The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-03-29


-Four bay horses dashed in fine
style up 20 the door Of the inn, pull
\ inr behind them the gorgeous red
Stage. which swayed and reeled and
rocked in fashion that made the
more nervous passengers Vince and
shiver.
Hollister threw his reins TO the
stable boy and went into the house.
He was blnfi. big-hsted fellow
rather rough looking in his wolf SKIN
overcoat and big-visored cap. No
body ever doubted the kindness OF
heart under that unpublished exterI-
or, however.
Now. rs he tramped through the
big hall on his way TO the bar room,
he paused at the sight of a female
figure in one dim corner, with her
face dropped into both hands, and
her whole attitude one OF sorrow
and despair. The figure was slen-
der and young, and clad in we'll
worn gray suit, and the hands on
which the brown head was bowed
were white and delicate.
II beg your pardon, ms'am. Are
YOU in troable Can ] he OF service
10 Won ?"
Then the girl looked up, and Hol-
lister recognized the daugter oi
man who had been at the Inn ior
several weeks man whom the
driver had no hesitation in CHASING
rs an adventurer and blackleg.
He had pitied the girl on that
night when he had first seen her
when he had brought them out from
the city !: for she seemed a lady with
her quiet ways and her wistful eyes,
and not at all fitted for life OF Bo-
bemianism, such as her father was
leading her. =,
She looked up, and meeting the
expression of kindliness in Frank
HOLSTERS clear gray eyes, she
struggled a moment for selt-controi,
and then burst into tears.
Frank squared his broad shoul-
ders before her in order TO screen
her from the curious gaze of any one
who might pass through the hall
and waited In silence.
Presently the girl raised her bead
once more, looked a. him with tear
stained eyes, and said, with qaiyering
lips Il am in trouble, sir. Yours
are the only friendly words ! have
heard to-day. My father" here
crimson flush dyed her fair brow
my father has left me where he
has gone | do not know. | am ab-
solutely alone among strangers, and
our bill here is unpaid"
For one instant Frank looked at
her doubtfully, and then, with
sudden rush OF self-shame and chiv-
airy. his hand went into his breast
pocket and drew therefrom a big
leather book.
The girl made an indignant ges-
ture and looked at him with WIDE
opened, naughty eyes.
"Sir / scarcely expected such
an insult"
Whereupon Frank began a hur-
ried indignant reputation OF her IN
sinuation. He insult a woman ?
He had the dearest mother and the
sweetest little sister in the world,
away off there in Eastern States.
praying for him
P'raps | amt so dainty in my
choice of words, as ! might be, lady.
| am a rough fellow at the best ;;
but | am dreadful soft-hearted
where woman is concerned. If
YOU choose to look on me as friend
and straight man-one that never
goes back on his word, you shant
be disappointed. Now then how
can serve You ?"
The big pocket-book had disap-
pcared and the girls face soitened at
his rough gallantry. She extended
one little hand frankly
Forgive me, sir !; ! know that you
are all you seem. cannot accept
any pecuniary aid from you or any
one. The landlord has offered me
A situation as table girl. ! shall ac-
cept it and in that way pay our in
debtedness. Thanks for your kind
ness. / shall not forget it,"
With a little flirting smile she
slipped past him and went swiftly
up the dark stairway, while the. dri-
yer proceeded to the bar-room, where
the men were talking, laughing,
smoking and drinking.
Here Hollister listened to de-
tailed account Of the disappearance
of Colonel Pressy, interspersed with
various comments concerning him
and his daughter Cora.
Pressy was stigmatized as a cheat,
a villain, and sponge-anything
and everything they called him but
an honest man. There were some
expressions of sympathy for the
girl, but il was easy to see she was
not liked. Miss Pressy had held
herself too far aloof from every one
in the house to win the appreciation
of this free and easy western COM
munity.
One loutish-looking fellow lean
ing against the bar rail, remarked,
with sneering grin That gals a
mighty stuck up little critter-reck-
on she won't put on any more airs
with me !" and be sent stream Of
tobacco juice in very skillful man
ner straight into the mouth of a
spittoon which occupied the centre
of the room.
Hollister. who had been silent
listener until now, crossed leisurely
to this marksman, and, striking
him light blow upon the shout
der, said, EVENLY and distinctly:
Look here, Jerry, you don't want
To talk any more like that about
Miss Pressyn
"Goin't to marry her, Frank ?"
Il except to-" replied Frank cool
~, as he turned to select cigar
from the case.
There We're no more insinustions
against Cora Pressy in his hearing.