The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-12-23


tie mother to him.
Sorrow always has to give way
before sunshine, I've noticed. and it
wasn't SO many months after the
mother died that the great house was
thrown open again, just as I've seen
happen to dozen other houses in
the street here, and then / begun to
see Miss Alice and Master Frank.
| used to see great deal of them
children after that, for the boy he
was a wild one, and would often
scamper on the streets at hours
when he should have been at home
in bed. He didn't mind anybody
but his sister; but she could do al
most anything with him, for he was
soft-hearted little chap when you
knew how to touch him right, but
headstrong and self-willed, as boys
are, sir. As years passed, them two
come TO be as handsome a pair as
ever you saw-Miss Alice with her
sweet blue eyes and lad J-like ways,
and Master Frank with his fresh,
eager face. The only thing that ev-
er troubled them was the boy would
never stick to anything. His father
sent him to college-for there was
nothing he wouldn't do for Master
Frank, but he was back home in less
AN three months. / didn't like it,
Joe, he says to me one night. What's
the need, anyway, for me to do what
l don't like?' And so the boy stay
ed at home, drove his pony carriage
round town, sailed his yacht, and
amused himself with lots of other
young fellows. whose company did
not do him any good.
'But there come time, sir, when
he was changed. | couldn't tell Just
how it came about. nor no more
lust what the change was, but I'd
see him when he come home late
sometimes, and there was a differ
ence. He got quieter, and his voice
when he spoke to me was as soft
and gentle as it used to be when he
was a boy. Ore night he come
home earlier than usual, and | said
to myself that young mans IN
trouble: for he walked right by me
and never looked, nor said good eve
ming, as he always mad before. An
hour or so later, as | was coming
down the street again, | heard Mr..
Chauncey's front door slam as If a
hurricane had blowed it, and tear
ing down the steps came Master
Frank.
II don't know how ] dared take
the liberty, sir, but did. | steps
right up to him and takes hold of
his arm. Master Frank, says |.
there's trouble going on for you.
But I've known you since you was a
baby, and whatever It's, I'm the one
as says it's nothing wrong.
"'No, Joe,' ne says, in voice as
wasn't his-'it's nothing wrong. He
could't stand still, so | walked along
up the street at his side. Suddenly
he stopped. Good by, Joe,' says
he: L won't be here any more. I'm
married. And before | could say
word he was off-clean gone in the
darkness, sir. A baby might have
knocked me down as stood there.
Nv breath was took away. | tramp
ed up and down all that night, pom
dering and thinking, and l could
make nothing out OF It,
"And | didn't make anything out
of it till one night | met the old but
Ter. and he told me as how 1t was,
sir 1t seems Master Frank had met
a Young lady and fell deep in love
with her. but when he mentioned
the matter to his father, there was
high words, for Mr.. Chauncey had
set his heart on seeing his boy mar
ried TO a girl he'd picked out; rich
she Y as. of course, sir, while the one
Master Frank wanted was an orphan
and hadn't cent in the world ex-
cept what she made giving music
lessons. or something of the sort
The boy didn't say no more, and
kept so quiet his father thought the
business was all over, but Master
Frank. being headstrong and used
to having his own way, went and
married the girl anyhow. When
he come home that night and told
his father what he'd done, Mr..
Chauncey just got no and said; You
can 90 sir, you're no son OF mine.
Then after Master Frank had rush
ed out of the house, his father told
David. who had stood and heard it
all, to call his daughter and the ser
wants. When they came, he told
EN- all. then and there. as how twas
and said whoever as mentioned Mas
ter Franks name in his presence
would leave the house. even if twas
Miss Alice herself. Then he stalk
ed up stairs to the boys room lock
ed the door, and put the key In his
pocket. And that's the way things
was going on, sir. Miss Alice, she
was crying Almost all the time. and
she said to the old butler: David,
saws she, search day and night for
nv poor brother. for | never shall
rest till can help him. Search we
did, David and !, up and down, by
night and by day. for either one OF
MS would "a died for that boy, and
vet quicker for Miss Alice But il
wasn't no use, sir; We never found a
trace of him, and the girl he'd mar
ried was gone, too.
'Things went on gloomily enough
in the big bouse after that. Miss
Alice she didn't seem minded to
marry, and Mr.. Chauncey he got
s,erner and silenter every day. !
used to meet him sometimes pacing
up and down the walk at night, but
| never said no more nor good-even-
ing to him, for somehow he wasn't
the same TO me in my mind as he
was afore. He hadn't done right by
that boy. Not that | don't blame
the bcv too, for it wasn't square for
him to 90 agin his father to that
length, nor yet to bring trouble on
his sister; but bless you sir, boys
don't stop to think of what's ahead
when they're only twenty two year
as this one was; and if they get
pretty face in their minds, they