The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-07-13
A DILEMMA.

ouainfsnoe With this young man forces
me to confess that he yas not often afhiet-
ed in that way. We know that no man
can aspire TO be Of the highest fashion
without constantly experiencing the
panps Of this distinguished ailment, and
We. Nr. Lamar Was unquestionably Of
the i.iehest fashion. The most eursory
glance would tell you this Any one
could Sc that he belonged TO the best
psople. that he Was n=ed 70 the best peo-
Die. that oniv the best people would be
bearable 10 h.m. But Eos be was gen.
ninely bosei-
Ladies passed-old ones, Who swept
ID the dust with trains. and who creak-
ed as they moved, as If they wanted oil
ing; young ONES in light frocks and vide
lowered hats cast q shadow over the
clezrest eyes They kept banging open
the glass doors and going out into the
blaze Of sun beyond, with bursting into
bloom oflsce pzrzsols. or coming into
the cool Of the hall, with the rustling,
Eilken sheating Of the parasols suddenly
furled and the tapping Of little heels on
the hard floor. he never glanced at
them. But they did at him-swiffly, OBJ
HqueIy-from under their hat brim, out
of the shadow. He looked away, with
raised chin and indolenfly drooped eye
lids.
There was one girl-she kept going to
and fro-and as he looked on the ground
he could see the hem Of her dress
and her feet. They were pretty feet IN
yellow shoes, small and pointed. M
Lamar found himself ruminating. Sup
pose the head is as pretty as the feet
But It never is. There's 3 law Of COM
pensating which prevents that The
head which belongs to those feet IS thir-
ty-fve.D And he looked. The head
matched the feet to perfection. Mr.. La
mar felt that be didn't look bored any
longer. Rather, however, than sacrifice
this dearly bought and enviable condi-
ton Of being he turned his back on that
enchanting head, and sauntened into an
adjoining room. There would be no one
10 look at there.
The room was empty, cool and dim.
It had oak chairs and tables and writing
desks. sea green walls and a eat wind
ow opening on the balcony. Outside
there were ladies Of interesting ages sit
ting under forest Of parasols. Beyond
were velvety sweeps Of close cropped
turf, dappled with short shadows shrink
ing to the tree roots. Splinters of dusty
sunlight erept down the boles Ofthe
stately e,ns and trembled on the white
dresses ofpassing girls. Mr.. Lamar felt
that he might gaze upon this prospect for
an infnitude Of time and remain Dor
ed.
But fate willed otherwise. As he en-
tered the room he saw something on the
floor near the table. lie picked it up
It was a bard about an inch and hal
wide, covered with puckered yellow nib
bon, and with one end run through 4
clasp Of dull silver showing monogram
in small diamonds. There was bunch
Of narrow yellow ribbon besides the
clasp, each end finished with little ton
gueless silver bell. 1t appeared to Mr.
Lsrmar from some hanging flaments o.
thread that the two ends had once beer
stitched together. He looked curiousl,
at this fnd.
@What can it be?" he mused, staring
at it.
We have said that he was young, and
came Of the best people, and with the
best people there is always doubt as to
whether they wear such vulgar things Al
stockings or possess such uncomfortable
things as legs. Swings, not legs and feet
shall move them, as the poet gracefully
expresses it.
Larmar frst thought that he would
take it to the Office, but curiosity COM
PEELED him to study it: It might be
worn round the neck, bat not long
enough. He drew the severed ends
together and held it ofrfrom him, eyeinp
1t obviously and refectively pulling hi:
small mustache. oh, yes, Of course
Now he saw. How dense he'd beeni A
bracelet. Holding it together he pushed
his hands through t.and swung it on his
wrist.
= don't think ever saw bracelet lust
Ike that before" he thought, moving If
around and looking at it with his head on
one side.
And then, as be looked at it, came a
sudden fash Of Weakening light. and for a
moment he stood staring at it in stupe-
he'd horror as it hung over his wrist
With the return of consciousness he
crumpied it up and crushed it into his
pocket What should he do with il. II
etoOk It TO the Office the owner would
never dare to claim it. II he found GU,
who she was he would never dare to offer
IT,
Heeould imagine the scene. A lovely
and youthful lady is discovered walking
IN the corridors. To her appears Mr..
BertrAm Lamar in full evening dress.
with q white pink in his buttonhole
Then drawing package from his pocket
Dir. Lamar, presents it to her murmur-
ing; ~fours, l believe" and vanishes
through a trap door.
The Lsnars were famous for their
chiVairous attitudetoward the sex. What
should ne do to spare her feelings and his
own And he turned the cause of his
perturbation over in his pocket.
Just then he heard a step outside
feminine step. With guilty start he
retreated from the table, fell into a chair
and seized the morning paper, in which
he buried his head. Anyone noting this
TACT would Of course imagine that he
siumbered, and feel themselves safe from
espial.
1t Is she, thought Bertram, seized
with guilty tremors. -She has come to
hunt for it, ;" aud he remained motion
less.
50 did she. There was not the slight
est vibrating rustic from her silent figure.
Bertram ratified the paper, stabbed a
little hole through it with his finger and
peeped at her. She was standing in the
doorway Peeping about the room, and
che was the young lady with the yellow
shoes She was charnsingly pretty in a