The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-09-17

more than hundred tDClS2nu pOuhuS-
But to get that absurd whini out Of
the head Of that stubborn English girl
was more easily talked Of than done. Of
course those young gentlemen were not
lace-weavers and they we're too old and
too proud to learn handicrait of that
sort, even if they had been 80 disposed.
But those efforts to find some way to the
heart and hand Of the young lady were
continued rightalong, as they always are
in such cases, although without any en-
coursging result, in this instance NO
actual lace weaver had yentured to place
himself at the feet Of the heiress' and
the same oft-repeated and inevitable an
swer had served to keep those other sp-
proximators outside of the sacred inclos-
ure where the affections of her heart and
the hopes Of her life were enshrined.
Strangely enough, one young man,
Rodney Lyster, the barrister, who had
already won a hatering reputation IN
his profession, had not thus far yentured
to approach the young lady with the
question that sent 50 many others away.
She had met him only occasionally dur
ing those two years, sometimes at long
intervals, he being absent a large part OF
the time on business, the nature of which
was not known to her. She was conscious
that those meetings were mutually agree
able, and yet they were sometimes fol-
lowed BY a sad sinking Of her heart, as If
heavy weight was resting there that
ought to be removed in some way. Could
she never receive and appropriate the
only love she had ever desired 10 recip-
rocate9 Again and again she looked at
and thought Of the promise she had made
to her father-made in good faith, and
heard BY him and he was probably re-
mem bering It in the world to which ne
had gone.
~No, no, she would say that prom
ise must BE- kept. l viii remain unmar-
ried to the end Of my life The only
man I have ever loved, or can love, will,
no doubt, become the husband Of come
one else, and to that l will submit; but
my promise to my dying father shall
never be broken
OF course, Hattie Downer had never
intimated to Rodney Lyster anything in
regard TO that pIomise, nor would II
have been delicate or proper for her 70
have done so. She knew, however,
from what her mother had told her,
that short time before her decease, the
young barrister had learned the whole
story from her, and that, Of course, was
the reason why, during his occasional
visits, always 50 pleasant and delightful,
no intimation had ever escaped his lips
designed to create an impression on her
mind that be desired to make her the
object Of his special attentions.
During these two years, however, es-
pecially the second one, the weaver's
daughter had sometimes noticed, when
meeting Mr. Lyster, a peculiar express
sion. cheerful, and even playful, which
she felt certain was vailing i pleasant
secret Of some sort, which she was IN
able to fatbom- But the day came when
the vail was withdrawn, and taking her
hand as he sat beside her, Rodney Lys-
ter asked her 70 be his wife.
For a few moments Hattie hesitated.
It seemed impossible for her to return
the same answer to him that she had
given to 50 many others. But the frIn
resolution cherished 50 long, to be true
to her promise, triumphed at last, and
she answered;
II told my dying father that I would
marry no one but a lace-weaver, Mr.. Lys
ter, and cannot break my word"
VERY we'll was the young barrister'.
reply, accompanied by another Of thost
mysterious smiles, -that is no reason fol
declining the offer Of either my heart ol
nv hand The former has been your:
for long time-in fact, has never be
longed to anyone else; and the latte
has, as you will discover, been success
fully trained IN the delicate and beaGti
faI work in which your deceased fathe
required you to promise that your futur
husband should be skilled
@Oh. oh.7 exclaimed Hattie, fairi,
dizzy with the eontending emotions tha
surged through her mind. MY dea
Rodney, now I understand the secre
YOU have been 50 carefully guardinl
FROM me, and the reason why you hAv
been away from here so often and 3
long"
The truth in regard to that matter. a
the young lady soon learned. WAS tha
Rodney Lysser had been spending a con
siderable part Of his time during thOs
two years under the skillful training q
one of the best lace makers in Paris, an
the only one there who was able I
match perfectly, if not actually exec
the finest work done IN her fathers fas
tory. She soon had an opportunity I
observe and test his practical skill an
was delighted to find that he did not IT
gard it as an ingenious device, to whie
he had resorted for the pupose Of remov
ing the only impedimens to his marriag
with her, but took an actual interest
the skill he had acquired
swell have easier times here at Il
| factory was csrelessiy remarked b
some of the less knowing Of the oper
{ tives. when they learned that the your
barrister was about to take the place
the lady whe had been managing u
|, business since the death Of her fashe
: But they soon learned that the man VI
| had become joint owner and prineiP
: director was not coming in there TO loe
: at and direct q business he knew nothIr
I abou5 but could when 50 disposed, tai
E bis place at the loom with the best
them
As for the profession to which Rodn'