The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-12-06

the organ peeled form, then SANK 10
low sweet tones, aud died away III
silence.
The pink of her cheeks deepened
to a carnation AZ she listened, BREATH
iessiy.
Was il possible there could De
sounds like that on earth 2
When the music ceased, the merry
party Came down tile stairs. But
prue slill cat silent III the pew.
"Well, Prue," said Alice, have
yau fallen asleep? How diu you like
Mr.. IiainfoT1s playing
Pruc did mol answer; but there
was a CULVER about the sensitive
mouth, aud the blue eyes had grown
dark with emotion.
With ready tact, Owen Rainsford
said quickly:
Suppose we 20 and ask the sext-
ON for Il glass oil water. The church
Is quite too but.
Quietly he took n of her little
hands IN Ills, and placed II Ola his
arn. Something Iii the look oi
those sweet eyes raised 10 his and
urinInIng with tears made his heart
ueaI ~ IL had never dune before; aud
the touch oi Ills hand made Thrills 20
through shy, gentle little Prue.
That Was TIE ~be5lnnlng vi IL
From this time, scarcely a day
passed but Owen RaEnsford found
uis way to the Wentworth's. Cousin
Harriet noticed IL.
How could She nelp it? But then,
ne Was her SON Tulns must intimate
friend wllhal, a bright, talented
Young man, and of spotless reputl-
ton /; SO he was perfectly welcome.
The days aud weeks went 10y, and
Prueis Visit grew To an end. With
d pang she acknowledged 10 herself
that she was not half SO eager 10 re-
turn as she ought To be, when she
recolivcled how pauenuly her father
and lonely aunt Priscilla were walt
my her return.
Il am going away, to-morro@,
she said softly, to Owen RIln7iurd,
as they stood before the open gate,
when, almost Tor the first time, lney
we're alone together.
Going away
lie repeated it biankly, while his
face grew pale. Then lac suddenly
caught her 10 him.
"Prue, little Prue,' he said earn
cstly, Il can do nuthing witiiuu,
you. Day by DAY your face mas
grown unto nay heart, until every
note 1 play is tor you. Oniy prom
Use, some day, To love NE as dearly
as / love you"
A great wave of wonder and hap
piness swept over the girl, as she
listened To the passionate words, ~
different from am thing she had ev-
er heard.
"Prue," he said, looking down into
the beautiful eyes, Il am gong to
ask your father If he will some day
let me have you. Ii he says yes,
will you say ii too?"
Such IA lOs, faint reply came from
Pruel But it satisfied him.
Deacon Basselt was dumb with
establishment when Owen Rainsfurd
asked 10 marry his daughter.
1t could not be possible Why,
Prue had scarcely been away three
months.
In vain the yonng man pleaded
that he was willing To wait for years,
if Only he might be permitted to see
her in the meanwhile.
The deacon bitterly reprolched
himself for having permitted his
daughter to fall into the hands OF
the Phiiistines ; the latter being rep
resented by this sche.ning fortune
hunter.
OF course it was her money the
Young fellow wanted. The poSsibil-
ity that Rainsford might really be
in love did not enter into the faith
er's head.
How could he he in that short
time? In the most decisive aud
sweeping terms, therefore, he let the
Young man know that never again,
by word or deed, was he to attempt
to address his daughter.
But Owen Riinsford was not one
to be easily disposed of.
Until he beard from Prue's own
lips his fate, he would not consider
it decided, he said. Perhaps if Prue
had told her father that, witbal her
heart, she loved Rainsford, things
might have been different. But she
Was to- timid to acknowledge it in
the presence of his stern Indignation.
Sa, giIh trembling lips, she sad
food bye" Her lover took the
little hand in HE Tor the last time,
ard said:
Il will never forget you, Prue, and
if ever you send for mr, | will come
to you, though it should be to the
ends OF The earth
Then he went away.
Deacon BaSsett congratulated him
self that he had saved his daughter
so promptly, and inwardly resolved
that never again should she leave
his sight
The winter vas a hard one, that
year, and il seemed 10 tell Oh Prue's
delicate constitution. When the
spring would come she would be bet
ter, she said. But the spring came,
and still She seemed to droop.
Deacon Bfsssti's desire, meantime,
had been granted. With IA great
sigh of relief he closed Tie account
book, tjlted back his chair aud look
ed around the dusty room with graf
flied pride. ~ last he had accon-
plished the one great wish of his ex-
istence Prudence Bassett was a rich
woman.
At the end Of the year he would
leave the store forever, and devote
all his time to her for the remainder
of his life. He was not q misery
man; it was not for the mere money
alone that he had toiled all those
weary years early and late; it was
all for her; and now he had accom-
plished az last what he had under.
taken. Prue laed never have a wish
unqualified ifmoneye opld procure it.
So, with a tranquil sense o. ease,