The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-24
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pected himself of being more than
half in love with Miss B..rnes. Un-
doubtedly, there was something IN
her superb Surroundings that added
to her own charms and she SEEM
ed too, as entirely at home in them
as the flower that blossoms in the
rich. moist air of the hot-houses.
That velvet lawn, set with its fam
ing exotics and beds of flowers, with
the lofty porches and wide halls be-
hind it, the dimly lit drawing rooms,
and the dining room, with its gen.
erous side board--all the conscious
ness of ease and comfort and delight
of the senses about the place made
visiting Miss Barnes a very pleasant
way of passing time and then, more
over, as her father was prominent
man of affairs among the politicians
of the country, one met there people
who enlarged the mental horizon
and made man think for himself
and of himself.
Tonight, however, as he went
along, his mothers words gave him
llt.le thought, and it did occur to
him that ii was unwise to let him
self bt tcume so use1 to all this splen-
dor and luxury on venture; for,
after all, a girl Of such wealth and
fascination as Miss Barn,s had her
CHOKE from a crowd of lovers, of
whom he was but one and tue least
conspicuous.
just as these salutary reflections
stole through his mind his ear was
caught by the crying of child, and
he paused to look Into the window
of the cottage that he Was passing,
and to see woman hushiug little
child, whose face was now hidden
in her neck-a slender, da, kly-clad
woman, who moved here and there,
with the baby on her arm, and at
tended to the wants of a number Of
other children. while man sat at
the table, with his arms thrust out
straight before him and his head
fallen between them, in an attitude
of abject despair.
The woman's back was toward him
all the time; but something about
her reminded him of Nina Prem
| tlce.
Pretty much what | might ex-
pect, | SUPPOSE" groaned Harold,
IF | oheyed my mother. by
G-orgel' AS the woman half turned,
sweet, fair, sad face, and delicate
profile OF figure, Il believe it is Nj
Ma ~
Blu, its absurdity destroyed the
fancy, and he went Oh his way,
whlstling bar orstwo of the WAN
der.r." and would have been yer,
shortly with Miss Barnes, had he
rot been det,ined by discussion
with chance friend at corner (;
aud had not then stepped into d
pool of water, aud been Obliged to
hunt W. boutblack, the little scamp
ailerward keeping him waiting for
the change.
II declare said he to Nina, when
at last ne reached Miss Barnes par
lor, Il thought saw you married to
drunken laborer, as | came along
Tonight, with gang Of babies clam-
bering round"
What made you think him
drunken ?" asked Nina, with her
sweet seriousness.
oh the looks of him-the arms
on the table, the fallen head, unkept,
unshorn, you know, and all the
rest"
Il suppose" said Nina, that q
poor man whose wife lay dead in the
other room, might look much that
way"
Il believe it was youl" cried
Harold.
do 1 lock like it p she asked,
lightly. ''And have l dual existence,
to be here and there to?"
And then, as Harold glanced her
over, III her airy muslins and for
get me-nots, he smiled at the idea !;
anu she seemed al at once as differ.
ent from that woman and from ali
other women, a. ii she had stepped
out Of another star.
Yet, TOR all that. man does not
care 10 marry a woinan who Is DIT
ierent from all other women simply
to oblige his mother.
What are you two talking about?"
asked Miss Barnes, standing before
them just then, the picture Of a
Bacchanie, with her head bound
with currant leaves and her cluster
Ing curls like grape punches about
her dark and laughing lace.
Are you promising Nina that ycu
will come To Washington this VIII.
ter2 Nina Is to be with me there for
the holidays, you know. Ii you
should, swell my list OH New
Years"
And then she went dancing down
the ROOM, Tor the misty night had
driven ever, body within doors aud
waiter Was just bringing III "a tray
of juleps.
ny hen | was little confirmed
drunKard at the age ef ten l signed
the pledge" sand Miss Barnes, con-
veying the waiter to Harold. But
uiun know how nice iuleps were.
Now | am totally depraved. Here,
Mr.. Hartley. Nina It's quite as
immoral to drink ieInonaue with
straws as mint luleps- rne siu lies
altogether in the straws!"
1t depends On tie individual
whether there Is any sin about 1t, l
tnInk," said Nina. but love lem-
onade. A lemon se-ms io carry
cOoinrss Into the tropics"
Aud you don't Know why you
should burn your thruat-tbaI long,
white throat-oup with the oller
Get thee ~ = nunnery y
As the gay girl lifted her glowing
glass to The wax lights, Harold
whispered TO Nina:
Il don't believe the Bacehantes
used straws," and was astonished
tkat Nina did not laugh.
But that night the faces of the
two girls kept shining upon him out
OF the darkness ss he walked home.
The one, the self induipent. laugh