The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-02-10

me 10 mend them here. or take
them home to my lodgings"
AS you please" said IRIS care
lessly.
"Some ladies, ma'am, would OBJ
ject to me carrying choice French
clocks away ne added, uneasily
fumbliug with the top bntton OF his
waistcoat.
~Oh, | don't doubt your honesty
in the least" said -ris, kindly.
you're right there, ma am, be
responded with earnestness. e
are an honest race, if we're nothing
else. And | thank you for trusting
me. Yes, I'll take the clocks home.
if you don't object I'm poor
clock mender, as has always worked
for my bread, but I've a son, ma am
that's a fine gentleman, though you
mightn't think IT, =.
Il do not doubt it in the least,
said Iris. But all this business
about the clocks might just as well
have been transacted with Nora.
And that's true. ma'am, said the
clock-mender. with a sudden acces-
sion of awkward shynes but l
wanted TO see yourself. IL want
ed to kiss the sweet hand OF the la
dy who Is going to marry Mr.. For
tescue Bennett Fortescus.
is the old man crazy ?" thought
Iris, coIoring vividly as the old artl-
san reverently bent. and pressed his
lips to the back OF her hand.
They think don't know any
thing about it, fal,ered the old man.
But human nature is human ma
ture, and its proud day for ould
Terence Furtescue. when he hears
tnat his son. a fine gentleman as
ever was, Is to be married to a real
born lady.
What !" cried Iris. ~You-you
are his father ?"
Don't let on to him, please,
ma'am,n said the clock-mender.
"It's fue spirit he has, and a pride
that / always knew would work his
way. And father, says he, you
keep yourself to yourself. II N TO
be a gentleman, says he, 1 can be
hampered by poor relations. And
il was gospel truth, ma'am, don't
YOU see, though II not deny it hurt
me little at the time, for I'd pinch
ed and scraped sorely TO give him II
chance. For il the old country, We
were only hedgers and dHchers-
an now see where me boy is-clerk
in bankers office at salary OF
six hundred dollars year.
Still Iris listened in mute amaze
ment.
$50 if you please, ma'am, not to
mention it to Fortescue, said the
old man. 81 midn't name to say
all this when came in. / just
wanted to get a glimpse at the sweet
face of the grand lady my son was
to marry. But somehow the latch
of my tongue got loosed and |
couldn't help sayin my say. He d
be fit TO murder me entirely, II ne
knew / had took the liberty-but
after all, ma'am, he's my own son.
And blood's thicker than water, We
all know, Thankee ma'am, kindly,
as Nora brought in tie cup ofsteam-
iug coffee. The lord loves them az
is kind TO the ould and poor. And
| shall 90 about my business now,
with an easy heart.
He carried the clocks away, still
with the same dropping gray head
and slow, uncertain movements
those of mar who has been bound
down by toll all his life-and Iris,
her heart ful! Of conflicting emo
tions. hurried to her room.
So this was the foundation of Mr..
Fortescue's family, title" in Tyrone
his ruined castle, the grand old
lineage in which Iris bad so gloried.
An ungrateful son-a deliberate
schemer-a false liar. And Iris Dale
shuddered at the fate she had so
nearly escaped-the fate Of becom-
ing wife to a villain.
The engagement was broken OIL
it Is scarcely necessary to add this
fact. Miss Dale returned the dia-
mond ring 10 Mr. Fortescue Bennett
Fortescue with brIei note, in which
she stated that she had changed her
mind, and had determined, hence
forward to lead a single life. For
she would not betray the poor old
clio, k-mender, and so she preferred
leaving herselfexposed to the charge
OF caprice-coquetry-what Mr..
Fortescue chose to call it.
Mr.. Fortescue Bennett Fortescue
was furiously angry of course, and
consulted lawyer to know whether
an action for breach Of promise
would not lie. But the lawyer ad-
vised him not TO Try the experiment,
80 the disappointed swain poeketed
his wrath and looked out for anoth-
er heiress.
Mrs. North Tejo:ced greatly.
My dearest his said she, i was
quite convinced that you would d,
be happy with that man. And |
do believe you have done wisely in
rejecting him. But | don't under
stanG why you broke it off so sud
denly
On" said Iris, laughing. Il al
ways was a creature Of impulse, you
know. Nortby.
AS for the old eiock-mender, he
only sighed wen he neard that the
engagement had been abandoned.
81 always felt that it would be too
coed luck for the likes of US, said
he. But I'm sorry she charged
her mind. for its sweet lady she
was
A Remarkable Engiishman
L