The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-06-17
TWO MISTAKES IN LIFE.
BY a. MILO BENNETT.


been for three months, and have hard
ly seen blessed soul there is absolute
ly nothing to do, and it is harder TO do
nothing, than anything else know of. 1
had such lovely times in New York,
Frances. / shall die if you don't find
some excitement for.me. Why don't you
do something rash-fall in love, and
well, that would be rash enough wouldn't
ito"
Indeed it would for me, but for you
well, there, l shan't say what / intend
ed, but you needn't have a spasm over
il" as she saw the change Of color in the
face of Miss Bertha Peppard, the yonng
lady who had seemed to find the last
few months so dull, and then added,
q But why do you say you have seen no
one2 1t seems to ME that you have been
overrun with company. | don't believe
there is single yoang man, or married
one leither, for that matter, for twenty
miles around, who has failed to pay you
pretty compliment ofsome kind. Why,
l wonder that your pretty head is not
turned by so much homage as you have
received but. law you take it as mat
ter of course, treat them all alike, and act
an any queen. IF I enald. / would he
ashamed of you, for their sakes."
Oh, but that's too common. I am
| 1a.narata 7 vart SoD,a axa;tap,art ~,
which l could get chance to break my
neck-a fox hunt, big cyclone, war,
or-or-something to break this awful
monotony.'
Excitement? You should go up and
examine Mars. There's nothing good
enough for you here. Dress up as man
and 20 and fight the Indians. do hate
t. scold, but just think you need it /; you
are simply incorrigible pick out some
good history, and store your mind pre-
pare yourself for usefulness here and in
the life to come, as your Uncle Jasen
would say. You were formerly so con-
tented, but since your return from that
horrid old boarding school you have been
dissatisfied with everything ! actually
believe you are breeding over some gen.
tleman up there with whom you left
your heart.
The speaker was beautiful young oc-
toroon, in the position of waiting maid
to Miss Bertha Peppard, who was the
only daughter of Henrica Peppard, one
of the wealthiest planters in Louisiana
He was a descendant of one of the Oldest
families, the head of which had. emigra-
ted from France a century or two ago on
account of political trouble, and he was
most proud of his blue blood, as he chose
to call it. Berths inherited this pride
and exhibited it in her demeanor, and
yet tempered it all with certain kindli-
ness which made her favorite with all
who knew her.
II follows that she was beautiful girl
for the climate was responsible for her
clear complexion, and her daily exer-
else, riding and boating, for the symme-
try and roundness of her figure. There
was not single angle in her profile, and
all this without 8 tendency TO obesity
Added to her other charms were the
Z. prettiest eyes, shaded with long, beauti-
ful eye-lashes that it has been my good
fortune to see, even among Southern girls
noted for such charms. Her grace Of
movement and her proud, careless de
meanor lent an additional charm which
was simply irresistible. There was not q
young man in the county who would moi
have felt himself growing larger could
he but win smile from her; and o.
this fact she was perfectly aware, for who
is so conscious Of her power as beauti-
ful woman?
Half of them had been at her feet since
her return from New York, where sht
had been attending celebrated schoo
for young ladies, but she seemed indiffer
ent to them all and Dame Rumor wa
beginning TO call her heartless, although
she could hardly go so far as 70 call her
couuette, as her actions gave no founda
ton for such sobriquet.
One young man. Harold Bouillon, ricl
Young planter, had been showing he
marked attention.
He was typical S,uthern gentleman
chivalrous and open-hearted, impetuou
, and headstrong and generous to fault
He placed women on an equal with tn
: gods. and therefore treated them witt
bthe consideration and Difference 50 mai
ursl TO the true Southern gentleman.
Bertha rather liked him before goin
North, and they had been much in eacI
: others society, though at that time tn
idea of marriage had rot entered he
mind.
Since her return he had renewed hi
attentions. and she could no longer mii
: take his meaning, although they were
such a delicate nature, and so veiled bs
hind the screen Of reserve that no lad
would have felt justified in, refusing ther
? even had she penetrated their purpor
: Bertha trampled upon her conscisnc
and daily excursions down the baycu, G
through the luxuriant foliage peculiar
the climate, on horseback, seemed, to th