The Somerset reporter., 1886-03-03
SELECTED.
MISCHIEF.

MISCHIEF.
Two Young girls. pretty and merry
were sitting in coy boudoir. turning
over the contents of II box Of photo
graphs.
~ here did you get SO many, SUE
one asked.
cousin John is in Il photographers
gallery. and he gave me great lot. They
are all fancy heads or copies of paint
ings. Here is a lovely face
1t Was lovely face Sue Darlington
held up for her friends admiration, fail
and sweet, with waves of soft. curling
hair falling loose, under a coqucttish lit
tie hat
1T looks like a photographs Nora
Leslie replied, taking it in her hand
No. there are no portraits here oh,
Nora, Eve thought of something splendid,
Lets send it to Ned Hazard with Il
love letter lie is always fancying every
girl completely smittcn by his great black
eyes and huge blonde Whiskers. Let :
bother him, and have some fun. -
''But='
But nothing. 1t is just for mischief,
and nobody will ever know | should
/ like to take a little of the conccit out of
that fop. Come! | can write II hand no.
body will ever recognize, and we Will
write the letter
| Some maidenly instinct in Nora's heart
>hrank from this freak of her merry COM
| panion. but she was ovcrborne by her,
and the letter WAS written. The tempta-
ton was certainly strong, for Ned llaz-
ard was the most concctcd, empty-hcaded
dandy that ever exposed himself To ridi-
icule Of saucy girlhood. But his empty
head WAS decorated with handsome
face, his pockets well lined with inherited
| wealth. and he fanCicd himself lrreslsta-
Bile lie had come to c., the pretty
town where Nora and Sue were acknoMl-
edged bellies. for summer sojourn. and
having relatives there, was introduced to
society, where his affected manners and
evident good opinion of his own merits
were soon the laughing stock of the frank
cordial community
! lie letter written 10y sue. containing
the picture of the lovely face was duly
answered, and followed by others, until,
Il sudden summons to his city home cut
short Neds fiourishin% Irritation upon pa
| per. With Il glowing cpistlc promising
10 return at the earliest possible oppor-
tunity. he babe farewell to his unknown
admirer. and carried his blonde whi>kcrs
out Of c.
\ year later, when she had nclrly for
gotten her escapadc, there was sensa-
ton in G. caused 10y the return of lat
1 renee llalstcad. one of the boys who had
gone from home seven years before Ia
seek his fortune in California. nder
the care of an uncle, long resident in san
| Francisco, he had won AN cnHahlc repu-
tation as II business man. and had inner
! tied the fortune his uncle had acquired i'll
years of mercantile life. { - was ready
to ready to receive him with open arms.
His mother who had lived in quiet re-
tircment, moved into handsome new
house, and prepared it for her sou com
ing, adding to the interest of his arrival
by her certainty that he returned home
heart hole and fancy free.
One of the first calls Laurence Hal
stead made was at Mrs. Carlington'S. and
Sue gave him cordial welcome, He had
left her gawky school girl he found hen
IA wondrousy pretty maiden. But she
remembering well the bright, frank youth
who had carried her books so often To Tia,
seminary, was not quite sure that seven
years of absence had improved Ecr old
friend. lie had gone away bright. ami
mated Young fellow, full of life and
hope; he came home grave. almost To sad
nest. reserved and aged far more than the
added years warranted.
Upon the strength of long friendship
Lawrence llal>tcad became ii frequent
visitor al Mrs Carington's, and, by The
very force of contrast. he and Sue Wert
soon fast friends The girls quick wit
her sparkling conversation, her sunny
temperament, were very fascinating To
the grave man, who sought more and
more in her society diversion from his
own gloomy thoughts.
In Justice To Laurence IlalStead it must
be said that. having but modest e>ti-
mate of his own powers of attraction, he
did not think of any danger To Sue
heart in this pleasant intercourse. lie
had misanthropic idea that AT thirty he
was an elderly man, World-wearN One
from whom youth would flee and lively
chatter become grave conversation in his
presence, 1t surprised him that sue
found no chill in his advanced yeas, but
he never reflected that her cordial sunny
liking for him might become a deeper
emotion.
The whole year had come and gone
since Laurence llalstcad~ homecoming.
lie had been Sues escort at winter par
ties ut summer picnic>. had learned duets
with her, had talked with her grayelN or
! maVlv aS the mood dictated, and had
thought of no further result than IA life
long friendship. But his mother, IA ten
der, loving woman. read more truly a
tlawning trouble in Sues sunny eyes,
soft, shy reserve in her gay speeches. and
Il tender flush upon her check for Lau-
rcnccs coming,
My son" She said to him one day. do
you love Susan Carlington;"
Love her." he repeated, in accents of
strongest amazcmCnt. why She l. a
mere child.
She is ~, and You are but 30. Ii YOU
do not love her, Laurence, You are doing
her IA grave wrong
Il never Intended that" he answered
in troubled voice.
For year now, my son. You hay,
paid her constant attention, have kept
others from wooing her by yourso owl
presence beside her at all times and.
fear, have won her love.
Il never sought it,
Not in words, perhaps but surely il
other ways. 1t made me very happy Il
think it was 50 Laurence, for love Su
dearly, but now grcNc that my so'
/ should have tried with So true and warn
II heart.
"Mothcr-l-you are sure Of what yo'
now say
No, | have had no confidence fron
sue, Laurence; She is too maidcnly Ia a.
sumo your love unless yen had spoken II
only woman reads n woman's heart.
,,n.Ss uhut | haNn told Nnu