The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-09-16
LOVE-MAkING.

LOvE-MAKING.
"You are an old fool, Kingsbury ~
said Mr. Madison, rapping the bowl
of his meerschaum pipe against the
edge of the chimney piece to empty
it of the silvery crust of tobacco ash.
es.
"Forty-seven last week." said Ma
ior Kingsbury smiling. Is that such
venerable age?
"To think of marrying a young
girl-yesl Do you suppose she real
ly cares for you ?"
"She says she doesi"
"Only a caprice-only a caprice,
KingsOury depend upon it. What
does child of seventeen know of
her own mind ?"
Major Ralph Kingsbury was silent
but his grave smile betokened quiet
reliance upon the affection of the
beautiful young girl who had prom
ised to be his wife.
"Of course" added Mr.. Madison,
vindictively, Il might know better
than to expect you to take any ones
advice on the subject. There's no
fool like an old fool. I've all my life
heard
Il am much obliged to you," said
Major Kingsbury, smiling. But
;ou will come to my wedding?"
"Oh, of course-on exactly the
same principle that all the friends
and relations attend at Hindoo
widows suttee.n
And Mr.. Madison filed his meer-
schaum a second time and began
meditatively to smoke.
Major Ralph was silent also. Some
how the words of his old college
friend had left drop of bitterness
in his heart Was it true that pref
ty Ida Casserly was too young to
unite the fair current of her life with
the stronger, deeper stream of his
own more mature DESTINY? Was
it possible that she had allowed her.
self to be influenced by the remem.
brance that he was rich man
Why had he never thought of these
things before Surely they were suf-
ficiently evident. And he sincerely
wished that Nicholas Madison had
held his tongue
"She's pretty, l suppose ?" said
the latter ab -uptly, after a long in
terval ofsilence.
"Yes," Major Kingsbury answer
ed.
What style? Dark or fair"
''Very fair, with golden cnrls, and
eyes as blue as the bluest summer
heaven you ever beheldw
"Ah p said Mr.. Madison, nod
ding his head with a sort of gloomy
mystery. sand are you fool enough
to believe she loves you 2'
Madison y said the Major, with
some irritation in his voice and
manner, suppose we put stop to
this discussion. 1t may be very
agreeable to you, but l confess that
it annoys me not a little"
Madison laughed a chuckling
laugh.
"Oh, certainly, certainly" said he.
"Only, if anything should happen,
you will. at least. do me the justice
to remember that / warned you"
Major Kingsbury did not answer,
but be could not help thinking to
himself how very disagreeable these
"old friends" were.
When Mr.. Madison had smoked
out his meerschaum for the second
time, and gone, he sat for moment
or two gazing into the red gleems OF
the anthracite coal fire.
''Pshaw n he exclaimed aloud,
rising and giving himself shake, as
! if he would shake off this strange
mood of misgiving. "What should
a sour old bachelor like Nick Madi-
son know about young girls heart?
| | must make haste, or | shall miss
the last up train tonight, and Ida
made me promise would come
without fail Dear little Ida !"
And he opened small velvet box
that he carried in his pocket, and
glanced admiringly at tiny pearl
cross that lay therein.
All, it was quite evident that Ma
jor Kingsbury was very much in
love indeed
The scarlet pillows that closed
over the keel of sunset had long
since faded into orange, when Ma
jor Ralph climbed the hill that led
up to Rose Villa, the summer resi-
dence of Mrs. Casserly and her three
pretty daughters, just where an oc-
casional gleam or two in the Hud.
son could be caught, through bow.
ing masses of elm trees, cedars and
dropping willows.
The wide veranda was empty and
deserted, but at the sound Of the
bell, Bridget, to whom the Majors
countenance was familiar, met him
with broad smile.
THE young ladies is ont in the
garden, sir !" said Bridget aWili ]
call 'em ?"
"Oh, no, certainly notl" said the
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