The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-05-17
HELPING A BAsHFUL LOVER.

Lefty, what's the matter with you
and Tom Powell that you don't seem tC
get along very well together ?7
A swift flush passed over Lefty Hsr-
per's sweet face, and she tried 10 conceal
itby stopping for another handful Of peas
from the basket beside her.
what do you mean, Auat Martha ?l
why, l mean that when was here
last summer knew that you and Tom
liked each other and ever since then
I've been expecting to be sent for TO help
with a wedding"
And Aunt Martha looked at her niece
and gave concern in her kindly eyes.
There isn't going % be any wedding. =
Lefty answered, sharply, with a suspi-
cious little choke in her voice.
"And whose fault is that, Lefty I'd
be sorry 70 think that you mean to
throw Tom over. for can see that he
likes you stiIl, though you don't treat
him very kindly, must say"
IF he likes me. Why don't he say 50 ?''
the girlanswered pAssionately, and with
tears starting in her eyes.
~Oh - said Aunt Martha, softly, to her
self, so that's the trouble, Is it,"
And then, after Z moments silence
she resumed:
4 reckon it's mostly your fault, Lefty
you don't encourage him enough"
Encourage him? You don't think,
Aunt Martha, that l would try to make
a man ask me to marry him when he
hasn't the viii or courage to do it him
self? I would die frst'
Nonsense, child As to courage, Tom
Powell showed be was no coward when
ne saved old Peter stiles from that mad
ball, when AZ the rest were afraid 20 20
nigh II, but he's bashful about women.
As my husband used to say after We were
married It's trying thing for shy
man 70 tell woman that be loves her
and ask her to marry him And Toms
Just putting it of because he kon't know
how"
"Wel, he need not worry about il, so
far as 1 am concerned" said Lefty, with
6 ioss Of her head. Here be has been
coming 10 the house for a whole year
and keeping other young men away, and
and next Thursday III be twenty-one
years old. II he expects me to wait for
him till I'm an old maid he's mistaken,
and mean to let him know it. There's
Will Somers and"
Hush - interrupted Aunt Martha a.
her quick ear caught the sound ofa man
footsteps upon the porch.
And the next moment tall cookbook
ing young man, with driving whip in
MS hand, presented himself at the door
Of the cool, open hall in which the two
women we're seated.
May l come in?7 he said pleasantly
looking from Lefty to Aunt Marths, and
back again at Lefty.
"Yes, if you've a mind 70, the latter
answered, moving the basket out Of the
way and scarcely glaneing at him
Il was going by and thought I'd stop
and see how you all were" he said, half
spologe;icsIiy, ~And ask III could do any
thing for you down at Sharpsyille. Or
maybe some Of you would ike TO ride
down there for bit Of shopping? I've
got my new spring wagon along, and not
much 70 bring in il
Thank you - said Lefty. "But moth
er's busy, and I've no time to be driving
about in the morning. Maybe Aunt
Martha would like togo"
swell, don't know but what might
replied the old lady, thoughtfully. Il
would like tosee my old schoolmste, Bet
sy Leadbetter, now that she's a cripple
and know that your mother wants one
or two little things that lean bring from
town. So if you can wait just five min
utes, Thomas, I'll be ready by that time"
~Oh, don't be in hurry, Mrs Bradley
l don't mind waiting an hour 10 accom-
modate you, and l never knew a woman
yet who could get ready TO 90 away in
i've minutes" said Tom laughingly.
So Aunt Martha went upstairs and
through the open door of the room she
could hear what was going on in the hall
below.
Il wonder if you can affordt to waste
an hours time, Tom ?' said Lefty, grave
ly.
swell. III put it 70 some account if
you'll let me"
And be seated himselfin Aunt Martha's
vacant chair, with the big basket between
himself and Lefty, though rather swk-
Esrdly.
IF We depend upon you" said Miss
Harper, laughing, we should have no
peas ready for dinner to-day"
@Oh, this IS womanis work guess L
could beat you at corn husking-"
Then came silence, broken only by
the ratfling Of the shiny green balls in
the bright tin pan.
do you know, Tom" Lefty said slow
ly, that Thursday viii be my birthday:
l shall De twenty-one that day"
@You don't look it, he said, glancing
admiringIy at the pretty face and slender
girlish figure.
@But feel t. Good grseiousi I'm
almost an old maid, and l believe that
I'm going to be one"
.'Then II viii be your own fault. You
have had more beaux than any other girl
in the neighborhoOd," said Tom, evi-
IDENTIFY intending TO get gallant.
Lefty flushed Up.
ST k,,ovv n n sha aid nth erirsf