The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-29
HALF A CENTURY AGO.
BY DARL BRIcKErr.

My sister Belle and /, Nell, have seated
ourselves at grsndmothers feet to hear
the story of her courtship, half century
ago. Grandma says:
Yes, just fifty years ago to-day. 1t
doesn't seem possible. All, the young
men then were different then to what
they are at the present time. Nowadays
you see them all dressed in black or in
brown then they wore gay, dainty
clothes bright-colored coats, with gold
buttons knee breeches and fine silk
stockings, and jeweled buckles.
"Well do | remember when l first saw
David. He was comely lad ; and /,
the daughter of his fathers lodge-keeper,
would as soon have pined for the moon
as ever looked to be his wife. As l said,
| was only the daughter of his fathers
lodge-keeper. For years my hard-work-
ing father and my thrifty mother had
lived in the little cottage by the park
gates. used to stand in the door and
watch the Squire and his lady, and Da-
vie, mounted on their spirited horses,
eanter throught the gates, and | would
look after them as far as could see up
the long. elm avenue with my wholeheart
in my eyes for to me Dsvie was ever
something grander and nobler than any
one else beside.
:" ] was just seventeen tiny slip Of a
thing, with fair, pale face, and big
brown eyes.
That was years and years ago. wa:
pretty then"
Belle and l look up into the speakers
face fair and pure as ever, with its I'M
dimmed brown eyes, and curling white
locks and we think that if pretty then
she is beautiful now. But we do not tel
her 80, for fear of breaking the thread o.
her thoughts.
81 was such little, delicate thing that
my good mother did not look for me tC
help her around the house, but sent me
to neigh hboring village to school. Low
ed to study, and when, at seventeen,
came home for good was well educated
as the times went.
Then it was l first became acquaint
ed with the 'Squire's son. He often uset
to stop as he rode by the lodge, and
stopping from his horse. leave pretty
nosegay, or, maybe, an interesting bool
in my hand.
1t was not the gift that sent the BLOOD
bounding from my heaIt to my cheeks
but the look which his frank eyes sho
into mine. The old Squire, too, woulC
pat me upon the head, while his wifi
would often ask me up to The mano
house, and pet and treat me as an honor
ed guest!
Thefe was one daughter in the fami
| ly. Estelle wss her name but she onl,
came home in vacation and holidays
Then l seldom went up to the manor, 70
l soon grew to see that her red lips neve
lost their supercilious curve while wa
near. At last there came a day never t
be forgotten. By the brook which bah
bIed back of my cottage home, Davie, tn
hero before whom my heart had Away
bowed down and whispered in secret
drew me TO him, and whispered that b
loved me- In those days, girls, love wa
too sacred thing to speak of aloud so a.
could hear. Engagements were KEEP
from all but ones own kindred, and tn
world outside was none the wiser"
Ny sister Bellies brown head lowere
itself little as she cast quick glanc,
first at me, and then at the large solitair
which only little time ago some one
had put upon her finger.
" But, then, time changes, and Gu,
toms, too, though think that the goo
old times were the best. That was happ
time, and when Davies mother held m
to her with a tender pressure and assure
me that her sons wife should be love
as daughter. my cup of happiness wa
running over. They say the course {
true love never runs smoothly, and 500
those sweet days were rudely broken i
upon. Within month the Squire Wa
thrown from his horse at hunt and, Z
a solemn, awe-struck group carried hil
slowly up the elm avenue, the red Goa
of the gentlemen were not more vivi
than the red blood which welled frol
the mortal wounds the cruel, crushir
hoofs had made. There was weepin
and wailing at the great house. The a
onized shrieks Of the bereaved wife wi
linger in my memory until my dyir
day. When night came, in the darker
ed state chamber lay two silent form
beautiful through all their lives, in deaf
they were not divided
ait was all over in the stately tom
where rested in solemn quiet the ance
tors of their proud race, they laid Il
honored and beloved dead.
EsteIle did not go back to school, al
rs the months went by and she la
aside her deep, Grape symbols of b
mourning, saw my lover less than us
al. Not that | thought anything of it
first for knew that as master Of I
house, it was necessary that he shou
help entertain his sisters guests. |
telIes spirits needed keeping up. and 3
filed the house with her fashionaI
friends. Beautiful girls trailed their v