The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-02-07

age, with flap OF her handkerchie
in the direction of a particularly ag
gressive blue fly. That's just wher
I'm agoin' myself"
"Do you know anything of tn
city ?" asked the western lady. lit
tie eagerly.
mo more than tom cat does O
Latin grammar" answered Mis-
Bovage, more emphatically than el
/. egantly. But, there, any body as ha
a tongue in her head and the ful
use OF her limbs needp't be at an,
loss, | guess.
DO you know where the Stanwi,
Hall is ?" asked the stranger, sill
with the same wi.tiul look upon he
face.
We'll, | declare' said Miss Bow
age, 1t does beat all Just where
am a-goin' myself"
The little woman put aside he
blue veil, and looked pleadingly il
Mss Bovage's full moon face.
"OLr' she cried, involuntarily
Il am in such a need of a friend
and you look good and true hearted
as if you might be trusted. May
tell you my story? May l depent
on you to help and direct me a little
when We get TO the great, cruel, noisy
city? ?"
"Try me-" said Belinda Bovage
with emphasis. Give me show
that's all | don't know you from
Adam, but if can help you,
will" ;"
Il am going there to meet a gen
tleman." said the lady lowering hel
voice
$50 be /, said Miss Belinda, Will,
the tip of her hose turned deel
mahogany color-her especial wa,
of blushing.
He was engaged to my daugh
ter" said the western stranger.
There the parallels ceased. Mis-.
Bovage rubbed her nose and chewet
a peppermint drop and stared yer,
hard at her companion.
My darling was not strong enough
to come OH by herself" said the la
dy. There she sits on the opposit.
side of the car. She is very delicate
with hard work in school teaching
and Western malaria ia--and When
she heard that her lover had delib
erately engaged himself to another
lady, who had little money she
fairly broke down. Take me to the
east, mother she said. Let me sc.
him face to face, and | know he will
be true to me-"
"Humph,' said Miss Bovage
thinking of the many perfection o1
Lawyer Fox. "lf | had such pool
example of a lover as that, I'd let
him 60 and sing, o, be JOYFUL to
get rid of him."
"Ah, but she loves him" said the
western woman, simply.
Il don't see but that makes mat.
tiers worse STILL" said Mass Boyagt
with sniff.
$50 telegraphed him to meet me
at Albany" said the woman. II told
him | only wished to speak to him
for FIVE minutes. Of course, can.
not compel him to be true to bis
word-but it is one last chance fol-
Matte"
He must be mean scampr
said Miss Bovage, putting another
peppermint drop into her mouth.
But it amt none of my business,
except that I'll give you a helping
hand where | can. seeing you're a
stranger on this side of the cont
nent."
And when the train steamed into
the dark depot at Albany, Miss Bow.
age beckoned to a hackman, and in
vited the stranger-whose name she
had BY this time ascertained to be
Gildersleeve, and her pale little
daughter, to take seat with her.
To Stanwix Hall" she said.
Bnt at this moment portly form
casting its very substantial form
across the hack door-Lawyer Fox's
own.
MY own Belinda" said he, in
dep bass tones of unutterahle en-"
ton, do YOU suppose that would
allow you-"
w by" shrieked cut Matte Gil
dtrsletve, arousing herself into sud
den animation. ''It's Gustavus, as
iivel Mother, look ?"
"Gustavus, as | liver' cried the
pale little widow, coloring a rosy
pink.
''Eh ?" said Miss Bovage, turning
quickly from mother to daughter
"ls this the man who Tilted you ?"
LET him deny it if he can," said
Mrs. Gildersleeve, not without GER
tain dignity.
Then I'm sure you requite vel
come to him." said the x-milliner.
Il don't want no second handed
lover"
"Gustavus I! Oh, Gustavus!" pite-
ously appealed the teacher. you do
love me still Only say that you
love me a little!'
Il thought we had put an effect
ual end to this boy and girl. nom
sense" said Lawyer Fox, turning all
sorts of colors. Il telegraphed for
you not to come J"
But we never got your telegram, "
walled Mrs. Gildersleeve, wringine
her hands.
Miss Bovage glanced at her watch.
"Hum-ha!" said she. Ten mi
nutes of three. Well, ladies, I'm
glad you've found the right man at
last, and | only hope you'll nail him
down TO his promise. AS for me. if
| step around spry, can catch the
back express and be in Barleytown
before the Widow Pennypick has
taken down my sign. For every
body is happier for being busy and
! am going back INTO trade again.
OF course, folks will talk but lah |.
they'll do that anyhow! Good after
noon, Lawyer Fox. If you have
any business arrangements to con-
clude with me, refer you to Judge
Bartlett of Barleytown."
And SO Miss Bovage vanished
from the scene ''in maiden mediia-
4