Viva, have something
to tell you-or, rather, ask you"
They were already strolling slow
ly on. She paused and looked up
in vague alarm.
"To ask me; Mr.. Chandos ?"
"Yes. Viva, | want to ask YOU to
leave Rose Cottage"
Was he mad?
90 leave Rose Cote y she re-
peated blanlSly.
She stopped short, and looked UP
at him with her brown bewildeTed
eyes.
Are you not satisfied with US rs
tenants ? What win mamma say ?"
II did not ask your mother to
leave Rose Cottage"--and his yeice
was trembling and low-I asked
you !"
"Me ? Why, Mr.. Chandos-"
She broke off abruptly rs she saw
the look in the eyes of the man re-
garding her. Such look as would
make more successful wooers in the
world to-day-a look OF passionate
love and resolute determination to
have her in spite Of herself
"Viva, my darling, my darling y
he cried, all the mischief in his voice
swept away in his fiery earnestness,
won't you understand I? l love you
very dearly, Viva, and | want you
for my wifel"
"Yes, / understand" she said sim
ply.
Il am not rich man, dear, but /
would give my life to make you
She looked at him with bright,
out-shining eyes, and though her
cheeks famed hotly, she said, in
her gentle, straightforward, girlish
way :
Il would be honored 10 be your
wife were you penniless. Mr.. Chan
dos !"
"'Mr. Chandos ?" sternly. 'Little
wife, say, Clifford 2"
And, her hand in his, she said it,
simply
"Clifford !"
In a short time they paused be-
fore q massive entrance gate and
pretty Gothic lodge.
"This is the great place of the
Viva. Shall we go
up and look at it p
They paused at the great stone
steps of an ideal country-seat,
stretching, verandaed, porticoed,
with huge stone lions on guard at
the door.
"Come in, dear p holding out his
hand, with curious smile.
'But the owner ?"
II 90 with his permission"
Then, passing the servant at the
door, he led her through rooms
where the mighty tousa of Midas
was softened and made perfect by
the mightier touch of taste. Through
a conservatory where birds and
flowers were drowsily falling asleep,
and marble statues cleaned palely
forth from tropical, dusky hooks.
'It's a handsome place, dear, isn't
it p he asked, when once again
they stood beneath the darkening
sky.
Handsome ? Oh, Clifford = with
an estate, long-drawn breath.
Il hardly know how much rent |
ought to charge you, little woman y
he cried, quizzically, drawing her
closer to him ''but III be moder-
ate. Suppose we say--one thous-
and kisses per annum J"
Yours !" she gasped. "You said
you were not rich I"
swell, not Rothschild nor Van
derbilt, love, but" with a sudden
change of tone, ''richer than all the
world, sweetheart, in you"
So, after all, Viva graces a home
worthy of her. And Jessie senten-
tiously remarks:
"'Twas well moved r
And Tiva mods and smiles rs she
slips her little sparkling hand into
her husbands loving clasp.
Darcfoo,cd Bellies.
Barefooted bellies, says a cores
pondent, are seriously promised for
4.