The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-02-01
WHICH WAS THE FOOL.


Use of snow In the air, and SIX
that was clogding over. The bar
branches of the trees swayed an
writhed savageiy ; occasionally IN
tie showers Of dry, dead leaves, tina
were not yet sodden and decayeC
hurrIed up and down and tn
roar of the fire in the chimney con
pleted the outside picture of dul
autumn afternoon.
In Miss Miners sitting room
however, everything was as coz.
and delightful as could be desired
with the warm crimson lamberquin
with their heavy cords and tassels
and the carpet to match in tints
any the furniture of light gray dam
ask, pulled with crimson, and the
gray and gold wall paper
and the pretty knick-knacks her
and there that furnished the room
in such admirable taste. And Het
tic Miner, sitting befoIe the oper
grate-stove fire, her black silk skir
turned carefully back over her lap
and her substantially made pebble.
goat boots resting comfortably OF
the fender.
An elderly woman-i0 odd-witl
u sharp, shrewd face and bright
little eyes and a resolute look around
her mouth. A homely, out spoken
woman, who was proud to say she
was never in love, who lived in lux
ury. although on a small scale, and
who had $1,000 in Government
bonds to leave her relations when
she died and in all the world she
had but two relatives, Mrs. Girls.
ford Bari. her married sister, and
Mr.. Parker Dollingbv, her half
brother, who, besides being inordi-
nately Jealous that old Simon Car
men had left Hetty his fortune, Just
because she happened to befriend
him in his poor, ante-mining days,
were very much given to toadying
her and writing afiectionate letters
to her, and loading her with pres
ents, and forcing invitations on her
all of which Miss Miner accepted in
a matter-of fact way. and in return
did exactly as she pleased.
This especial afternoon, as she sat
meditatively before the fire, she sud
denly broke the stiffness, with an
energy of speech that made the
young girl reading in the bay-win-
dow, nearly concealed By the cur
tains, look startedly up from her
book:
"Ellice, you're a fool !"
Evidently, Ellice Dunning had
not lived five wears as companion
and general attendant to Miss Min
er in vain for she manifested no
surprise at Thorough speech, beyond
the brief little startled look in her
soft winev-brown eyes.
She closed her book and came
out into the room, a little flush on
her face.
do you think SO, Miss Miner ?"
Most certainly think SO. or
should not have said SO. You are
a fool, Ellice Dunning, and | hate TO
see you throw yourself away so fool
ishly. Do show your commmon
sense. il you've got any and let that
young iackanapse of doctor go.
You are better off without him.
I'd give him up"
| couldn't give him up, Miss
Miner, i love him too well.
Miss Miner looked sarcastically at
Ellice's sweet flushed face, and gave
sniff of contempt.
What nonsense You love him
too well. Love indeed It's all alb
surdity. | never was in love in all
my life"
Ellice dropped hsr headin a pref
ty, little confused way.
''I-can't help that, Miss Miner
] love Frank and he loves me. We
would be perfectly miserable if we
were parted. Please don't tell me
must give him up. Indeed. it is
impossible. We are engaged to be
married just as soon as he comes
back from his visit home"
Miss Miner dropped her feet
from the polished silver bar 10 the
tiled hearth with resonant bang
rs she Jumped up, Indignantly.
Engaged TO be married to DIR. Ole
win J Did / ever Well Ellice
Dunning-very well / am going
TO New York on a visit by the Clio
train, and III be home on Thursday.
When ! come back, cont let me
find YOU here you ungratefrl little
wretch-you.
Miss Miner. You don't mean
to-turn me away
That is just what / mean. |
have told You time and again, |
didn't approve of men-beaux and
love-making, and i won't have it
where / am. You can take your
choice-me or Dr.. Olevin. III
give YOU just five minutes"
II don't want five minutes for a
choice Miss Miner" she said proud
ly.
"fou have been very good to me.
and | cannot forget your kindness.
and think ! have done my duty
TO you. But noihing-no one
could come between me and DIR. Oh
evin."
"All right then. Don't let me see
you here when | come back-that's
all.n
And then Ellice went up TO Miss
Miners room and packed the red
Russia satchel. dropping few tears
rs she folded the garments Miss
Miner would require.
"Ill 90 to Mrs. Carisford Carl
Miss Miner decided. as she sat in
the city bound express, in the early /
dusk of the November evening.
~Cametia thinks all the world of
me. Her daughter would not act
so--- The idea actually prefering
"a penniless young doctor. with
nasty black mustache
Ito mc. After al I've done fr her
toe.
And tlien Miss Miner leais.d
back very conteht';iv Ia her seat.
|atisiied that sh, .a.l a,ar l.sf
Ehole duty bv herself, and Eliices
punnins TOO.
1t was just $50 o'clock when tile
|lrea hack deposited her at ihedayr