The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-07-12

lar smile lowering about her own
sweet, sad lips. Kate remembered
that look afterward, and it set her
thinking.
"We are drifting into impossible
ties, Kate. | should never dream of
doing such a thing under any cir
cumstances and | fear that Philip
has no alternative but 10 forget this
unfortunate love"
(which he will never do said
Kate decidedly. Il know my
brother too we'll, Marian, to believe
that possible.
/ Aunt Mortimer was growing dis
consulate at the long absence of her
idolized nephew, while Kate finally
vowed that if he did not come she
would be forced to do something
desperate.
why don't you get married
then ?" queried her aunt Grossly.
"Pm sure you're old enough. Twen-
tv-three next birthday, remember" "
30. I'm not likely TO forget it, /"
answered Kate, lightly but that
don't trouble me half so much as
does the eligibility of all my suitors.
/ I've plenty of them, heaven knows /;
but YOU don't suppose I'd marry
one among the all, do you, Auntie 2"
NO don't snapped Mrs. Morti-
mer; / suppose you are going to
die an old maid"
Kate broke into ringing laugh.
LET us hope not, auntie; though
| it does look possible just now. But,
YOU see, there is only one of my ad-
mires-Colonel Milford-who pos
sesses any attraction for me at all.
And-of course" regretfully, Il
could not think of accepting him"
"Why couldn't you ?"
"For the same reason that Phil
cannot marry Mrs. Rose. You
would never allow me to become the
wife of a man whose name has been
dragged through the mire ofa d.
vorce court
.'Fildles,icksr' cried her aunt,
biting her lips, as she recognized Il
phrase which she was very fond OF
nsing in connection with Mrs. Rose.
II should think you had been in So
cietv long enough, Kate Randall, to
know how the world judges between
men and women. Colonel Milford
is the finest catch of the season,
and | shall feel proud of you II you
are sensible enough to secure HIM.
Thanks, dear auntie but don't
waste your breath in pleading Colo
mel Milford's cause. | have not
the slightest intention of securing
him. So far from believing him en-
titled to more consideration than
Mrs. Rose is from society, | ain
thoroughly convinced that he is an
unprincipled man, whose wife,
doubtless. had excellent reasons for
leaving him.
Kate Randall, you shock me-"
Mrs. Mortimer's invariable refuge
whenever her niece led where she
did not wish to follow.
But one lovely autumn afternoon
that worthy lady's household was
thrown into a state of violent COM
motion by an event which settled
the ripples OF her ambitious vanity,
and called out, for time at least,
all that was best in her too superb
cial nature.
Colonel Milford and Kate We're re-
turning from a horseback ride, when
Just as they neared the gate the col
onel's horse SHE'D and threw him
with fearful force against one OF the
iron posts. Bleeding and insensi-
bic, he was tenderly carried into the
hospitable mansion. which he was
never to leave again until he joined
the 'innumerable throng" of travel
ers Of the silent city of the dead.
Marian, Marian Marianw
This was the continual cry of the
stricken man rs he lay wildly toss
ing in delirium.
"He has forgotten your very exist
ence, Kate" said Mrs. Montimer,
wonderingly, as she listened to his
rawlings.
"Yes," replied Kate, quietly ''he
is thinking of his wife" And, as
though understanding instinctively
the drift of his incoherent mutter-
ings she despatched hasty note to
Mrs. Rose.
Aunt Mortimer was too busy
caring for the comfort OF her woun
ded guest to find time just then 10 be
shocked at her niece's action.
But her worldly eyes filled up with
real womanly tears as she saw Mar
ian Rose bend gently over his couch
and soothe his sufferings with the
touch cf q pitying angel.
Colonel Milford died, but not De.
fore Mrs. Mortimer had heard from
his own lips the story of two lives
his own and an's-which made
her VOW within herself never to set
up her worldly judgement between
man and woman:
Kate. suspecting the truth, had,
that fatal afternoon. told the story
of Philips love, and made the appeal
to him which Marian was too proud
to make for herself. Whether,
had his life been spared, he would
have been generous enough to yield
to it, and permit his former wife to
enjoy that happiness which she
deserved, she could not tell.
But now, with the touching elo-
quence of a dying man, he told how
Mariap's pure, brave life had been
wrecked by his base conduct, and
how she had chung to him with
wifely fidelity until his unprincipel
course had made marriage bat
mockery. Then, only, she renoun-
ced him, refusing longer TO bear his
dishonorable name; and proudly
refusing, too. u claim any portion oi
the wealth which might 80 easily
been hers. He had followed her 10
her new home with the base intention
of prosecuting her still further, but
had been partially diverted from his
purpose bv The brilliant prospect
which h,- thought he had of winning
an heiress in the person of Kate
Randall.
Marian is as worthy of your com
fdeup,. ~ am unworthy of II = he