The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-04-12
A FEARFUL NIGHT.

OllC Vi ttlC lukoAl0 OAMCC "a CaAAACy
vania not long ago, and was mucl
impressed by the appearance of on
of the younger ladies present. Sh,
was not beautiful, but united tn
striking characteristics of a brilliant
fresh complexion, and a profusiol
of hair, white as snow, which wa
wound on the top of her head afte
the fashion of Madrozo's "Marquise,
belonging to Mrs. A. T. Stewart
She was very merry, q good talkez
and, / must confess, / contrived h
accupy the larger part of her atten
ton with the tendency toward mo
nopolizing the best which the mo
ment affords that ! am told is otter
observed by my familiars.
After bidding adieu to the ladies
/ turned to the obliging friend wht
had been my sponsor at these Incl
dental gaYities Of, and casually
remarked, after talking somewhat o
my new acquaintance
''By Jove what hair! It accents
her whole appearance. Wasn't shs
lucky to achieve it young ?"
My friend removed his cigar.
'That depends upon how you
look at it. l am inclined to think
taking things by and large, that she
was. doubt, however, if she
wouldn't say to-day that the price
was rather large. And it was a pret
ty big price. Do you like stories {
Pm minded to tell one, if you like
about the white hair you admire SC
much" ~
We went over to the hotel and
something like this my friend told
me:
"You have no idea, you city peo-
pie, the interest we country people
take in the courtships of young
folks. From the time Harry Wells
began to sadie up to Mamie Clausen
at church socials until their mar.
riage in the First Presbyterian
church the entire community gave
minute consideration to their af.
fairs. Mamie's father, John Clausen,
was and is now prominent COM
mission merchant, generally consid.
cred wealthy, and has always lived
at least like man of means. Ma
mie was pretty and dashing, a local
belle and a great fayorite. Harrys
people lived q few miles from town,
and they, too, were people of reputa-
ton in the county. Old Jack Wells
US a few times in the
Legislature and has accumulated in
one way and another a handsome
property.
"The marriage was III every way
a suitable one. Harry was educat-
ed at Princeton, and although he
had at one time the reputation of
being wild, he has sobered down,
and was at any rate such a frank,
manly young fellow that he was
forgiven any discretion.
As / say, the marriage was the oc-
casion of general rejoicing. Mamie's
father gave her an unusually good
send off, and the details were sent
far and wide through the State.
Harry had studied law, although he
didn't have much natural inclina-
tion for it, the old man thinking his
political experience might serve
Harry in that way, and had settled
down into q country notary, drawing
up deeds and doing up hack-work of
that sort. They lived about four
miles out Of town, and two miles
rom old Jacks. He had built them
! pretty modern cottage on q detach-
ID portion Of his farm. Harry had
ais Office, an ornamental little struc-
;ure. few rods from the house, and
here they lived as happy as two
birds. ~
Gradually Harry picked up busi-
hess, and finally through his father
he became trustee for the minor
heirs. They were an odd lot Of chill
lren, with q half-crazy mother and
40 end to coal mines and mining
Investments. It was Z good thing
Tor Harry, although it gave a natu-
ally lazy man some additional work.
The worst thing was that It obliged
him to 20 to Scranton now and then
ind leave Mamie. You may imag-
ne that there was . good deal of Wis
ting 1t the house Of TIVE such pop
liar young people, and that four
nile stretch Of road WAS generally
xept pretty warm. When Harry had
o eo xway Mamie would get IN her
phayet0n and drive 10 town. and
here was always some Of the yonng
people TO 20 ont and keep her COM
oany. Harry always insisted that
ihe mustn't stay alone. For 9 law
lbiding State We have . pretty rough
.lement in il, and, although We
haven't had much to complain Of
lere, there il . general sense Of nm
|asiuess.
One August afternoon Harry had
n unexpected summons to 60 to
Jcranton about : snitconnected with
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