The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-03
MIR. LARKsPUR's ROMANCE.

Mr.. Larkspur was out in his or
chard, gathering apples for cider
making. The trees were weighed
down with their heavy fruitage, and
about their sturdy trunks the clover
all dappled with pink, was blowing
in purple waves
Mr.. Larkspur's orchard was ample
and prolific; his fields, pastures
gardens all thriving and lHxuriant
his worldly possessions plentiful
enough. Nevertheless Mr.. Larkspur
though prone. as usual thing, &c
bear a thankful heart and a cheerful
countenance. was at this time not al
all bright of visage or merry OF
spirit.
Lifting his head from a half-bushel
basket of garnet and gold fruit, he
could see betwern great, lazily-lean-
ing tree trunks. and across grassy
tame, the prettv bit of Il cottage be
longing Ia his nearest nelghbnr, Miss
knwena Davis, tucted in amidst
~ugaf-maples and silver leaved pop
lar like e brown chocolate drop in
firing" paper. And Mr.. Larkspur,
thinking of Miss Rpwena, sighed
They were only neighhors, now.
There had been time when they
were good friends-remarkahly good
friends. But that was before a GER
tain obnoxious Captain Skaggs had
come 10 Baxter's Cross Roads be-
fore Mr.. I.arkspur had said unkind
things on his account to Miss Row
ena. and she had said unkind things
To him before their erowning bat
tie, wherein he had bitterly observ-
ed that she was rather more of a CO.
quette than became her years. and
she had retorted, with hasty inele-
gance, that as far as years were con-
cerned. pot should rot call kettle
black.
And from that point matters had
stood stock still until the previous
Sunday at church, from which time
Mr. Larkspur began to think he had
some reason for suspectng that Miss
Rowena was repenting of her folly
and obstinacy. He gathered the
idea from trihes-a half glance,
quickly withdrawn a faint, peach
bloomy blush; ard. now he came to
think of it. she had fingered little
Just outside the gate after meeting,
where he might easily have joined
her, as she, perhaps, wished to give
him the opportunity of doing.
He regretted now that he had not
done So, instead of poking off with
Mrs. Deacon Cottonwood, and listen
ing to the interesting history of the
deacon's five biles."
Mr.. Larkspur sighed again as his
eve roamed over Miss Rowenas
pretty domain and down to her
blackberry patch just the other side
of the lane-a thicket of tangled,
trailing bushes. with tufts of wild.
rank growing grass waving high, like
plumes and there it rested, for
there he beheld Miss Rowena's pink
gingham sun bonnet just above a
feathery bunch of grass, looking
like a big pink flower growing
there.
Ii wouldn't be very hard to step
across the lane and speak to her
There was no use keeping up fool
i>h quarrel some one had TO speak
first, and
Without giving himself time to
hack down from his purpose, Mr..
Larkspur scaled the fence and cress
ed the lane. He was half inclined
To run away again when he got with
in -,raking distance for what ifshe
had taken fresh ntiefse al bis having
let Zip the opportunity of making
NJ she had given him. and scorn his
tardv overiuree
However, he encouraged himself
10y selecting a position where a flour
ishiDg wild grapevine, clanbering
into hickory sapling at the edge of
the field could screen him little,
and break the force If scnrnful looks !
aud sharp words, should such be his
portion.
His heart i,lted up and down !
nervously at sight of that bonnet, |
with it deep cape and full frill, and |
Of the light linen sacque below /;
even the well known striped calico
apron dimly seen under the dropping
grass and vine sprays.
The back of the bonnie. was to-
ward him. end tin bucket stood |
close beside her, half full of the pur- |
pie ripe berries.
A nice afternoon. Miss Ena.
said Mr.. Larkspur, experimen-
tally.
But Miss Rowena was either too
deeply absorbed to hear, or was not |
prepared to meet any advances, for
the sun-bonnet gave no sign of turn
ing in his direction. But determin-
ed not to be too easily discouraged. /
now that he had made beginning. |
Mr. Larkspur hravely elevated his |
roice and proceeded
Right smart Of blackberries this
rear. amt there p
Still no word, and enlv slight
nod of the bonnet rewarded him.
"Sulky," said Mr.. Larkspur to
himself. "She's mad about Sunday.
Bein' as l Was tn blame then, I'll go
.head. | say. Miss Ro?"
A very faint melton Of the bonnet
"Weuse to be good friends. didn't
sc, Ro ?"