The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-13
1.-TWO dollars. Two dollars only


in an out-of-the way place like this,
answered Clara.
"Haw !" exclaimed Mr.. Cox,
who could not repress a smile
very good l always thought a
rustic life blunted the understand
ing; | see | hm mistaken. | hope
you did not think me Intentionally
rude
He made this apology in such a
nice manner that Clara's animosity
began to take rapid flight.
"Oh, dear, no. she said, and then
she conducted him downstairs.
"Well, if you'll have me-" obsery-
ed Mr.. Cox, whose efficient man
ner seemed to convert him into an
other person, Il shall be happy to
take the rooms. The fact of it is l
am reading hard for my final, and
want quiet spot where there will
be nc companionship to take me
away from my books, and where l
can have little solitary recreation
in the shape Of trout-fshing. A
harmless amusement that, is if
not ?"
"The fish do not think Sc" re-
piled Clara, smiling. IF you will
sit down a moment / will fetch
mother, and you can arrange matters
with her"
So saying, having handed him q
chair, Clara departed to call Mrs.
Moore. That worthy lady was soon
in attendance, and before Mr. Cox
had quilted her roof ne had aTrang-
ed to take the rooms for at least a
couple of months from the following
thursday.
1t is perhaps, almost superlluous
to state that Clara Moore, being such
a beautiful gial, had numerous adj
mirers. Although the village-by
name Munford-was in itself small,
there were plenty of outlying farms;
and not more than three miles
away a market town. From these
surrounding quarters came many
and many a one to sec the village
belle, and many a one at first sight
fell over head and ears in love with
her.
Added to her charms of face and
figure, she had a remarkable sweet
voice, and although it was not high
ly cultivated, il was not altogether
unframed. The consequence was
she was in great request at readings,
which, during the winter months,
she attended with commendable reg
ularity.
st one Of these entertainments
she had met one Arnold Carew, a
well-to-do farmers son, who lived
two miles from Munford. She had
been introduced to him there, and
he, like many another, had fallen in |
love with her.
OF all the men she had met she
liked him the hest, and not week |
prior to the advent of Mr. Cox as a
lodger at her mothers house, she
had as good as consented to be en-
gagged to him.
1t is unpleasant to pick holes in
character, and doubly |
to pull to pieces the dis
position of one who is in all exter-
nal things perfection. But the truth |
must be told-Clara Moore was q
terrible flirt and, like most flirts,
she seemed to have a total disregard |
for the feelings of her victims, She
would lead a man on to believe at |
least in the possibility of his ore day !
securing her affections (indeed, the |
very fact of woman tarrying in |
q mans society to listen to his love |
passages, is in itself an earnest of her
of his society, and |
then when it suited her caprice,
would throw him over and laugh at |
him..
Clara Moore had tried young Ar
mold Carew's patience to the utmost |
more chan once. Ay, scores of
times she had destroyed his peace of
mind by her pernicious fondness for
what she called a harmless flirta-
ton"
And we must give her credit for
the fact that her fiirtations were in
one sense harmless; there was no
vice about her. She never forgot
that selfrespeet which renders a wo-
man precious in the eyes of men.
When Arnold Carew won her con-
sent 10 be engaged TO him-for she
as good as promised him to be his
wife ''somc day" though she ex-
pressed herself in sufficiently indefi-
mite terms to admit of her escaping
from her promise if she pleased to
change her mind, without his being
able to affirm she had ever strictly
bound herself to him-he was well
satisfied. He felt he could trust
her; and even bear her flirting pro-
pensities with greater cquanimity
then he had hitherto been able to
do.
There were few evenings on which
Arnold Carcw failed to walk over
from his fathers farm and enjoy
pleasant stroll with the lady of his
love.
Happy evenings were they for
him. Through the day he looked
forward to them; they lightened
his toll and made his existence
much happier than it had ever been
He had a double incentive to work
1t was not self that he toiled for
only, now; he knew that he was
working for her!
Mr.. Cox had not been located in
Mrs. Moore's small though comfort
able apartments more than a fort
night before Clara's evening ram
bles became less frequent.
Clara had all along been very 81
lent as to the lodger; and at first it
never entered into Arnold Carew's
mind that that accounted in any
way for her less frequent appearance
at their usual rendezvous.
One evening, however, he ventur-
ed to complain, and CHANGED in his
temporary annoyance to say "Oh,
| suppose there is some attraction
about that heavy swell who is stay