The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-12-30

not seeming thus 10 startie me.
81 spoke, You heard not. Truly
1 did,"
"Why, what's happened you
See, your garments are rent, ane
here, why here there's blood, Renold
and there are half-washed stains
upon your cheeks. Has there beer
trouble with the Indians? Are yor
hurt?"
"'Tis nothing. /, this morning
met the bear that's made havoc here
and | killed him."
You, alone?"
"Why not alone?"
Went you alone out to seei
him ?"
Yes, at dawn"
Twas foolish bravery. And yor
had a struggle?"
Bears are not slaughtered like
sheep, unyieldingly. l gave him
my musket first, and be came at me
and gave him my knife at the
heart. But, mistress, you've been
busy. Wove you this homespun
this morning?"
"Yes. Truly | did"
"'Tis fine piece. There are nc
swifter nor truer fingers in all this
colony than yours. What are you
doing now?"
She had hustled about and now
brought him bread and cheese and
great brown nut cakes and she said;
"You have eaten nothing. That
| know. Eat this, and | will bring
you milk"
"You are thoughtful maid. but
bring no milk, water for such as L.
As he began TO eat she saw that
the sleeve on his right arm wrs bad
IL rent. She saw more. and with a
little exclamation, grasped his arm.
YOU'RE hurt, Renold. The bear
has bitten you. See, the wound
bleeds."
"Oh, It's only a scratch by his
claws. Let be. Let be, l say
"But | will not let be. Sit here y
"Will not! None say SO to me. "
Nevertheless | say it. Sit there
and let me staunch the how.'
He looked curiously upon her, she
glanced back, half pleading, halt
commencing and to his great amaze
ment he found that he obeyed her.
She soon had the sleeve rolled up,
and then she found two long deep
scratches from the elbow to the
wrist. She bathed them gently, and
as she did so he wondered how
those small gentle hands of hers
could have SO much flrmness in
their touch. He smiled as he SO
thought, and she knew it.
"You smile. Yet | know you
suffer. Do / bungle SO that you find
mirth in my motions?"
mo, Betty. Twas for something
else l smiled, if l did smile. l did
think Here this little maid hath
me in her power; yet with my
thumb ard finger. thus, | might
crush you, so slight and tender are
you"
I'm your power?" said the maid,
inouiringly, as she bound a linen
bandage on the wound.
Aye. You compelled me to obey
you"
"Why not? Brave men like you
are worth the effort of compelling"
Hey, there, Betty, | understand
your philosophy not? but somehow
| am content. 'Tis not displeasing
bondage for the moment. and then
l did feel healing in the
touch of your fingers, SO soft are
they
The girl laughed gently.
Betty, do you compel young
Matthew to do your bidding?"
Him / neither compel nor per-
nit"
yet 1 have heard he is inclined
to you"
"Is hep"
"Yes. So l have perceived. He
is a well-favored lad, Betty, and a
fine wooer l trow."
"What know you of wooing
They do say you have sworn it,
neither to WOO nor wed, for you will
acknowledge master nor mistress.
"They say rightly, Betty. That is
my firm resolve, and | am never
shaken in my resolution. But Mat
thew hath resolved to win you."
Hath he? That is your firm
opinion ?"
Would you not favor him a
trifle?'
"Is it your concern? Tell me. Is
he strong and brave, and verv firm p
why should | tell your
THAT l may know whether to
favor him or not. None but the
strong and brave and firm, think,
would find favor in my eyes,"
"That is well, Betty. Be steadfast
to that"
$50 Ishall. OF that be we'll assur-
ed" She said this with lowered
tones and gently bended head. her
cheeks suffusing, but the strong man
thought she was Just then greatly
absorbed with her occupation over
his wound.
81 must hasten now," said he at
length. Il must go to the settle
ment for help to bring the brute,
for he is very heavy. Come. Let
me finish my bread and cheese"
"You should not walk SO far. You
should give the wound some chance
to heal"
"But am going"
"No. l will not suffer it."
T" You will not? You ?" He
almost contemptuously.
She said no more, but when his
ewes were not upon her she silently
withdrew. A brief time later he
heard a horse approaching, and
from the window he saw Betty Lee,
seated firmly on a sleeps pelt that
served for a saddle. and, with her
red lips partly parted and saucy
smile in her blue eyes, she said:
"Rest you there, Renold, till ] re-
turn. l am goiug to the settlement
for you;" and with a word to the
mare she few away.
THAT maid hath spirit" unused
IL l:.eaG4al Cax,fain ttslinhl