The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-09-06
SOMERSET PA. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER g. 1893.

100 much, snuddered Mis- Leleune.
81 am sorry, Daily, that you entertain
such vindictive feelings toward me- 1
never intended to wound you"
~Oh, it don't matierp said Daily, I'm
revenged-that is all I've lived 70 see
the proud Miss Lejeune a broken heart
ed woman. Now, so far as I know, there's
nothing left 70 live for, and Pm ready to
60"
And Miss Lejeune's last impression Of
Daily Warden was that of small exult-
ant eyes, like those of a serpent-a yell
low-tressed head drawn back. cobra Ca
pella fashion, and such sinister smile
as Lucrezla Borgia might have smiled.
That was the last time she ever saw
Daily Warden alive. The poor girl died
that night
~Please, Miss Lilias," said old Judith,
the pur-blind cook, who lived near the
oveIseer's cottage, "dey say, Miss Daily
she done wanted yO' to have de tiger
skin wild de green-glass eyes for yo' bed
room flo. Lef it you by her vill."
81 don't want it" said Lilias Lejeune,
shrinking, "You may have it, Judy"
Yankee, miss-t'ankee, mighty much
said the old woman, gleefully, displaying
her stumps Of yellow teeth. "0ld Judyll
be as fine as a fiddler with dat tiger skin
on her ca0in ho'-will So"
She called Lilias triumphantly into
her little habitation the next day to dis
play the new treasure. With a ponder
Gus pair Of silver spectacles perched on
her nose and an old jackknife she was
ripping off the lining.
"Cl'ar EFT up by de mohts, Miss Lilias."
she declared. "i'll hab to get it treclined,
fore it can be fairly decent Yo' can
read, Miss LiIias can't yo'? But ole Judy
she never had no education. And hers
a lot o writ paper sheets tucked in be-
tween De linin' an de skin hese'l like as
dough dey was quilted in. Wha' does
dey mean, honey-oh? Kin yo' tell ole
Judy"
Lilias stopped down and took up the
dry and dusty relics.
They are letters" she said. Letters
written to
She stopped abruptly. She might have
added: written to one dear Lilias,"
and signed Edgar Mainwaring" Low
ing, pleading letters that begged for but
one word of answer-letters whose faded
ink and dry, rustling paper took one
back nearly quarter Of a century.
Il have sent these TO Dailette Ward
ems care" he wrote, "because she tells
me your father is vehemen;ly opposed to
my suit and will receive no correspond
ence. She promises to forward your an
swer, if ever you deign me one. If not,
shall, Of enurse accept your silence as a
sufficient doom"
And all these letters had been opened
and mercilessly perused by Daily, the
oyerseer's daughter, then hidden away
beneath the snarling teeth, the cruel
green glass eyes ofthe man eating tiger
of Ardpootra. Thus had she nursed her
revenge.
Lilias drew long sign.
''Iril take these papers, Aunt Judith
said she. "They-ihey are interesting
to no one but me-"
'Tankee, Miss Lilias," said the old
crone, contentedly stroking the spotted
gorgeousness of the tiger skin.
Colonel Mainwaring was coming slow
ly up from the Okeechee, his jointed
fishing rod flung over his shoulder, his
eyes fixed gravely on the violet dotted
grass at his feet, when the Towering
branches of the glen were parted, and a
tall, slight figure in white stood before
him.
Miss LeJeune?' he exclaimed.
Colonel Mainwaring ?"
"He looked-as well he might-su-
premely surprised.
She took all her womanly courage in
her hand and spoke out what was in her
heart
"Will you look at these letters that are
in my hand?" she said. 'They were
written, as it seems, to me, but they never
reached me until now"
And then in a low voice she related
the whole story.
He looked intently at her.
~You are going to give them back 10
me?" he asked.
NO; am going to keep them"
"You have not answered them"
Il have never had the opportunity"
"Lilias, viii You answer them now ?"
"Yes, Colonel Mainwaring."
"And what is the answer to be?"
at is 70 be 'Yesr"
So the tiger Of the 4 rdpootrs jungles
had yielded up the secret, and the long
parted lovers we're reunited at last in
spite Of Dallette WaTden's treachery.
"And he's just as much in love with
her as if he we're boy Of eighteen and
she one of this seasons rosebuds," sighed
LII And I'd almost made up my
mind to set my cap for him No one
can be too good for Aunt Lilias, and l
am sure Colonel Mainwaring deserves
the incest wife in the world so that all
is right at last"
And the two lovers, secure in their
own happiness, never betrayed the secret
of DAllette Warden's envious heart.
"rhe tiger-skin lies cleaning on Aunt
Judith's floor, and she solemnly avoEs
that lit blinks dem drefiful glass eyes at
her atween daylight and dark, like it
was alive.
And in the country whittier poor Dal-
lette has gone there is neither marriage
nor giving in maTriage.--SafurdGy Night
Light Shoes for Horses.