The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-04-05
AuTTLE PITCHER.
By ASNA SHIELDS.

"You may call it what you please, but
do not consider myself bound to DIR.
Anderson in any way" said Meta Erwin
to her aunt, Mrs Appleton.
The voice was low, quivering, and yet
with ring of resolution under its eyi-
dent timidity.
Il must say, Miss Erwin, that I am
astonished.'
This exclamation being a standard one
and Mrs. Appleton appearing to live in
chronic state of astonishment, Meta made
no reply. Presently her aunt said, in a
whine such as is often the proof of simu-
lated grief:
Your dying father
Meis's voice Was firmer nOw as she in
terrupted:
any fathers mind wss weakened by
long illness, and when he Joined my
hand and DIR. AndersOh's on his death
bed, he thought he was securing my fu-
ture happiness in giving me a wealthy
husband. You know, know, and DR..
Anderson knows that be was not quite
sane.
"But you allowed it,"
-Was 1t time TO make q scene? DR..
Anderson is qaite well aware that do
not consider the act 10 bind him in any
way"
Il think You are the most headstrong
girl ever knew. 1t is to be hoped you
will come to your senses some day"
Perhaps I may
Very wearily the last three words were
spoken, and Meta rose slowly and step
ped from the low French window out
upon the porch. Straight before her,
scarcely stones throw from where she
stood the broad ocean glittered in the
rays offs setting sun, while gorgeously
tinted clouds were banked up high in the
distant horizon.
"Oh, Cousin Meta, come for walk"
cried clear, boyish voice, and Freddie
Appleton, in stripe | shirt waist and knee
breeches, his pretty face shaded by
vide straw hat, popped up from under
the porch where he had been making a
clam-shell castle, with q boyish disre-
gard for cleanliness.
"Get my hat then, Freddie" Meta
said, and the youngster scampered up
stairs, soon returning with q sundown,
covered with erisp-white muslin and
tiny pink bows, under whose shade Ne
ta's lovely blonde face awakened Fred's
admiration.
"You look Just good enough to eat in
that sundown, Cousin Meta" be cried.
SO think, Fred Lets eat herr
A third voice this one, and Fred dane
ed little jig on one foot, crying:
~Oh, Mr.. Warren, when did you
come"
"on the last train. May join the
stroll see Is in contemplation?
Little Meta, whose eyes had lost all
their wearinessin shy, happy light whose
cheeks were softly tinged with rose color,
whose lips were smiling tremulously, &C
eepted the offered arm, and the little
party walked out upon the beach. That
is to say, Herbert Warren and Meta
walked, while Freddie dzrted here and
there, finding shells digging up clans,
eoQueting with incoming waves, enjoying
himself with all child's enthusiasm
It was not fashionable watering place
where Mrs. Appleton had come for the
summer, but lone place upon the At
lantic coast, that deserved a more mu.i-
cal name than Ruggle's Rocks, but never
got one.
The rocks rose sheer nda high at each
end Of wide stretch Of beach about two
miles in length, and there were only
cottages and fishing cabins about, neither
hotels nor boarding houses have yet risen
at Ruggles Rocks. But Mrs. Appleton
had heard ofthe place, and had come
there to rGsticate, where Freddie need
not be always dressed up, and she could
loll on sofa and read, without the ne
oessity Of being ready to meet company
at any hour.
Meta, witt her heart sore and angry
owe. the complications in her love Affairs,
was willing 10 90 anywhere away from
DIR. Anderson and New York. Three
years before, when she Was bat sixteen,
her father, dying, had requested her to
give her hand, and before she guessed bis
intent had put il 10 that Of Or. AndeBons
whose love suit she had already refused.
do not agitate him. II would be
fatal :" the doctor had whispered and
she ooeyed him.
Later her lover had taken no adEan-
iage of this implied betroihal, ever her
courteous friend But Mrs. Appleton,
knowing the doctors purse to be long
and well filed, and Meta's patrimony
small one, had insisted upon regarding
this parental set as forming binding en-
gagement. And Meta, mourning her
orphanhood, had leff matters driff on,
content that DR.. Anderson understood
her, until just three months before that
stroll al Ruggle's Rocks, she was intro
duced TO Herbert Warren, s young law
yer. but recently admitted to the bar.
a man with about six hundred a
yesr independent of his profession, with
out one scrap Of beauty, actually red
headed" Mrs AppletoDs whined--a
mere nobody. And Henry Anderson is
the handsones. man in our set, not more
than thirty, and independently wealthy"
And yet Meta loved HerDet spite Of his
red hair, numerous freckles and narrow
purse. Toe handsome geEtlemauly doc
ter with her friend, heartily respected
and admired, bat in his three years Of
patient devotion be had never xol the
place in little Metais heart that Herber.
Warren had filed before his frank
brown eyes had met Meta's blue ones
half Tnrsu sfruae