The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-01-13
MANS CONQUEST.
BY ANA SHIELDS.

Mr.. Edward Carpenter vas described
by the gossips of snowville as "crusty
old bachelor, too hateful to live" having
refused for some % or 80 years to yield to
the inelinations of maid or widow. He
lived IN a large, old-fashioned house. oc-
eupying the lower floor only, and his do
mestic duties we're performed by Jona-
than stubbs. who was older and crustier
tnan his master. but who cooked and
cleaned to his entire satisfaction.
Onprejudieed eyes would have seen
that Mr.. Carpenter Ras yet on the bright
side of fifty, that his features were fine.
his eyes large and expressive, and the
form that be clothed in mean, shabby
garments, Was erect and vigorous. That
be WAS wealthy, all SnowviIle knew. As
well as that there was but small part OF
his large income spent upon his personal
wants
But ne was stern, harsh TO the boys.
savage to the intruders upon his privacy,
and had frequently been heard to declare
that
3" He hated widow era brat. Ifany-
thing was more detestable than a widow,
1t was brat ! and if ifanything could pos
SHY be worse than brat, it was g wid-
ow.p
Therefore, May Carroll, being a widow,
though not yet twenty four, and mother
OF Nan, sho WAS LGi four, bestowed upon
Mr.. Carpenter her most scornful glances
and sithering frosns.
Nan was a tiny cresture-blue eyed,
fair-haired ; and 10 see her draw up her
childish stature TO its full height and
flash contempt from her baby face, was
really something wonderful.
Who first called Mr.. Carpenter Old
snap-'em-up, from the short cross speech
he bestowed upon children, was never
clearly proved. Buteyery body IN Snow
vile knew the name.
still II was rather startling to the pro-
prietor of the title, when ssuntering
through the woods Just al dusk one sum-
mer evening, TO feel a wee, cold hand
slipped into his owR, and ID hear a pitt
ful voice say:
Please old snap-'em-up. take Nan
home; Mans lost p
he looked down. A baby face, red
With weeping, purple with berry stains,
but beautiful with its large brown eyes
&rd rosy lips, looked up at him. No hat.
and the golden curls all tangled one
shoe quite gone an apron, berry-stained
and torn her hands grimy and dress to
match. That was Nan
Mans so tired" she pleaded, and
the little chIcky is runned far away"
Was that Mr. Carpenter who lifted the |
child and put her on a fallen tree as ten
derly as her mother could have done? |
Was that old Snap-'em-up who said, The
naughty chick |" and then dipped his
handkerchief in little run Of water. and |
gently washed Mans face and srimy
hands
Yes, it was, said Nan, and it run
ned 50 far that Nan lost her shoe and
hurted her foot, and she's 50 tired. Please
take me homew
And she was lifted into strong arms
and Graded so comfortably that she was
fast asleep when Mr.. Carpenter met Mrs.
Carroll in distracted search of her dar-
ling, and did not hear him say in his
grufest tones
Yes, found her. Here she is, and |
wish people would look after their own
brAts, and not let them run wild all over
the town"
How could the mothers thanks be gra
cious after such speech as that
But she did not fail to give her timid
of his kindness. her
great blue eyes misty with tears, and her
little white hands trembling as they
stretched out TO receive ber one treas-
ure.
= You know am teaching all day. /
she said, in apology, and | must leave
Nan with Jane, or cannot earn suffi-
cient to feed her.
grunt was the answer to this, and
Mr. Carpenter strode homeEzrd, frown
ing heavily. like the woman-hater be
was known to be. How could Mrs Car
roll know that Just srch baby blue eyes
As hers had desolzt-d his life, just such
a wee rass mouth spoken fslse vows and
broken faith
But Nan remembered the gentle touch,
the sympathetic voice, long after that
naughty chicky was entirely lost. She
was thorough gypsy, always wandering
away in spite Of James vigilance. and
was as independent as boy, perfectly
fearless and flsil Of resources