The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-09-28
TROTS MOTHER.

"Well, my boy, I'll try and tell you
all about It from the beginning. Help
yourself to a cigar frst, and pass the box
to me. knew you would want to hear
the particulars, and II have been try
ing 70 put off the evil moment. I'm get
ting an old man now, Harry, and al this
shook me a good deal at the time.
Come here, Trot, and sit on my knee.
There, that's better. Seems odi, Harry,
don't it, to see an old bachelor ike me
nursing a tiny bit ola girl Ike TrOt2
-Four years old to-day, aren't you, Trot +?
How the time flies
~You see, my dear lad, you ought to
have told her before you went away. She
never guessed that you thought Of her in
that way. It might have saved her
who knows?
1T must be nine years since your Tn
Gle VIII died and left Violet in my care
She was only 10 then Don't you think
Trot is very ike her? The same large
brown eyes and long lashes, the same
loving little ways
she came to NE one morning soon
after you started for Cuba, with letter
IN her hand.
Look here uncle she said kneeling
beside me, AMI holding the note where |
could read: It's from the Colds and
they invite me to 20 and stay with them
at Ventnor. May I accept?
do you want to 90, Violet 7 ask
ed.
"'Of course I do, she answered, laugh
ing. We are so quiet here at home, and
this would be such delightful change
Please let me, Uncle, III write you long
letters, and tell you about everthingl
I did not want TO part with her even
for little time, for the three years she
had been with ne then had made my
life quite different matter but It seem
ed selfish to keep the bright, merry girl
always shut up with a crusty old man. I
gave her leave to 90, and then, when
after fortnight she wrote begging 70 be
allowed TO stay longer, as her friends
wished, had not the heart to refuse.
She was there i've weeks and then she
case home.
The very day after her return he
came-that contemplate scoundrel whom
IN those few weeks she had learned to
regard as a hero. How he found out at
first that she had little fortune Of her
own I don't know. He asked for NE,
and told me that be wanted my permis-
sion TO address my niece.
He was = good-looking young fellow,
and had frank open manner that was
sure 70 wiz a girls favor but I thought
of you, Harry, and determined to prevent
the matter going further If could. 1
took a strong and apparently unreasona-
bic dislike 70 him, and made many
inquiries, hoping TO find out some
thing that would justify me in forbid
ding him the house, but entirely in vain
But I studied; observed every little act
and word until at last I Was convinced
that I knew him through; and that be
was no ft husband for my little Violet
~Bv this time Il had become a kind of
tacit engagement, and I knew I should
seem almost brutal for interfering, but
couldn't bear the idea Of giving Violet
into his care Vowed, to myself that
nothing on earth should induce me to do
50, and l told him to discontinue his
visits.
'The result of that was that he came
to a definite understanding with Violet,
and she promised to marry him with or
without my consent.
"Don't look al me so reproachfully
Harry Il may be that acted unwisely
all through but if sol Ihave been severe
ly punished for my folly. You have let
your cigar 90 out. Here are the matches.
~You want me to tell you ali she said
and did-her very words, as well as I
can remember. That's hard matter,
70: my memory's not as good as it used
10 be.
Il was sitting here one evening, when
Violet came in slowly, and sitting down
where you are, looked at me very sadly
for some minutes.
"'Uncle, dear, she said at last, 4 can
not understand you. 1 never believed
that you could be 50 hard and cruel
q did not speak.
ait is not ike you to be so unjust, so
arbitrary she went on 1t seems to NE,
uncle, that in the matter Of marriage
won an should choose for herself and not
be Influenced by any one. have made
my choice and given my word but OH
I should be 50 much happier if you were
not angry. Do forgive me and be your
own kind self again
"'Yes, when you yield to my wishes
answered, eoldly. You are a mere girl,
Violet, and have had no experience Of
men. If you weie ten years older |
should leave you to take the conse-
quences Of your rashness, butas it is
-sAs it is-Shat then? Oh uncle
and she slipped from her chair and kneel-
ed here on the rug at my feet, pray
pray be your old self again. You were
never angry with me before, and It seems