The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-01-20

In which Eta Is amusing herself at this
country boys expense; and Mrs. Larton,
an easy-going woman, not especially re-
luctant to see Etta-who is only step
daughter = get herself into scrapes,
makes no attempt to interfere.
George Larton alone gains little
clearer sight from his intense jealousy,
the natural result of his long and painful
suit Rather dissipated when very
young, the fathers consent has only been
won after a most earnest siege and re-
newed proofs of reform; and when al
last obtained, has by no means brought
with it Etta's love. At thirty he is not
even on trial, and has q morbid hatred
for any man who seems to be receiving
the least favor.
Hurrying across the room to claim the
| next dance, which is due him, and he
is doubly infuriated at Etta's quiet re-
fusal.
80 Georgel 1 am very sorry, but I for
got you, and have promised this to Mr..
| Gordon"
"I am sorry too" was the angry reply,
''to deprive Mr.. Gordon of your society,
as this will be his last chance of seeing
you; but wish particularly to speak to
you at once"
A little scared at his manner, she takes
his arm pettishly, and turns away with
him, saying:
"The next shall be yours, then, Mr..
| Gordon"
"Etta," exclaimed George, "you posi-
lively must not dance with that fellow
again. I am acting in place of your
father now, and cannot see you flirting
publicly with man not fit associate
for you, and becoming the talk of the
entire room" -.
every well; I consider this fellow
fit associate for me or for you, and as I
never was kept from doing what / pleased
by peoples talking, you won't frighten
me in that way"
And so he has killed his own hopes.
Rousing all her feminine and individual
perversity, the only result of his protest
is to see her spend the most of the even
ing with Jimmie; to see him brought up
to Mrs. Larton, and capturing her as eff
fectually as her daughter with his sunny
blue eyes and sturdy, handsome face, to
hear him invited to Cleveland!
In the midst of it all Jimmie's heart is
beating very fast, and his head SWIM
ming little; but he comes through 1t
triumphantly, and leaves for home that
night with strange, new hopes of secur
ing the wished-for wealth by an easier
and quicker route than he had even
dreamed of before. That he is purely
mercenary it would be hardly fair to say;
for most men can be fattered into a
liking, if not into love, and Jimmie GER
tainly can hardly help being fattered.
Very few young men exist but are a lit
tie inflated by the evident liking and
even admiration of pretty and attrac-
tive girl; but when there is SO great diff
ference In social position, in wealth and
every thing else as in these two, we must
look for more age and experience than
Jimmie had to keep his head from being
turned Being turned, it is easy to see
why it should fancy it was the heart,
and almost to think itself in love as easily
as Eta has been.
And now we will drop the curtain for
few weeks, to raise it again during the
early fall in Cleveland. In the cab that
is driving up Euclid Avenue we find our
hero, the same boy whom we met on the
lake at Brownfelds, still intent on his
object, though no longer with a dream
ing indefniteness The time since Eta
left Montrose for home has by no means
been spent idly. She, for the first time
in her life, has found whim to which
she is constant; and in the correspond
ence which she grants him has, instead
of dulling her interest in this latest no
ton, added fresh fuel to the flame.
Jimmie, seeing now just how things
stand, has been vigorously making pre-.
parations for appearing before Mr.. Lar.
ton creditably. His first step is to bor-
row little money his father has laid by
and the next to hire desk-room and ar
office-boy in New York, where he puts
mp sign as Broker in Iron, 7" this beine
to give color to the character he intends
to assume of being an agent for Mr.
Peters. And now, with all his arrange
! ments completed, he is driving up t.
Etta's home. not yet cured of all hi
palpitations, but with considerably NOR
possession.
He feels very tremulous again as h
enters the door, and as the footrnan will
gentle persistence, takes him to hi
room rather reluctant, since he canno
see what "fixing" he needs, and almos
gives way when he finds himself in tn
, most elegant room he has ever seen
| Dressing and suddenly discovering tina
, he is utterly at loss as to where to q
and what to do, his usual good lucl
I brings Eta to his rescue on her wa,
. down stairs. Helped by the same goo'
, angel he struggles through his dinner
. escapes a danger in not knowing wha
wine to drink by suddenly becoming
, totally abstinent; is fortunate enough t
] | be drawn into conversation on iron
2 and by adroitly using the little know
ledge picked up at the forges and in hi
I reading, to gain credit for knowing
, great deal.
> And so the days go on, Jimmie's lucl
Y favoring him steadily until he has wo
t Etta's pledge of her love. her ster
j mothers good will, her fathers esteem
!, Her Cousin George had gone to Califo,
= MIA, disgusted, as soon as he got HON
9 from the Catskills, and Mr.. Ellis. who
!, the only person besides Eta that know
q anything of Jimmie's real position,
g South on long trip.
On lovely September morning tn
lovers are standing at the lakeside, watch
"a Ing the bright sunlight that sparkles
/ lnnumerable diamonds on each litt
o wave crest, while great, lumberin
O schooner creeps lazily along with an O
casional clank Of its boom against Il
II mast, and the cool swish Of the waite
n that seems to grow deeper and dark,
,s Is across it. All around is the dazzlir
sunshine, that here and there flash,
" white from q sail trying to coax motto
,e from an air too hot and tired to stir I'M
70 a wind.
er "Dear," said Eta, suddenly, edo yc
ST know that papa goes to Europe to-mo
row for six weeks?"
,e 'No, hadn't heard word of it.
,d must be q very sudden move"
"Very. He only made up his mir
m last night