The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-08-14

" hat do 1 think Of MH9 6ranardY7
echoed Nellie, when the question was put
to her, as she and Alice were brushing
out their tresses that night. +" It is scarce
ly fair question. my dear; do not view
him with your bedazzled eyes,
He is one of the best Of men," ex-
claimed Alice. Every one who knows
him congratulates me on my engage
mentp
Then so will l." cried Nellie, hearth
". 8 Blu; he might have spared you to
me little longer. Even you, who are
seven fathoms deep in love, must own
that it is very disappointing to me to
lose the only girl fr end ever had. / am
not magnanimous. I don't like having 10
give you up to male rival, who looks at
me with disapproving eyes already. He
doesn't want me here. He regards you
as his peculiar property, and your guest
as an iniesloper.'
But should ike you and Merric to
b. good friends" said Alice. for my
sake, you know"
Give US time, and we may learn TO be
civil to each other" was the laughing re-
ply. a. But you must not expect more
We are rivals in your affection, you see.
He is distrustful, and am Jealous
frightfully, disgracefully jealous Why
didn't he leave youalone, and fall in love
with another girl T? Pris Relton, for in
stance. BY the way, how is old Pris7
ID es she still find out all the specks and
blemishes in her friends, just as she was
wont? Won't ] say or do something to
as;onish her?"
Apparently Nellie Jarvas kept her word
for she had not been many days at Dir.
Edney's when Miss Relton told bali
dozen of her intinates in strictest conf
dence that this wicked little siren was
angling for the new eurate, as well as the
son of Dobbs, the banker.
And We are afraid that Nellie did firt
with both these gentlemen, and that it
was also her smiles and hattering speech
es that brought the bachelor doctor and
Squire Ellington to the house evening
after evening.
"She was so jolly" the Edney boys as
servated $50 ready TO sing, dance, play
or institute drawing-room games; while
Alice was no use for anything now, ex-
cept moping in corner with Merric
Granard."
Mrs, Edney looked rather grave some
times when Mistress Nellia gathered her
admirers about her chair and played
them of one against the other, but even
she was not able TO resist the coaxing
ooks and caresses with which her gentle
reproofs were heard.
'1Now, don't Youlaccuse me Of flirting,
please" Nellie would say. assure you
mean no harm. It's most awfuIly
nice to be liked, and enjoy it, that's
all"
AT the expense of your victims, my |
dear?"
(Which be they ?" questioned the dam
sci, demurely. q Nou your curate, for he |
is engaged nor young Dobbs, for he
loves himself better than all women, nor
the doctor, for he is too shrewd and Mr. /
Ellington too sensible to WOO girl who |
hasn't a penny. Trust me, dear Mrs. Ed
ney, these good souls may be scorched /
by the lightning of my glances, but
they'll not catch fire; they are safe
enough"
And Merric Granard ?-was he safe,
too? Was it by mere chance that he and
Nellie had found themselves watching
the moon rise from the same window or
sharing the same umbrella when caught
in a shower?
Poor, unsuspecting Alice :" sighed
Priscilla Relton and she made point
of calling frequently, and inquiriDe for
Alices health in the most sympathetic
accents.
You are quite well ? You are sure ?"
she would murmur. How thankful
am to hear it. But then you always are
good and patient"
What do / mean ?" she would re-
peat. "Oh, my friends, is it possible
But don't question me, please don't. |
would not be the first TO draw your at
tention to anything that would grieve
you"
Alice laughed loudly, and teased Miss
Relton till she had the satisfaction of see
ing her bite her thin lips and redden
with annoyance. To be so jibed at as
the village newsmonger, and to be sauci-
ly reminded of sundry bits of mischief
she had wrought. was too CALLING ana
she remembered an engagement and beat
a retreat, followed TO the gate by the girls
mocking laughter.
But when her tall, spare form, and
nodding feathers had passed from sight.
Alice threw herself on couch and bur
led her face in its cushions. Alas it was
too true Merric was fast falling into the
nets of the siren, and she was most mis-
erable.
Twice she had come upon him and
Nellie whispering together. They had
started asunder at sight Of her, too con-
fused TO fer lie explanation she
was too proud to ask. And only last
evening, in the twilight. as she returned
from some charitable visits in the village
she had found her friend and her lover
in the avenue, not Fastening 10 meet her,
but in less frequented path, so deep in
conversation that they did not detect
her approach.
Nellie was in the act of giving her COM
panion a long lock of sunny hair, TO
which he pressed his lips before he hid
it away in his pock etbook Did the ears
ofthe locker on deceive her, or did she
hear these words murmured
Remember, Alice must not know this
until"
Then came the reply:
You may trust me. ] will be secret
and prudent until secrecy is no longe
necessary"
And then they separated, and Alice
rushed into the house TO hide her wretch
edness in her own chamber.
She could in truth plead violent
headache when her mother came to look
for her she had sobbed and cried till
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