The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-03-21

for her judgment if siles iIdn't. Lacy
What Of Lucy p said Atkinson,
flushing.
Lucy, think" said Vale: yes. am
sure, she cares more for you now than
for me and y9u loye her, ain sure Of
it,
And 50 Do you,7 retorted Atkinson,
jumping up and standing over him.
Why not ask FOR yourself? You have
the best right
f.. Vale shook bis head.
Lucy docs not care for me as do for
her. 50 that IS oat of the question.
should do better as brother, and that
! brings me to what wish % say ,H-pat-
I ting out a warming hand tostop whatever
! Atkinson might be about 10 say.
Cio and ask Lucy. and if she accepts
you, make interest for me 10 have a hcme
with you. That's all want TO make me
all right but couldn't get on, I'm afraid
i'll we're left out in the cold7
II was in vain that Atkinson protested
and endeavorc,l 10 show his friend how
much he wronged hinseifiu his estimate,
and argued that as Lucy had never
shown ang preference fer either, Vale
could not know that she had any. Vale
had his mind made Up. and was eager 10
have the matter settled arl over.
~Go 10 her. Robert, he said. If
I'm mistaken, then pcrhai,s-but I'm
not.
So the subject was dropped, aud the
next cvening.swheD. Atkinson announced
his intention Of going ont, Vale looked up
and stid
To see Lacy27
Atkinson assente9.
Well. good luck to you,n ami Vale
gave his hand hearty grip.
shall look in the postoiice,7 said
Atkinson. E,lteriue. his hand on the door
knob Ifthers are letters for vou I'm
~. ,ts.n
IL seeihe7i b'it q iea moments neiofe pe
came hurrieiiy in, and throwing down
connie II letters before Vale. s,lid
- p.,b.-. 80. ,.,rl,l ,.,.,,,,.,o f.,y ,i,,-.
without me- s1pPoae-
Why, yes, Of cogrse, answered ale,
+ Iockior az. Seeing Afkiusons troubled
60 !. W.. ,,.--,,..ar
hAFe oi' news rom ii3iis- eVh
know how bad until | 81 there and ind
out for myself Ny sister writes refer
ring 10 the letter he held in his hand,
that they are IN great truEble and wish
me to come 70 them al once. can't guess
what ii IS
go At once, said Vale, g and if can
help you-but yea know that without
my telling you.
Yes. know, said Atkinson.
In few days Vale received letter
which ran thus
DEAR RonERT-The tronble Of which
my sister Wrote : no fancy l. appears
Ina. S,, ,',ii ~ ii'o..ier l',. S'e @ .lg
I6eaujns, but foolish frjend. in securities
which have proved lHost insecure. In
short, all Is gone If there were any
49, 49,, - - -. : , .i,. -, '''I -. - :
eutjrelv lcst aym mother and sis.er have
no one TO look 10 bat me. and il must be
the wor& o. TIE n=ss q M me 70 keep
49,. ,. :. - - -. =, ''..s - -.
wi,bonr auv assi,t.lr,ct III my own. and i
only remains for me to Curry il out
In a postscript he added This settles
everything.
Atkinson's absence seemed to Vale a
foretaste Of the Loneliness that was in
store for him when his friend should be-
come Lacy's husband, but as be real in
these curt lines the prophecy that the fa-
ture had no sGch gentle destiny in store
for Atkinso1, his heart ached with .
double sense OF to7s' and not even the III
eVl''ioie seih7il Thought that uieis close
eompanionship need not be broken
co'lId s'iiiice 70 Fsco'ieiie MN 20 Atkih-
sons altered late and 50 when he re-
turned the generous conhict was re-
he|ed-
1t ended IN both reiinquishing wh'ttev-
er hopes had been eherishcd--N ale ont
oi tlaixoi'c ciiiEairf'iisiieSS, AtSlnson be-
c-i''se fortune Has nnkind. a. years pass
ed AtSinsen Remained an aV3Eed baele-
ioE, but vale al last made wise choice
and mArrie'-- lis vile was not = young
as Lucy More but She was quite as char
mlng' Win 4 ihors richly endowed na-
tnre, and what h1ei her hus'anas re-
gard, the vision 70 foster instead Of 'iis-
courage the irIendssiP OF the Two men.
Atkinson became whit ne deeiared he
had always ieit a great niness ior,
house friend, ami Vas IN and out at all
se2soAs' consulted by 'ne "iie IS mueh
as the huso,iud-
Time, which sewers everything most
precious, snapped the bonds Of this
friendship also. An accident removed /
Robert Vale without moment grant
ed il which to bid fdreNell to wife
and friend It was 10 Atkinson that Mary
Vale turned in her sorrow, and her grief
was lightenel ofmIch Of is heayiness by
his brotheriy devotion. Atkinson assun-
ed all her cares. and as years went on
time so!tenea the first grief. and Akin
soa accustomed himself to what at frs;
seemed impossible. He never forgot
K-sfa ar-f lss-.a4f tho rts.rf-f,rar f,5a