The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-06-02
ess his niece had not expected to


t after he'll get worse than ever, an
f the work and anxiety'll all fall o
D you. Better take a man like Alecl
: that you can depend on to keep yo
: comfortable than one like Allal
Q thatl expect you to take care
] him."
"Ahl" replied Kitty, chad Alec
3 been the NAN his father is / woul
) never have looked to another, but
cannot trust him."
r That's where you're wrong, las
SaDdy's a well-bred lad, both on th
mothers side and the father
There's not better bred lad j
, Blackford, and blood Is sure to tel
He may be quiet, but he's game
. l warrant you. | could trust hir
with all had"
} You'd better not, uncle and a
to the breeding, do you mind Meg
last pups that you expected to be 9
good, and still had to drown, fol
says you, she's bred back? Well,
| think Sandy's been bred back, an,
that's why | want nothing to do witt
him."
No, no, Kitty. If Aleck wa
what you say, | would have kicked
! him to the door sooner than let yol
marry him. But he's a true lad, 70
all his backwardness, and has
strong notion for you-a strong ne
ton for you," Adam repeated.
" But if Aleck was a bad, treach
erous man, aud didn't care bit fol
me, would you leave me free to tax,
any body l like?" queried Kitty.
Sartainly, sartain,y," answered
her uncle.
"Well, if / thought his blood as
good as his breeding l would take
him tomorrow" began Kitty "buI
she stopped, for Adam was not lis
tening. Something had caught bis
eye outside, and a stranger to hi:
habits might have thought him
wrapped in contemplation of the
winter sunsets redeemed clouds, OF
the snowy landscape The window
commanded view of a forty acre
field which stretched away from the
village gardens to a great thick wood
from which it was separated by q
brook. In the very middle of it
stood solitary tree, the boughs of
which shone like dark tracery in the
evening light. Look yonder," said
Adam, pointiGg to the foot of this
tree.
A timid, limping. hungry hare,
probably tempted by the remem-
branre of the vegetables it had some
times on moonlight nights found in
the gardens, was making toward
them in little starts and runs, follow
ed by stoppages, during which 1t
would listen with its long ears prick
ed up to listen to or scent danger.
Could any Blackford man look on
that sight unmoved ? 1t might have
turned the old minister himself into
poacher, and the temptation was
quite too strong for Adam. The very
dogs. by the eager way in which
they started up to follow him, seem
ed to see a chance of sport in his
looks.
He was no sooner gone than Kitty
did very curious thing. Returning
to her own apartment, she hurridly
produced a big bunch of old keys
and began trying the lock of Adam s
chest until she got one to fit. Then
she opened it and looked IN.
But no pile of gold met her eye.
Adam had second box within the
big one, and it toe was locked. Kitty
did not seem at all disappointed.
Without touching ANYTHING in the
box, she left the lid fall, carefully
locked it, and put her keys back
where she had founo them.
Had Willie Allen been there to
watch her hext proceedings he
would have been hurt and surpris-
ed, for the little fiirt, after smarten-
ing herself up before the mirror.
proceeded tn the kitchen, where
Aleck was busy polishing the har-
ness for the Doctors horse, which
to be kept at the Red
Lion. Ensconcing herself snugly in
the armchair in the corner, she
plainly said, by look and move
ment: "Come, WOO me-" Though
Aleck, her clumsy lover, did not
lack the inclination 70 respond, he
none of that spirit OF gal
Iantry which ought to have made
him quick to take the hint. kitty's
eyes were beginning to twinkle with
at her and his own EN-
oarrassment, when luckily Adam
ooked in with the hare, but he for
got all about Jacks performance in
lis pleasure at seeing the cousins so
"Ahar' he cried, "but
vou are too sly ones--courtin' like
hat whenever the old mans backs
urned," and in great glee he went
away and left them.
What do you think of that, now?"
aid Kitty, laughing.
Il wish it was true" said Aleck. |
That is because you're fool"
aid Kitty What on earth should |
We be sweethearting for? What kind !
, life would you live here if you
we're married, Sandy? As long as |
Adam Blacks heTe-and that nav
'e twenty years yet-Adam Black |
will be master. And as for you,
'ou'll toll and moil and mourn till !
he gray hairs come, and you'n get
lis money when you're past enjoy
ng it. That's the look out for a
voman with "A notion to you, my |
ad."
'I'H not deny you've hit it, Kitty.
is poor spec at the best keeping
country public-house the kinds
Iaven't the money to spend. If 1
lad fathers savings now / wouldn't |
'ide here past the term. I'd get |
lace nearer the pits-them's the |
ads to spend,
'1f were man like you, Aleck,
10 you know what I'd do? would |
make big try to get these same
avings and bolt. If you were quick
nd clever enough they'd never
atch you, and you could change
ou name and get a new start" 4
"Anl I've thought o. that, but the
Id ones over cunnin'. l believe
q uaoro tho Iov of fb> b,.x cbo.t !