The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-07-20

twenty years ago, before y0u h2d opened
those big blue eyes CT yours on the wick
edness Of this world, he used 70 be beau
Of mineg-
@A-beau of yours. Uncle Dilkes
Why didn't he marry yoG?" Questioned
Kathleen.
'He didn't quite ask me Katy. You
see, in those days, before my blessed faith
er vent into Mexican silver mine specu-
lations, I Was Miss Purple, Of Purple Hall
and he was a poor young farmer. He
didn't Ike to be thought fortune hunt
er, suppose. Wei, times have changed
I'm poorer; he IS richer; and We are both
wiser. l only tell the story to prove to
you that I'm not in any way afraid Of
Harmon Dilkes. There comes sleigh
full Of people
The Twelfth-Night party was brill
iant lsGccess. The ice cream was =
surprise the snoT-mo1ntain Of cake
developed 4 series Of the most astonish-
ing effects; the notices made 10 end Of
fun, and the dancing held out until long
after midnight.
Suddenly in the midst Of avid Vir-
ginia reel. the door opened. Mr. Diikes
stood there, fur capped and eoilared ike
Santa Clause in q tablea1-
Black Jack sawed the fiddle strings
with his bow. Little Dick puffsd his
out over the clarionst Ike one Of Raph-
aeIs eheruhs; tie dancers flew by, and
only Miss Purple saw the snow-strewn
vision.
She closed the hall door, and met san
"a Claus face to face
Harmon she uttered gently.
~Why-Dorothy Purple"
Exactly" said the little old maid
'Pve come to visit you Kathleen Ia.
made party N my honor. II You End
Z word Of fault, III leave the house to
night"
4 Fault Dorothy breathlessly cried
the farmer. IF you were the queen 1
couldn't feel more honored- I-I-Oh
Dorothy p
She laughed little hysterieally.
Then yoa haven't quite forgotten me .
aLOod here, Dorothy-you amt rich
grandee no longer. l amt afraid u
speak my mind to you as once was
Bot you're Just As pretty Is ever DOro'
thy, what's to prevent your stayin' here
for good and aII?" His breath came
rapidly, his eyes sparkled- Say yes
Dorothy I've been in love with you al
these years III be good husband to
yOu II"
Dorothy Purple caught his haad gaily
Come, she cried, 'danee down the
Virginia reel with me rs you used 70 do.
IF you'll say yes, Dorothy"
Yes she cried, in sort Of exalta
ton ~Quick, HarmOn-the music il
waiting"
And the eyes Of the whole country
side we're amused by the unwonted spec
tacle Of old Harmon Dilkes swinginl
down the Virginia reel hand in hanC
with Miss Dorothy Purple.
kathleen looked on astourded- BlaeE
JACK nearly dropped his fiddle bow. Bai
the old man was the fieetest and nimb
lest Of the lot, and when at last the music
stopped, be turned in front Of the bis
fireplace and faced them all.
Friends he cried, breathlessly, q
am glad to see you, every one, and l hops
this Is only the beginning Of alot Of good
timesl Don't 90 yet, I've got something
to tell you. I'm going to be married L
this lady here" holding tightly on Il
Miss Dorothy Puppies hand, ~and l wan
you all to come and dance at my we'd
ding this day month No, Dorothy, i
amt no use objecting. And if any ofIhs
rest ofyou have any notion that way, Ia
advise you to speak It out this merry
Twelfth-Night. aIstrimony's sort Of il
the air just at this season
-Ifthat's the case said young Manly
the squireis son, stepping boldly to the
front, ~I'd ike to give notice that Ka.h.
leen has promised tonight to be my
wife"
@And I've come to terms with Jose
phine Kirk cried John Joycelyn, waT-
ing his hat. ~One wedding makes many.
Three cheers for Mr.. Dilkes and Mis-
Dorothy Purple"
@YeIl, Katy said Miss Purple, when
the last chime Of sleigh bells had gone
joyously away from the door, ~your uncle
didn't scold you after all
sScold - beamed the old man I'm
too happy ever to scold any one again
1 tell you what, Katy. you may think
that young Manly fellow Is very fine, bui
there amt no young chap in radius Of
twenty miles from here as IS half as vel
pleased as am tonight Come here
Dorothy. I've got Katy IN one arm
nov want you in t'other-
Dorothy came with pronptitEde and
snuggled up to his butternut-eolcred ief;
side With eyes full Of happy laughter.
@But there'sone thing ESu're going %
be disappointed about, Harmon said
she.
@Ehg
am an old maid sad Dorothy, @but
not a poor one. We had lost our prop
erty when We sold Purple Hall snd went
away from here. But. father built hi
fortune up anew out West can brins
VOC twenty thousand dollars for mar
risge portion