The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-10-12
POLLS SWEETHEART.

at is true that love him. said Pol
ly Lee, with little, pitifal sob. Idon't
deceive myself at al about the matter
But it Is also true that he doesn'i in the
least deserve my love. don't deceive
myself about that either"
Polly was pretty little rosebud Of a
woman, as tempting and sweet as you
would meet in days walk; she wss
twenty-five years Of age no fighty girl,
bGt staid, sensible, discreet little body,
on whose good sense man could rely;
and she had lived at athe Wsyside House
eyel since she was seventeen-zt first IN
the capacity Of companion, and s sort OF
upper servant 10 Ms. Benyon, but dur
ing the last three years-eyer since that
good womau's death, in fact holding the
position Of housekeeper.
Well had she filed the place SO well,
indeed, that jolly old Joe Benyon-a
rosy, hearty, goodnatured widoEer Of
ffly-sometimes wondered what he
should do without her. Il was to be
supposed that, in the course Of nature,
such dear little, comfortable soul would
get married some day Indeed, Joe
knew two or three fellows whose admira-
ton for her was Of the most undisguised
description, and who came to the "WAy-
side House" much less for pipes, or beer,
or cheerful company, than to win pleas
ant word from her red lips, or bright
and laughing glance from her sparkling
eyes. Joe felt uneasy, sometimes, think
ing of all this; though il was some COM
fort to know that she cared not a straw
FOR any Of them. Still, there vas no eer-
tainty that she wouldn't care for some
body, some day. "Some fool, probably,
groEled Joe 70 himself; who'll spend
her money! know she has saved
triie-and neglect her, and break her
heart. They most all do it. There amt
one in a hundred that treats wife as l
treated my poor missus. And Ehatll
become OF the ~Wayside House then /
Or Of me, at my tins Of life. getting used
70 a strangers new-fangled notions and
wsys2 and what strangers could suit
the house as Polly doe? 4? and where could l
Polly be happier than here ?-here, |
where she's just as good as mistress :"
lie smoked his pike for long, long time /
in silence one afternoon, when his /
thoughts had reached that point, then I
suddenly laid il down and slapped the /
bench beside him violently. "T've got /
it," exclaimed the jolly fellow half aloud. /
an cut in before the whole lot Of them,
and marry the girl myselfr'
~The girl" popped her glossy little 1
head out of the parlor window at that
moment, and looked 50 charming, fran
ed in the clustering green vines, that she /
all uncOnsciously confirmed his resOlu-
ton She gave him wondering glance, 1
and pleasant smile.
~What ever is the matter said she
quietly.
He left his pipe and bench and went |
into the parlor. She was sitting at her
sewing in the pretty shady room.
Matters this said he, speaking his |
thoughts without further hesitation. |
You and mes been the best O. frienls 1
ever since you first came here. Old mis-
sus, she thought there want nobody Ike !
to Polly, nohow. Vow I've been think |
ing as here we are-you and me, and the !
~wayside House" all comfortable and
and friends together. Now, Why need
We ever part ?"
Polly opened her black eyes wide with !
wonder.
~PArt| echoed she "Why, who talks
Of pArting2 Not /, I'm sure,7
"Somebodyll talk Of it one O. these
days, my girl. Tom Smith, or Jerry
OSen-they'd take you if they got the
chance. Now, Toms got three children |
to care for, and Jerry's careless hap
py-go-lucky' and never has a dollar to /
his name. What does a sensible woman /
want O. these? I'm your old, tiled friend. /
You've known me, good and bad, this 1
many year. Pm not 50 young as some, !
that's true enough, bet III DO better By
you than younger man maybe. Pm /
well TO do / hAyenta chick or child in 1
the wide world-and, l Ike you, Polly. /
If you went away, this house would be /
made lonely. Don't ever 90 away, my
girl. Let you and I get married. Be
my wife, and the mistress Of the Way /
side House." and of all I've got in the /
world :"
l should be puzzled to paint poor Pol
ly's agitation and surprise The work fell /
from her hands. she rose from her seat,
and her pretty, pink checks grew pale,
Marry me" she uttered. ~0h, Mr.. |
BenyOn, that could never" and then to
the good man. infinite distress, she burst |
into tears
If you could have seen him coax and |
sOOthe her! So kind, yet so clumsy
50 tender, yet 50 rough
And certainly it shan't be If it doesn't |
please you" said he. "And when you're
better you shall tell me Why"
She was soon better, and controlled her
grief, and checked her teArs and sat quiet
ly down beside him ~You are my best
my only friend" said she. ~And III
tell you all the truth"
Five years ago when first left home,
was engaged 70 q young man whom
loved. He was only three years older
than me, and we were too poor TO marry;
bEt We engaged to wait, and work, and
save, until We should have enough mon
ey 70 start little farm-for that Was bis
way Of business Well, time went on
No S;3,,'t wr;,a verv eftsa IN each ,ther