The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-06-25

1 Ah0 hhCh .. = S1b UP AboAAiJ oAAN 'S''~N'
ing out took Bracebridge's passive hands.
"Poor Dick Confess you had forgot
ten all about me when you got papa's
letter. Now, hadn't you ?'
Bracebridge's face took on fine scar
let.
81 knew it! knew it !" she cried,
"And II had given you up long ago.
| 1t is some one totally different"
And then, still holding Bracebridge's
hands, she told him the story. The OBJ
ject of her love just now was the manager
Of her fathers business in New York. A
Ney Englander of no social qualifications
whatever, but with 'way" that had
daughttr Miss Retta had skillfu!ly play
ed upon the feelings of her physicians
and had deep-laid plot to make her
father ask her the cause of her despond
ency, when she meant 10 tell him the
truth Thinking infallible, the old man
/ had succeeded in offering his daughter
to the man she didn't want, and who
didat want her
"Go away. Leave me the letter. [ ca /,
settle him now" this daughter other sire
! said, with determination; and Brace
bridge gladly took her advice.
As he boarded the ferry for Jersey City
that afternoon, he was delighted to see
the portly form of Major Basil just ahead
Of him, and he went up and touched him
ON the arm.
"Hello Mr.. Bracebridge. YOu here,
SIR? Glad to see you. Where are you
going?'
Bracebridge gave little embarrassed
laugh and casual glance around to see
that they were out of ear-shot.
"That depends upon yon, Major Basil." "
"UpOn me ?" and the Iich voice was
jovial. "Then you'll come back to Ken
tricky. l can't ask better company.
"But you win have TO take me as
son-in-law."
1t was out. Major Basil grasped his
arm.
"You don't mean to tell me you've run
off With my daughter"
"No. Oh, no."
Bracebridge, never realizing that If he
had done so it would have been regard
ed as a capital joke by Major Basil, was
inexpressibly shocked.
81 only hope to marry her with your
consent"
"Well you have it," the major said
cordially, shaking him by the hano. Il
saw it was coming 10 this some time ago,
and l took pains to inquire about you,
young man, and have no fault to find.
Kitty's a good girl, and deserves good
husband, and / believe you'll make one"
As the journey progressed, Bracebridge
learned that his prospective father-in-law
had left Millersburg the evening ofthe
ride. And like flash he saw his loop
hole-if only he had never written that
letter.
As they drew nearer and nearer their
destination, Bracebridge had alternate
fits of exaltation and dependency.
Suppose Kitty refused to take man
who week ago was on his way to mar
~ another woman, and who had only
returned to her when informed that he
was not wanted? Half dozen times he
opened his lips to confess it all 10 Major
Basil and ask his advice, and then put
off the evil hour.
The major expected him to goat once
to the Nunnery, but dread at his possible
reception made him invent an excuse for
J going to the Blue Lick Hotel for a day.
The last words he heard were:
"I'n tell Kitty you'll be over to-mor-
row."
All night long Bracebridge tossed and
! tumbled the sheets of his bed and as he
slowly rode up the avenue at the Nun
merry, the next morning, his sta te Of mind
was not much calmer His heart gave a
bound of delight as he saw Kitty just dis
appearing down leafy arbor of the old
| fashioned sort, that led TO a wisteria-
clad summer house 1t would have given
an extra leap had he known that this
was the first time his letter had been near
her. In the pocket of her dress it had
laid undisturbed since the afternoon of
the promenade a Ia peacock.
He gave his horse into the hands of a
grinning colored boy, and followed the
path through the arbor, swapping his
riding-cane against his boot.
Although Kittie must have heard the
sound, she did not look up until Brace
bridge stood before her. She only receiv-
ed the congratulations of her father, and,
it NAV be, looked for a different advance.
Her air of surprise was pretty, but there
was no doubt of the cordiality of her
glance. and in another second she was in
Bracebridge's arms.
After they had gone over and over their
particular variation of the original life's
melody convinced that they alone knew
the fundamental theme), Brace0ridge
finally plueked up courage to ask her
what she thought when she received his
/ letter.
"Your letter."
blessed SOUL he thought, lis that a
woman's way out of dilemma Pre-
tending she did not getit Or did she ?
Just then she put her hand into her
pocket-and drew out, to her infr ite
amazement the letter.
"Did you put It here just now! What
is it ?" and looking for surprise-de-
lightful, of course-she took a long pin
from her dress, and began to cut open
| the end.
Bracebridge was almost stupefed with
amazement. He felt like counter on a
board being moved about by Fate, and
then, regaining his faculties with rush,
he took the letter out of her hand.
81 wrote it," he said, ''fearing that l
might not see you. 1t is useless now.
put it there in jest. :"
And in his heart he excused himself
the Deceit. S. Duane, ua Frank Les
les.
Exciting.
"Your duties must be somewhat mo-
u. Il.