The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-10-22
WHICH?
81 MARY Z NoFFAT.


at has always seemed strange TO me
that young man of your social nature
did not marry. There are not so many
nowadays that have a cage to put their
bird in when it IS caught but that
handsome house of yours should baye a
a Mistress
My mother is the best housekeeper,
and the dearest old lady in the world,
Mrs. Broughton.7
/" know that very we!l, and l do not
wish to cut the foundations from under
the feet of my good old friend. was
merely thinking that the young should
have youthful companionship. You'll be
getting gray, soon, Mr.. Maybe, and then
no one viii have you"
Ralph Maybe smiled. He was used to
this sort of advice from Mrs Broughton.
She was bright, pleasant little woman,
happily married herself, and desirous
that all whom she considered worthy of
the high state of matrimony should enter
into il.
-Ralph and her husband were college
chums, and the intimacy had continued
since his friends marriage. 1t was very
pleasant TO find seat awaiting him in
the Broughtons' cosy sitting-room, and a
week rarely passed without finding him
there
lie was handsome man, well cslcula-
ted to win girls heart. For intellect sat
enthroned upon his massive forehead
and looked out of his wide, dark eyes.
while mingled sweetness and strength
characterized the full. firm lips and mass
i've chin.
A pause succeeded Mrs Broughton's
last remark. Aftsr time Ralph said,
Suddenly;
The truth is, Mrs. Broughton, am
afraid to marry. love my mother so
web that | know if brought e wife
home, and she did not agree with moth
er and treat her kindly, there would be
war between Us. Ifeither left it would
be the newcomer, no matter how pas
siorately loved by me-"
His voice had unconsciously grown
very clear and emphatic as he finished.
Mrs- Broughton raised both hands in as
tonishment.
Whats horrible suggestion. did not
think such thoughts could enter a mans
head, much less yours shame on you,
Mr.. Maybe, to think any one could be
deserving Of snch fate. Bat there
IL is onlya talk, and Twill not get an
gry at you. Why, it's libel on woman
hood"
But new actor appeared upon the
scene, reused from her abstraction in
favorite book by Ralph's raised voice.
1t was a niece of Mrs. Broughton's, who
had come to spend the winter with her
aunt
A rosy, round-faced little thing, whose
great blue eyes were as yet unshadowed
by the mysteries of this wonderful hu-
man life, 50 full JOY, yet oftentimes so
fraugAt with pain.
She came to her aunt's side, and, steal
ing a soft little hand into one of hers,
looked at Ralph curiously and visit
fully.
How lovely it was in him to love his
old mother so dearly she thought.
And, to her sant's great surprise, the
shy girl found, for once, her voice in the
presence Of a gentleman.
No, auntie il isn't anything of the
kind. If any one loved very dearly,
here might be feeling of jealousy of
tleother love, and that would make them
unhappy
go back 10 your book, Christie. What
does little puss like you know about
!ove2'
But Christie did not mind her aunt.
She only nestled closer to her side, and
burying her other hand in the mass of
siiken curls which clustered around her
temples, and resting an elbow on Mrs.
Broughson's knee. she leaned forward in
the gloS Of the CRATE fire and gave Der
undivided attention to tile conversa-
5 ton
The subject was Immediately. changed.
Mrs. Broughton did hot care to have
the child's mind filed with ideas of the
life realities which would come to her
all too soon in the future, upon whose
confines her feet were even now tread
ing.
From this time it grew to be favorite
fashion with Christie to study RaIph's
face from her perch by her aunt when
ever he called.
AT: fret he paid. but little attention
to her but after time be grew to seek
the expression Of the innocent blue eyes,
whether it were ofapproval or no. Some
times he would say things he did not re-
ally mean, just to cali forth the doubtful,
w.stful look which xonld cloud then !;
and. at last, no matter what their story,
they came to be TO him the index Of
soul altogether pure and lovely His
heart had been tangled in the meshe Of
| her siiken hair. he loved the child With