The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-09-13
LOVE on A FARM
Are Won nv Aunt Dorcas 2,

ing a quilting bee that afternoon
and she had Just got the frame out
OF the way, the dishes washed up
and the apartment generally 'tidied
when there came a meek tap at the
door. and there in the merry April
twilight stood small figure in 8
gray travelling shawl, and holding
bag.
SSakes alive r said Mrs. Torrance
"who be you ?"
Il am Emily" said the, girl
please let NE in, for / am tired and
cold. I'VE walked all the way from
the station, and I've had nothing to
eat since noon"
swell, / neverl' said Mrs. Tor
rance. you're the city school
ma'am, amt you, as went out to
live with Cousin Shadrach? And
he's dead, and the money has gone
to the Baptist widows and orphans
fund You didn't make much by
that move, did you? And you've
come to us now. though we WASH
stylish enough for you before. Well,
come in, come In"
And Mrs. Torrance, who was es-
sentially a kind-hearted woman, al
belt she could not repress the sneer
that rose from her lips, moved the
low rocker to the fire and flung
another log on the andirons.
Cousin Shadrach had been the
family apple of discord ever since
they could remember. He was rich
he was eccentric, he was grabbed
He had shut the door in the face o.
his relations, until, towards the last
sick and feeble, he had signified his
desire that Emily Alden should
come and take care of him. And
Emily had gone.
There han been . spice Of jealousy
in the family as regarded Emily, fol
a long time. Emily had been looked
upon as proud and stuck up, be-
cause, instead of entering a factory
or learning the dress-maker trade
she had elected to be teacher. She
never visited Job Torrances family
until now-now that Cousin Shad'
rach bad willed his money to the
Baptist widows and orphans-hel
own mother was dead, and her step
father, a pompous old wholesale
grocer, objected to step-children, sc
that there seemed to be no other ha
ven OF refuge left her.
We could not blame Mrs. Tor
rance for momentary feeling of tn
umph. when Emily Alden came
thus to herdoorstone in the twilight
of that April day.
But she helped her off with hel
things, made a cup Of tea for her
and finally escorted her to little
room under the roof-tree, where th,
floor was covered by "a homemade
rag carpet, and the bed decorated
with a rainbow Jobs troubles
quilt, and you could look out Of the
window into = greening meadow
where a whippoorwill planted IL
melancholy refrain.
81 hope you'll sleep We'll" sale
Mrs. Torrance. I'VE eat breakfast a
five"
And then she went away.
Early as was the breakfast hour
Emily was awake at least an hou
before it-as if the tumultuous gle
of the robins and blue birds in tn
old orchard would permit any oa
to sleep. And as she lay with he
cheek against the pillow, watching
the rosy dawn light creep up th
wall, she heard the sound of voice
in the meadow below her easement
"What is she like, mother" sal,
job, Junior, who was milking th
COWS.
'Oh. she looks well enough,
Mrs. Torrance carelessly responded
Little and dark, with big shad,
ewes, and a real Torrance mouth
Doesn't talk great deal, and j
dressed shabby, as one might ex
pect."
"Poor thing" said Job, pityingly
"Well," said Mrs. Torrance, sharp
ly, Il can't say but what she deserve
all she got. Them Aldens AWAY.
were as proud as Lucifer"
You'll keep her, mother, c
course?"
Il supposeso, said Mrs. Torrance
Il don't suppose shes got anywher
else TO go to-"
There was no more delicious doz
ing for Emily now. She rose hun
riedly, dressed herself and cam
down stairs.
Aunt Dorcas," she said, as sh
encountered that lady frying har
and eggs over the kitchen fire, "wha
is there in this neighborhood for
woman to do 2"
"Eh?" said Mrs. Torrance in SUI
prise.
"To earn NV living, I mean" eS
plained Emily. us the distriC
school supplied with teacher"
Mrs. Torrance nodded as sh
placed the slices of fixing ham on
blue-edged plate, and arranged tn
eggs in golden spheres above
is there a factory hereabouts ?
pursued Emily.
Used to be" said Mrs. Torrance
"but they failed and it has bee
shut down for ten months"
''Do you know of any one VIII
wants a girl, asked the city cousir
Mrs. Torrance set the coffee pC
on the table, blew the horn for Joi
and then responded to her niece
query by counter question
"Why don't you stay here ?"
Because" said Emily with spiri
Il want to earn my own living
well, you can earn it here. can
you? | was calculating TO hire
girl in the spring. And if you
work honestly for it, I'll give yo
the six dollars a isonth 1 was goin
30 pay hired help"
Emily's face frightened.
Il should ike that, said sh
And Job came in, tall. aandsom
and flushed, his curls still we, iroi
the spring in which he had dippe
them. and a sprig of trailing arbutg
pinned into his coat, and spoke
frank welcome to the young ei
whom he had never seen.
&C. ra,c,,, Cl..lr,ol Go.Isr