The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-07-23
thing. Harry. So don't make a pre-.

Susie spoke half in fun, but still
there was ring of truth in what
she said. Harry certainly had q
two sided character. He could be
verv serious, and he could be very
merry. Had she not seen it with
her own eyes?
"Then. Susy, l will at once say
what wan !, and. as you are bound
in honor to give it to me, you may
as well pay your debts at once. |
claim kiss from you as my pay Tor
well doing"
Susy could hardly believe the ey-
lidence of her ears.
A kiss, the saucy, audacious fel-
lowl For an instant she was indig-
nant. Then her woman's wit came
to the rescue, and the angry flash
died out of her eyes.
II will not deny that | promised
you reward, Cousin Harry" she
said demurely. "but as / did not set
any specified time in which to pay
it, l shall certainly keep you my
creditor for while.
"Then shall demand interest, as
well as principal, when it is paid"
81 have no doubi | shall find you
as unrelenting as you are surprising.
You are really growing to be both a
perplexing and interesting study.
Variety is the spice of life,' ac-
cording to the proverb.
"Well, here We are at home, so we
must postpone our conversation un-
til tomorrow"
"Please have something kind to
say 10 me when tomorrow comes,
Cousin Susy. ! don't like to be
called a perplexing study.
Then don't deserve it.
Goodnight, Susy." And Harry
held out his hand.
But Susy did not take it. This
new Harry must be kept at a dis
tance
Goodnight" she said, disappear
ing up the dimly-lighted stairway.
Harry looked after her with
smile lowering about his lips.
What little darling she is" he
thought, land how neatly she got
out of giving me kiss But III
have it yet. 1t will be all the sweet
er for the difficulty of getting it."
But after this Susy's manner
changed. Instead of treating Harry
with the sisterly frankness and free
dom which had heretofore charac-
terized their intercourse, she became
as shy as a wood thrush.
Harry was rueful enough at the
change. Susy seemed to him the
beau ideal of everything that was
good and lovely, and he feared that
be had offended her irrevocably.
Had he been better skilled in the
workings Of a weman's heart ne
might have drawn a different infer
ence from her resolute avoidance of
his society.
Time fed away on rapid wings,
and at last brought the day of Har-
RVS departure.
He nc longer wore the pale, list
less look which had characterized
him when he first came; but was as
ruddy and sicoag looking as the ver-
lest country lad in the neighbor-
hood and he looked handsomer
than ever when he sought Susy to
give her goodbye.
He found her in a rustic summer
house, which was her tavOrite resort
when she wished either to read or
write or to be alone with her
thoughts.
There was a slight flush about her
eyes, which showed that tears had
been making an unwonted visit to
them.
But she forced a bright smile
when she saw Harry.
He put out his hand, and with
the parting hand-clasp which he
gave to her cold little fingers, said /:
Goodbye, Cousin Susy, and try
to forgive me for the offense which
has made ne such a tobooed sinner
in your eyes of late.
Please look upon it as a jest
which shall not be again referred to. !
For if | have one wish dominant
above all others in my mind, it is
that / may live pleasantly in your
remembrance"
IL shall never do anything but
think kindly of you, Cousin Harry"
said Susy.
Had Harry been sufficiently mas
ter of his own emotions to study Su
sy's face, he would have noticed that
a suspicious quiver threatened the
of the forced smile up
on her lips, and that tears were just |
ready to overflow their fringed boun-
diaries.
But with this cold, formal good |
bye he expected to take his sole
leave of her. So he turned and
walked away.
When the gate changed to, and Su-
sy felt sure that he had gone, she
had no longer need for self-posses-
sion. and she threw herself forward
and and covered her face with her
hands, moaning:
'Oh, Harry, | cannot bear IT. /
have treated you SO dreadfully, and
| am sure | shall never, never, never
set eyes upon your face again. |
shall never, never see you. You will
think of me only to hate me. Oh,
dear, oh, dear"
Thus she ran on, unheeding what
was passing about her The gate
had been re-opened and Harry was
Fastening back, but she took go no.
tice. so absorbed was she in sorrow
and self-reproach.
''Susy, cryingp came from his
lips in surprised accents.
Then. with a sudden. joyful light
in his eyes, he sprang forward and
exclaimed:
"Are you sorry that | am going
away? | was too great a coward to
say what | felt, Susy, but l have
come back. to risk it. | cannot think
of my future unless you share it.
Will you promise Y be my little
wife? love you SO dearly that it
must be you don't hate me as you
have made me believe"
Hate you'll Oh, Harry" sobbed