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

| lie knew there would be no trouble
there He had already made friends
with jolly, happy-golucky Major Basil
/, What would they think of him 1t had
got to that now. Bracebridgs was toe
much of man to shirk bis responsible
ties. If Retta Costello mad loved him
enough for the parting 10 mean death to
her, then he could only despise himself
that be had not returned it in kind. She
should never suffer from his fickleness
And then there vas his explanation to
Kitty He felt as though his hair was
growing white with misery.
1t was daylight when he finally finish
ed the five sheets of paper in which he
tried to do himself justice. He directed
it to miss Kitty Basil-The Nunnery,
and then packed his few belongings that
he had brought over to Millersburg, sent
telegram to Blue Lick for hiS trua ( to
oe sent to the New York Hote., thanking
his stars meanwhile that only yesterday
he had paid his bills to the end of the
month, and went out in time to catch
the one train to Paris, the adjacent town.
As he went out Of the Paruell House
office he dropped dollar and his note
to Miss Basil in the waiting hand of the
one bell-boy.
Take this to Miss Basil this morning.
"Yes, SIR" And he was cone.
As the train rolled across the bridge
there WAS mist in Bracebr ,dges eyes
He never expectci TO zee the shabby
little town again.
lie would have been wild could he
have known the fate of his letter of eK-
planation.
1t was late afternoon before yellow
Bob" found time TO carry Il note out to
the Nunnery. As ne came in sight OF
the house from turn in the lane that
lei up TO it through natural park Of
forest trees, he saw Miss Kelley and Miss
Sally Basil come mincing down the
veranda steps with long dresses, plainly
the property of their sister, dragging
after them. As they saw the colored boy
they gave couple of shri,l screams and
started back, and then. recognizing him,
advanced more haughtily than before.
"What do you want?" Miss Sally in
quired, with freezing dignity.
laws, Miss Sally, don't want nothin
Jes' fetched cyard to Miss Kitty" and
he brought cut Bracebridge's letter.
Every WELL Give it to me-" And slip
ping it into the pocket of the dress she
was holding up, she walked on as though
letters were as plentiful as leaves, and Of
more consequence, leaving Yellow Bob
picture of admiring awe.
An hour later the dresses were hang
ing in Kitty's wardrobe. and the letters
message was still unread.
One would naturally imagine that this
interval had been one .of some anxiety
to Miss Basil and perhaps it would
have been except for one incident. When
she returned from her ride the evening
before she found that her father had
been hastily summoned TO New York
upon important business. After she had
received morning caller in the figure
of Jack Blair, and learned that Mr.. Brace
bridge had also gone TO New York, she
went about one prism of radiating smiles
The most romantic girl could not ask
more in lover than was hers. He had
| told her that he could not see her again
until he had seen her father. Her father
had gone to New York, and this rash
/ youth had followed him.
Meanwhile. Bracebrldge was going
over the dreary journey. AS the miles
flew by, perhaps his greatest suffering
was in his realizing sense of the instabii.
ity of his own feelings. As he thought
Of Kitty's cleverness and beauty, and the
love-ligh. in her eyes, he was sure that
she was the core of his soul. And then
when he thought of poor little Retta dy-
ing for love of him, he longed to reach
her, and clasping her in his arms, assure
her that her griefs were over. He at last
arrived at the conclusion that this last
was the proper state of mind. As he
had fully determined to marry Retta, she
was the shrine at which he must burn
his incense.
1t was ten o'clock of the hot August
night when he reached the city. lie
! took handsome TO the New York Hotel
and wondered why they kept an invalid
in whom he felt a proprietary interest, in
any such sitting atmosphere. And then
he went to bed and to persuade himself
that il was all dream.
The next morning, after a late break
fast, he wended his way down Fifth Ave
nue. to the hotel.
He asked for Mr.. Costello, was inform
ed that he was not in, and then he ask
ed if his card could be taken to Miss
Costello In the course of fifteen min
utes her maid came down and said that
Miss Costello would be glad to see
Mr.. Bracebridge if he cared to see an
invalid. His heart tender within him.
he followed the precise Frenchwoman
I upstairs.
He was ushered into very dream OF
a boudoir, evidently fitted out in its de-
tails by the present occupants.
Miss Costello was lying on a wicker
lounge piled with silk cushions that deli
cately harmonized with the texture oi
the deshaJiHc. She greeted Bracebrisge
with gentle languor, and presently told
her maid that she might so.
As soon as the attendant was safely
latched outside, Bracebridge fell upon
his knees and put his arm across the
shoulder that invited his clasp. How
happy they would be He could feel in
anticipation the answering pressure OF
her arm.
What was his utter surprise to feel hei
draw back from him, and to hear an icy
voice say, in the ear attuned for the ac-
cer;::ss cf passion
"Mr. Bracebridge, what is the meaning
of this extraordinary canduct? Will yor
be good enough to seat yaurself in that
| chair?"
"Retta, my darling, has not your fathel
told you?"
Papa? Told me what ?'
"That, in consideration of your health
/ ba hos Of laet coneanfad IN our engage