The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-07-05

ANA SnOulu Ue great utlreSS
only my great uncle had succeede,
in establishing his claim on the flat
lands of Boston!"
While Alma surveyed her dimple,
face in the quaint oval mirror abov
the wooden mantel.
"Now, girls, don't go to gettin,
excited" said she. ''or you'll be a
wrinkled and old-looking as th,
wiches in Macbeth If | win ,
husband it shall be through my owl
personal attractions. I'm not gen
ius like Frances there, nor a scheme
like Polly, but I'll wager my moss
agate bre,, stpin against anythin:
YOU please TO mention that I'm mar
ried the first of the three"
And she complacently fastendel
spray of the glossy black-greer
leaves into her bright brown hair.
Now" she said, with a smil,
which revealed teeth like secd-pearls
81 wonder-I do wonder-wio o i,
going to be our Valentine ?"
rs that the reason, said Mary
suddenly, that you have changed
your room to the front of the house
Almal Alma And you talk of my
being a schemerw
"All is fair in love and war, said
Alma, with a merry nod of the head
"and | like prospect of the road a:
well as any one"
Mary Wallace bit her lip, inward
" resolving not to be circumvented
Ten minutes afterward she went
out into the kitchen where Aunt
Phoebe was stirring up wafiies fol
tea.
"Is your cold better, auntie dear?'
she asked.
'Well, its only $685." groaned
the old lady, who was one of the
pessimists of the world. And
there's a dreadful stitch IN my side
whenever / go to bend over"
"Poor aunty !" cooed Mary. III
tell you what you must do-lie in
bed comfortably tomorrow morn.
ing, and let me get up and see to
things"
Aunt Phoebe viewed her niece
through her spectacle glasses with
unfeigned surprise. What had come
to Mary all of a sudden to make her
so affectionate and self-sacrificing
"Well,' said she, II don't know but
it would be a sort of rest for me, just
for once in way"
And Mary went back to the sit
ting-room, quietly determining TO be
the very first one up in the house
the next morning.
And if / should be opening the
window-shutters of the kitchen Just
at sunrise, she thought, "and Mr..
Murray should come down the road
on that superb white horse Of his to
get the early train, it would be SO
delightful to be his Valentine, and
Alma would be so furious y
Girls. croaked Aunt Phoebe,
putting her ay-puffed head into
the room, Il forgot to tell you old
Miss Peppercorn's folks have been
here for watchers, and promised
'em that one of you should 90 there
end set up tonight,
Good gracious mel | hope it's
nothing catching" said Alma, with
a shiver.
Il shan't go" said Mary, petu-
lantly. People have no business
to be sick if they can't afford to hire
proper attendance |"
"And it's st. Valentines eve. too"
said Alma. Besides, | never could
sit up with sick people-it makes
such dreadful blister-colored circles
around ones eyes !"
But / promised" said Aunt
Phoebe, looking helplessly from one
to the other. And Frances can't
go because of the telegraph office,
and"
''I1l go. Aunt Phoebe" said Fran
ces. quietly. "Old Miss Peppercorn
has no friends, and | may as well
try to be OF some use in the world"
Frances thinks that she may be
a desolate old maid herself some
day." said Alma. maliciously.
Il think it extremely probable
admitted Frances, good-humoredly;
'and then, perhaps, l may need
some one 20 care for me"
well, it won't be me-" said Mary.
Il do hate sickness and sick people,
if they are old and ugly
like Miss Peppercorn."
And she gave her golden tresses a
toss, as if she believed
herself to be gifted with eternal
youth.
Just when Mary and Alma were
nesting down among their pillows
with the sprigs of mistletoe hanging
over their heads. to dream of love
and lovers in the frozen starlight OF
the winter night, Frances Purple,
in one Of Aunt Ph9be's
gray linsey cloaks, was gliding across
the snowy lanes to the little one
storied farmhouse where poor old
Hepsebah Peppercorn lay breathing
her life away.
All night long she kept her sad
vigil and when the poor old woman
died it was Frances Puppies gentle
arm that supported her head
Frances PurLle's sweet voice that
whispered words of hope and sacred
cheer into her benumbed ear.
And then she closed the glazing
eyes with all sister of mercy's ten
derness, and stood looking down
upon the small, withered form an
instant ere she called the attend
ants.
''Sbe is gone homew she said to
herself. "All her weary pilgrimage
is ended y
And, for a moment only, Frances
almost enyied the dead woman.
Going back across the fields, with
the red streak of sunshine beginning
to lift the gray banners Of the eastern
sky, there was a strange, sweet peace
in her face.
81 may lead a lonely life" she
told herself f; "but it need not neccs-
sarily be a useless one"
Jus. where they had gathered the
M ;cf lafor 4ba n,ulf L1foro cho r,oln..-