The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-06-14

sklrtS OF DIS coat
who's Naomi ?" said Mr.. Payne,
addressing the moon. And what
would she have told me-"
He raised an old-fashionea brass
knocker hnng mt the door, aud rat
tied it briskly. The gaunt dog left
oil smelling and besa4 To bark.
Presently, a tall, thm woman, with
4 red pocket handkerchief tied on
her head. with kerosene lamp ia
her hand. opened the door
~Oh. she said, peering sharply at
him, you're the young man from
the city are you?"
With the initiative thus taken out
of his hands, Mr.. Payne could only
incline his head.
"All them traps your'n?" demand
ed the widow, abruptly
"Yes madam" Mr.. l~yne admit
tel.
~Peers to ne it's purity cheeky
of YOU. mister, to take it for granted
you'd be asked TO stay" said she.
Il thought, madam
I'm a talking now," said the
widow sharply. To begin right
straight at the beginning, we don't
know anything about YOU. You
NAV be a bank-burglar, or coun-
terieiter for all we know.
"My references.
"Yes. know, and them very ref
erences is most likely forged. But
| am willing tobe reasonable. How
old are you?'
And Mr.. Payne secretly wonder
ing if this was the way they man
aged things in Maine, answered
meekly
"Two-and-thirty"
ever been married before ?"
sharply questioned the widow.
Certainly not, madam | am
single man!' answered Mr.. Payne,
with a justifiable spark OF indigna-
ton in his manner.
ANY business ~ went on his cat
echist.
None, madam"
We'll, / like that" said the Wild
ow. with a scornful sniff. Like
your impudence. to come here and
own to such a disgrace as that! Ex-
pect to live on me, hey ?"
Madam ~ gasped Payne.
How dye suppose you are going
to keep my Naomi, even it l allow.
ed YOU 10 marry her? which /
shan't do, and don't you think it.
She don't care for you anyway.
When she heard you was coming
she made up hor mind to stop of at
Catley's Dam to get rid Of the sight
of you. There. so just pick UP
your traps and go back agin in the
way YOU come A! You wont never be
n son-in-law of mine =
But while Widow Back was volu-
bly, uttering these last glib sentences,
a faint light began TO dawn on Mr..
Payne's semi-obscured brain.
Il think. Mrs. Buck" said he,
that you must be laboring under a
misapprehension. My name is Per-
cival Pavne. ! am from Boston. |
was recommended here as an eligi-
bic boarding place, by Mr. Warden.
of 10 Peppermint Place.
Mrs. Buck nearly dropped her
We'll, | neyer." said she, instant
ly fiinging the door vide open.
please to walk in, sir. I'D send
the BOY out after your trunks and
things in half a minute. ! beg your
pardon, I'm sure, tor mistaking you
for Peleg briggs, from lowell, as
was coming here after nay daughter
Naomi She works in the Lowell
mill. Naomi does. 70 think how
eyer / could have made such blum I
der. Do walk in, sir -
And Mr.. Payne was promptly in /
troduced to q delightful little ''inte-
rior" OF reed carpet, round table
spread for tea, shaded lamplight, and /
a fire of logs, burning on an open .
hearth, to keep out the damp Of the .
summer evening.
After ten o'clock, when the weari- /
ed traveller was in bed, in a pretty 4
little room, where there was an eight
day clock in cherry-wood case, and .
a carpet made of woven rags. he
heard the opening and shutting of
doors below, the clear sound Of q
familiar voice-the voice of his
black-eyed travelling companion.
We'll, mother did he come" she
asked.
"Peleg didn't come, but n young
gentleman from the city came.
Aud don't you believe, | took him
or Peieg, and peppered away at
i'm well"
"Oh, mother, what Will ne think ?"
cried the softer young yoice.
81 asked his pardon, y said the old
lady, and he took it ali as n joke" "
And when Peleg briggs himself,
the next day, put in an appearance
be was summarily dismissed.
While Mr.. Percival Payne and the
fair Naomi were sitting by trout
pool in the cool woods below for
Naomi knew all about the haunts
and hooks OF the neighborhood, and
handled a lishing-pole most skillful-
y.
Mr.. PAYNE liked Mailzie Ford.
md stayed there all summer. And
IS there were several boarders in the
,ld stone house, Miss Naomi con-
,luded not to return to iactory-life,
Dut to stay and help with the house
work and when autuniG came she
VAS engaged.-to Mr.. Percival !
Payne.
The sweetest Wild flower in the
lorthern woods" he wrote to his
'riend Warden.
Warden went up 10 Mailzie Ford. /,
He was introduced TO Miss Naomi.
He agreed with his friend.
She's little jewel" said la..
You're a lucky fellow, Payne. L At !
didn't know when YOU wrote n,e ,
hat you were so well suited with !
accommodations here" ,
"T'hat | was suiting myself for
life interrupted Payne. But YOU
zee that such was the fact.
.