The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-05-07

tens Phemie saved from drowning max
ing little well. from which the canary
drew buckets Of water. And Phemie and
the old man would wander off TO the riv-
erside, where he would fish, very seldom
catching anything, and she would read or
knit.
None of the family knew of these init
nacies. Belle, older than Phemie by six
years, preferred that she should consider
herself child until Miss Norris was
married. And Aunt Marcia detestested
her for her resemblance TO the sister-in-
Law who had never been congenial-"
No one in the house knew, but some
one not of the household did, and shared
at times in them.
Sometimes, when the old mans rod
dangled over the water, a younger angler
would take his place near hsm-a hand
some young fellow, with black hair, and
the brightest eyes in the world and
then the hours went by like hours in
dream, and Phemie felt happy as she had
felt when a child by her mothers side
And Uncle Bill laughed, aid told fisher
mems stories. As for the young man, ST
lent or talkatiye, he was always charm
ing. So thought Phernie. She was sew
enteen she had never had lover. She
was well read in romantic lore. What
happened was only to be expected. In a
little while two lovers sa. beside old Tn
Gle Bill on the banks OF the pretty stream
and walked together as far as the little
gate in the hedge that nobody else used,
and did not hide from the old man that
they parted with kiss.
Fred Howard was not a fashionable
man-only the son of poor widow. who
had made book-keeper Of her boy.
What holidays he had spent he spent at
home This was his midsummer vaca-
ton he was bright, and good, and hand
some, but Mr.. Norris surely would have
had other views for his youngest daugh-
ter.
And so, one day, as the two, having
met accidentally on the road were talking
together, with an expression on either
face that made an old lady, who drove
past, remark to her husband
Hiram, take my word for it, them's
beans"
Mr.. Norris marched up behind the pair
and appeared like very florid ghost be-
tween them, with an;
q l was not aware, Mr.. Howard, that
you had ever been introduced TO my
daughter"
The young man blushed, and then an
swered:
But / have. sir-by my friend,-he
uncle"
"Oh !" replied Mr.. Norris. lowering his
tone little. Then you know my broth
er, Mr. Whipple Norris, in the city He
is a relative / am proud of-worth half a
million, if be is cent"
have often heard of Mr. Whipple
Norris replied the young man, frankly
q Bot / have never met him. ! owe my
introduction to Miss Phemie Norris to
her uncle William-ah-ah' The young
man suddenly remembered that he did
not know Uncle Bills last name
:" Her Uncle William repeated Mr.
Norris Euphemia, does young Howard
allude to your poor mothers unfortunate
brother, Bill9"
Phemie bowed her head.
' Young Howard ~ repeated Mr. Nor
ris, That person has no authority to in
troduce my daughter. Consider yourself
a stranger TO her henceforth.n
Phemie looked at Fred Fred looked
at Phemie.
"It is too late, sir" the latter raid. al
love your daughter, and have won her
heart. She has promised to be my wife" /"
Mr.. Norris stared at him, lifted his eye
brows, stared again through his double
eye-glass, and spoke sternly:
q have one daughter who is a credit
to me. Lord McTab paid great attention
to her last winter. He has written to
ask my consent to her nuptials, which l
shall give, and he will return in the fall
to be married TO her an English noble
man would hardly like brother-in-Iaw
who makes, perhaps, twenty dollars per
week. Ny eldest daughter. Mrs. Tim
kins Trotter, has married gentleman
who is esteemed the wealthiest man
in Mineville. Ny son is withlny broth
er in New York-a man | am proud Of.
Now, / shall never make fuss about my
Phemie. / only tell you this If she
marries you, disown her. You can take
her, if she chooses. shall never give
her penny. She may have her clothes
and trinkets, and 20. If she obeys me
she shall be, married or single, well pro-
vided for. She is plain and unpr epos-
sing, but know young clergyman who
will attain eminence, who only needs my
permission to propose. She might do
very well, with proper portion, for him.
She has thick waist, large mouth, and
ordinary features" continued Mr.. Norris,
turning his eye-glass on his daughter, but
a clergyman should not look for beau
ty.n
She is the prettiest girl l know, and
if may earn her bread and butter, l can
do it, said Fred Howard. You give
her to me, sir?"
No" replied Mr.. Norris. She may
give herself 10 you, if she chooses to be a
beegar"
Then she walked away.
As Phemie and Fred stood looking at
each other, Uncle Bills head arose above
the shrubbe-y.
"I give my permission" he said, with
more than usual dignity, and am her.
mothers brother. think you will make
her happy, young Fred Howard"
The maiden aunt and the sister. who
was TO be the bride Of an English noble
man, led Phemie a sad life of il for
awhile but one morning she walked out
of her home in her simple church-going
costume, and was married in the little
chapel of St. JohE- Old Uncle Bill, in
his old-fashioned broadcloth suit, went
with them. and gave the bride away.
Mrs. Howard was there, and school
friend of Phemie's, and fellow-cierk of