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

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1 went in / saw lying on the sofa a;
pretty a young woman as ever so
eyes on. But I saw another thing
SIR, standing on little table against
the wall, right where the sunshine
was falling, was picture of Master
Frank. Ny husbands picture, said
the lady, seeing me standing stock.
still before 1t. l didn't know what
to say, | was so took aback. Strange
sir, but when you've been longing
for years for something to happen
when it does happen you don't dc
the thing as would seem natural
So instead of going to work to find
out about that boy, there was ]
standing and thinking of nothing ex.
cept how out of place l was bringing
bowl of broth to Mrs. Frank
Chauncey. don't know how long I'd
"a stood there with that bowl of broth
in my hands, if the little miss hadn't
brought chair and asked me tn sit
down. Then | got sense to say
Excuse me, Mrs. Chauncey. but my
wife thought as how you was poor
folks like US, or she wouldn't a
made so bold as to send some broth,
thinking you'd just moved in and
hadn't got a fire made, maybe
1--WE are poor, very poor. she an
swered me, and thank your wife
very kindly
"Oh. she was a lady, sir, every
inch of her. You didn't have to
look long to see that. Might | make
so bold says |. as to ask where your
husband might be now, ma'am p
You see, | wasn't bit natural, for
| felt kind of awkward before the
lady, and didn't Just know how she'd
take being questioned. He is dead,
she answered, 'or at least they tell
me so. | can never believe it. Were
you friend of Frank's?' she added
suddenly. Then | told her as well
as possible-for | was half stunned,
sir, thinking of that boy-as how |
was only watchman, and couldn' I
think of calling myself friend OF
the rich Mr.. Chauncey's only son,
but that I'd watched him and loved
him ever since he was born but
she stopped me. My Frank had 10
father when we were married, saws
she; he was alone III the world, as |
was, and | never knew he had been
rich Then | saw in a minute as
how twas. The boy hadn't told her
word. He'd been too proud to let
her know what he'd done, and vet
again too proud to acknowledge even
10 her that his father hadn't acted
square with him. | didn't say any
more then about Master Frank 5
people. but | kept her talking until
l found cut Just how things were.
1t seems after they got married,
they went off to another city,
and master Frank he tried to get
work, but somehow nothing suited
him. And how could il, sir, when
he never'd been put to nothing
steady? Still. they managed, one
way and another, and were happy
as two doves together.
They'd been married seven wears,
and had little girl and little boy.
when the foundry where Master
Frank was acting as clerk went un-
der. They'd had the gumption, sir
or she had her young husband
never'd done ito lay by a pen
ny; so when he got an offer to 20
with company TO the Brazils, he
left what they'd saved for her, and
off be went. / hadn't the courage
to say no. says she, although it
broke my heart to let him go, for be
was so eager, and sure he would
come back with plenty of money.
The party had gone out exploring
some big river, and making out how
to bring thing that grew there down
to the coast. He'd been gone about
two wears when she got a letter as
said he went out in a boat one day
with two more, and they'd never
come back. The place was wild and
an easy place to get lost in, and
they'd most likely died off some
where in the swamp. Still she kept
on waiting and hoping; but her
money was Almost gone, and in the
little place where he left her there
was nothing to be done; so she'd
gathered courage and come back
here again, thinking she could get
scholars among the people she used
to know. The worry and the exer-
ton had broke her down, and there
she was, sir, too weak to lift finger
And the idea, too, of a lady like she
was living in such lodgings; but she
got the cheapest she could that was
decent, and that's how twas. You
NAV think it odd her telling me SO
much, sir, and | a stranger and a
working man: but soon as she found
I'd known her husband, it seemed
to do her good to talk
Il was Just going, when out came
the little girl from an inner room
leading little boy about four years
old. If there ever was anybody re-
peated over again, there was that
boy the image of his father at his
age the same rosy checks and cur
ly hair clustering around his fore
! head. and the same handsome vii.
ful face.
when | got on my beat that
night | thought it all over. Miss
| Alice was off, and there was nobody
but me to look after Master Frank {
wife aud them two blessed children,
and what could | do fit for such as
them, anyway?
II used to go up to see 'em every
dav after that, and Miss Nell-that';
the little girl-and little Master
Frank they come to call me Joe,
lust as their father had done afort
'em. Little by little l told Mrs
I Frank Chauncey the whole truth
about her husband to that day. She
didn't seem to care about the mon
ey. said as how the father had cas-
Frank of, that was an end ont anc
never a cent would she touch /
twas offered her.
after that things got awful. Mrs
Frank she grew worse every day, til
kind of low fever came on her,anG
zo-tb;r,. fail or, that blessed littt,