The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-01-11

life | lead here"
Yes; | don't wonder at that,
is altogether to dull
80, no, not that But it is so ut.
tcrly useless, and there is so much
to be done and so much that ladies
can do better than any one else
But you are not useless here
You have your Sunday class, and
the choir to train, and your poor
folks to look after. / think you are
wonderfully useful for so young a
girl"
Yes; tha. is just it; / am too
young. l require guidance, Wal
ter, and | cannot get it from mann
ma."
"Clarel'
Il mean, that although mamma
is as kind as possible to the poor,
and gives them food and wine and
clothes too, yet personally, she takes
very little interest in them, and
cannot get her to come with me on
my rounds. 1t would be so much
better if if she would, because, you
see, some of the people do not pay
so much attention to me when /
give them advice, Just because | am
young and have no one to support
me-"
II can imagine that il is difficult
for you, certainly. But is there no
one else you can get to join with
YOU? ?"
spread over her face, "and that is
why | am so much improved, as
you say | am. my mind is quite
at ease: for now / sec my duty
quite clearly. | thought mamma
would speak to you all about it to-
morrow; but | should like TO tell
you first, for she is very much
against it, and / count upon your
help to bring her around. | think
it providential that you have come
down here at this time, OF your own
accord, too! | am engaged to be mar
ried to young gentleman who will
be able TO help me, and who will take
me to a place where there is far more
need of me than there is here; for
do you know, Walter, though / have
been working hard with all my
heart all these months, | do not see
one bit Of improvement amongst the
people"
Engaged to be married, Clare! !!
Who is the gentleman? You sly
pussl And so it is first love which
has improved you?D
20 no, Walter. I am not in
love- as you suppose; and neither
is he; but We esteem and like each
other; and we can do more for these
poor people if we were married than
if we were single. Hesays he needs
a lady to help him.
"But, who is he, dear? You have
not told me that
'He is a cousin Of Mrs. Monk
tons, and is a very hard working
clergyman III q large and neglected
mining village. His name is Mohat.
He was here a good deal last year at
the time of the revival meetings,
and | got to-krew him then, but
without any idea of marrying him
that has only been arranged few
days ago."
"You take away my breath, Clare.
That is the very last kind of mar
riage | should have expected 4 girl
ike YOU to make"
"Ah, because You thought me
vain and frivilous. But, dear Wal
ter, promise me that you will talk
to my dear mother, and make her
see what a noble and useful life is
waiting for me-"
"A noble and useful enough life,
Care. But before | can make any
promise, | must think it over. |
am not prepared to give my sister
up to the first man that asks for
her. Tell me about Mr.. Moffat.
What is he like? Is he young? And
has he private means that he thinks
OF a wife like you?"
Il do not know whether he is very
rich or not; | never thought of ask
ing him. Bat we should not want
to be very sich: because in the life
we have planned, we should have
no time for visiting or going much
into society and you know, Walter,
l have never been SO fond of going
to balls and parties as some girls
are"
We'll, Clare, III sleep on it, as
the saying goes; and tomorrow |
will haye a talk with you again.
Be sure that will do my best for
your happiness. And now let us
say good night.
Next morning Clare came early
in the breakfast room but her
brother evinccd no corresponding
activity; and when he did make
his appearance the presence of her
mother prevented all renewal
of their last evenings converse
ton. Nor was any private inter-
view possible until far on in the af-
ternooii.
II thought mamma was never
going to leave us alone to-day,
Walter. And vet, how bad OF me
to talk in that way; for of course
she is as glad to be with you as l
am. Poor mother"
"Yes, Clare-pcor mother: You
are preparing q bitter pill for her to
swallow. How do YOU think she
will like you burying yourself alive
in a dirty, smoky mining village?"
20, then, dearest of old boys, you
have come around to my way of
| felt sure You would. |
You lead such a busy, useful life |
yourself that | knew YOU would |
my feelings !"
stop little, Clare. Not quite |
50 fast. / certainly desire to see
yon happy. and l truly believe a
well assorted marriage is the hap
piest state on earth, but
20. no butts, Walterw
"You must hear me out. Before |
| can speak to my mother with any |
effect must see Mr.. Moffat. How
.an l urge the advantages of a mar
rage with man / have never seen