The Somerset reporter., 1891-06-04
SELECTED.
p Q R

''P. q r., Miss RUSSELL | had never
noticed your initials ran So
"Yes. Wouldn't Won think | NIGH
have them to myself? But don't; there
is another Priscilla @. Russell in town
oar letters are continually mixed.n
"Do you know hel?"
"N0." conlemptuously. "She lives
somewhere at the end"
what strange prejudice it is that
you Old Towners' have against the poor
dwelers in the other wsrds. Can you
explain III"
II can do better thsn explain it. | can
show you letter forgot to return to
the posiman.'
As the girl rose to 1nd the letter, il
occurred to Clarke that reading thus un.
tremendously a note int uded for an
otner was scarcely honorable. But in the
sa moment he reflected that it was
hardly possible to say to Miss Russell.
He had, beside. hut that moment, for
the note was lying on the table, and the
girl, taking 1t from its envelope, haLded
it to him open.
Somewhat relult ntly the young fello "
took 1t.
bingham, April 18th
at lamp post top OF Park street Yours,
"She lives at the End" said Mis-
Russell with scornful emphasis.
at is PROBABLY some ,ant girl
ut may be. But 1t is hardly pleasant
to have my letters mixed with that crea-
lures.
And Miss Russell with shrug of her
shoulders, tossed the note back ON to the
table.
Some ten days later, at a small private
gathering, Clarke having just entered the
room, his host, casting a comprehensive
glance around TO * him by the arm.
Il am going TO introduce you to that
pretty girl over there; the one in the
white dress. Consider yourself fortunate,
my boy. She is rising belle give
you the start May you profit by it
Miss Russell, may | introduce my friend
aud college chum, Mr.. Clarkef Mr.
Clarke, Miss Russell.
And the dapper little Wendell moved
lightly of, leaving his friend bowling to
slender girl, with soft brown hair, long
dashed gray eyes, aud almost colorless
lace.
AN insipid novel reader" Clarke de
cided mentally; Harvard, post graduates
Aloud he said
From what Wendal tells me, Miss
Russell, you have not been long in Bing
hsm?"
Three months. But | already begin
to feel quite at h me"
'lnde, d2 | have heard many say that
Bingham is a hard place in which to get
acquainted, You have evidently not
| found it So
''No. But am speaking not go much
of atqnaintances as my own feelings.
Do you think that it is going much into
| society that makes one feel at home in q
place Z"
The gray eyes were turned on Clarke
| with such depth of inquiry that the
Young man suddenly recalled his rash
judgment.
"Well-I don't know. That depends
suppose. Wha,-may ask What has
made you feel at homer"
The girl smiled rehectivelj.
81 can hardly say. Perhaps, as much
AS any thing, my work with the boys"
The boys?'
Yes. Surely you know of the Union
for the working boys? | go there to help
entertain them At home we had some
Thing very similar. think missed it As
much as anything when it first came to
Bingham.
Here was a subject to enlist the atten-
| lion of the divinity student Clarke and
his new acquaintance were soon absorbed
in its discussion.
| Miss Russell's heart was in her work !;
her face kindled az she spoke of her ex-
periences. Some were very droll, and
and her eyelids drew together merrily as
she told them; but there were also some
| piteous little tales, and In the telling of
them, her gray eyes grew unallectedly
moist.
Clarke listened and looked
What Madonna-lke facet he
thought, forgetting entirely his first esti-
mate.
You must visit the association, Mr.
Clarke. 1t is open every evening. | am
there Thursday, and will he glad to show
you rything | should be particu-
a low laugh and so dextrous emphasis
that Clarke was unable to place it.
"Thank you, shall certainly GO"
One rainy Thursday. almost year
later, as the rooms of the Union were he
ing closed for the night, Clarke stood
holding Miss Russells umbrella while she
drew on her gloves. Noting monogram
on the round top of the silver handle, he
raised it to the light
ar, for Russell" he said trying &c
decipher it, and q for queer, and"
"And q = for pert, Mr.. Clarke. Come
my gloves are on, and If you mean tc
escort me home, you hsd better start
John is closing"
And Miss Russell, gathering up hel
skirts, started down the long stairs soft
ly humming song that the boys hat
been practicing. Fortunately she coulC
not see the expression on Clarkc's fac,
as he slowly followed, nor read hi.
chaotic thoughts.
"R q. p, p. O. r. How strange
But she doesn't live at the End p"
And Priscilla Russell, during the shor
walk, wondered what had happened tC
her usual laxative friend She woult
have been decidedly astonished to Sc,
the whirl of thoughts in poor Clarkei
brain, snd know his sense as Of loss as h,
walked hurriedly back to his rooms, hi
hands in his pockets and his soft ha
.louched over his face.
Once behind his locked door he sanl
gloomily into chair. He was too mucl
,tartled to think very clearly; only tn,
letters P. Q r. danced imp-like through
his brain.
THAT note he growled. 'that note !"
And the frown on his face grew If pos
sible, deeper.
"There must be three of them. Thre,
Priscilla @. Russels? What nonsense
1t must be the same one. Pshaw! How
can 1t be7 girl like that! Perhaps i
was brother. But she hasn't any asked
her once"
So much distressed was Clarke BY tn,
idea that his friend might be the "Pris'
Of the unfortunate little note, that hi
last conscious thought that night. was
resolve to call the next day on the gray
eyed one and ask her If the uote had bee,
intended for her.
He called In fact, but found it was n
, such easy matter to ask q beautiful an,
exquisitely bred girl II she had ever me
man At 7.45 p. m. under lamp post
Indeed, after the first few moments
moments that passed awkwardly enoug
; for him-he decided that he had been
; fool the night before; and tina: the tow
was evidently full Of Priscillas.
1t war unfortunate that this cxplans
ton llost Its FEASIBILITY on his return
while the note seemed photographed o
his memory. Miss Russell must b
'Pris."
I The next Thursday evening Clarke di
not appear to entertain the newsboys An
errand boys. Poor Priscilla, assailed o
i L. 49, \.