The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-08-13
"Yes; but who in the name of
Titania and all her elves, are you ?"
II am Meta Vernon

mouth-and my new white dress
What shall / do ?"
"Well," laughingly answered Cap.
tain Dale. to whom, in the perfec,
confidence of innocent childhood
Meta had thus appealed, Il should
smooth ont.the curls and wash the
mouth as well as / could, and as fol
the dress, it will look very we'll"
Meta stopped oyer the river and
dashed the bright drops over hel
hair and face.
as it all right now?" she appeal
ed.
"Yes, it's all right now," gravely
answered Captain Dale, looking a,
her with evident admiration-and
truly, she was as lovely creature as
one often sees, with her sparkling
violet eyes and gold bright hair. and
cheeks tinted with the softest
bloom.
And Meta, forgetting all.about hel
dishabille in the presence of the
strangers companionship, led him
through the woodland paths she
was so familiar with to thelhall.
"Meta," said her sister gravely,
drawing her aside when Captain
Dale had gone to his room before
lunch. II am ashamed of your
"Why ?" pouted the child.
"What will Captain Dale think ?"
"What should lie think" said
Meta, defiantly.
"You must have shocked him ter
ribly," demonstrated Bell.
"He didn't appear very much
shocked"
"Oh, Meta, Meta, how can you be
so obstinate and naughty ?" pleaded
Isabel.
But Meta only laughed and walk
ed away.
Captain Dale's visit at Vernon
Hall was protracted day after day
and week after week beyond its orig
inal limit, and Mr.. Vernon began to
congratulate himself that captain
Dale had really taken fancy to Is.
abel"
II couldn't wish a better match
for the child" thought old Mr.. YER
non. "He is unexceptional in every
particular. Really, | think we are
very lucky. If only Meta doesn't
frighten him away with her pranks
and tricks. l don't know but that
l had better send that child to Mrs.
Prinpetal's boarding school for
another two years. Only it would
be very lonely with Bell married
and gone. and little Meta buried
up in a boarding-school."
Just as these reflections were pass
ing through Mr.. Vernon's mind, the
hero of them entered.
"You are alone, sir. l am glad of
that" he said. "for / wanted to speak
to YOU"
go on, my dear boy" said Mr..
Vernon, politely.
II want to ask a great favor of
you-the hand of your daughter !"
went on Dale, a little nervous.
HAS she said yes ?" asked the old
gentleman.
'She has,"
"Then l say yes, too. She is a
good girl, Dale, and will make you
an excellent wife,"
Il am sure of that, sir" said Cap
tain Dale fervently, ''and-"
But at this instant old Thompson,
the butler, put his head into the
room, asking to 'see the master just
a minute" and when he returned
Captain Dale was gone.
Il suppose he couldn't stay away
from his sweetheart" thought the
old gentleman, complacently. swell,
well, it's just exactly as it should
be-"
Isabel was sitting alone in the
breakfast room as her father enter
ed it some minutes later. He walked
up to her with beaming counte-
nance.
my DEAR" he said, 81 congratu-
late YOU"
What upon, papa?"
"On Captain Dale's engagement
to YOU"
Isabel colored crimson and half
rose from her seat.
Captain Dale is not engaged to
me, papa" she said. "What made
you think of such thing?"
''He told me 30 himself"
Impossible papap'
dale" cried the old gentleman,
turning wrathfully round upon the
cavalier in question, who had just
then entered the room, followed by
Meta, didn't you ask me for Bells
hand in marriage this morning 2"
No. sir" said Captain Dale, look
ing somewhat surprised. II asked
you tor Meta"
And Meta ran up to hide her
blushing face upon IsaDel's shoul-
der.
.'Oh, BellI" she sobbed, with a
torrent of happy tears, "he loves me
and I am such child!"
do you love him, Meta?" asked
the elder sister earnestly.
"Oh, yes, so dearly" was the mur-
INJURED answer.
"Then you are q child no longer,
Meta, for with loye comes woman
hood"
And Bell, repressing the pang at
her own heart with all a sisters no
BILE unselfishness, whispered her loy-
ing congratulation.
"But how came you to choose
Meta ?" demanded the bewildered
Mr.. Vernon of his son-in-law elect.
Because I loved her" was the an
swer.
And little Meta went on wedding
tour instead of being sent to board
ing school at Miss Prinpetal's.
A Boon Companion.
M Inhp Rolnhe ChamniOn Ri