The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-07-05
A ROMEO AND JULIET.

"Where are you going, Letitia?" de-
mands Miss cambridge severely, gazing
at the trembling Letitia over a pair OF
gold trimmed glasses.
"Just out for little walk, auntie. The
day is 50 delicious" says Letitia, with
her most engaging smile. She IS think
ing lwhat an awful thing it will be il
auntie forbids her to 90 out to-day Of all
days, and Jack waiting for her at the top
of the meadow.
"Now, once for all, Letitia, let this be
understood between Us" says Miss Ban
bridge; "there is to be no intercourse be-
tween this house and that ofThe Court.
You may think am too old to hear
things, but there you are wrong. have
heard a good deal lately about young
Hardinge, who has returned the The
Court after his fathers death; heard, too
with deep regret, Le,itia, that you so far
forgot yourself as to dance with him a
fortnight ago at the Mainwarnings lit
tie
Hop" suggests Le:itia, who is too
frightened by her aunt's allusion to the
young master Of The Court 10 remember
her society manners.
Hop! How dare you use such a
word ?" cried Miss Banbridge. "Good
heavens The manners of this present
day Now, Letitia, hear me. 1t seems
you did dance with this Objectionable
young man at the Mainwarings' ball.
Perhaps you could not help that. But
knowing as you do Of the feud that has
lasted for 80 years between their house
and ours, trust you have too much re-
spect for me-for your name-to recog-
nize Hardinge anywhere"
'But what has -er"-nervously
@what have they all done ~ asks Letitia,
her eyes on the marble pavement Of the
hall, her heart at the top of the meadow.
Good gracious if auntie only knew
that she had been meeting Jack every
day for the past fortnight-ever since
that long dance, indeed when-when-
well, he wouldn't dance with any one
but her. And it is all such nonsense too.
A rubbishy old story about right of
way that happened 50 years ago-and
Jack the dearest, dearest fellowi
Il refuse to 90 into il" says Miss Ban
bridge, with dignity. at suffices to say
that this young mans grandfather once
behaved in the grossest fashion to your
grandfather-my," with a s.gh, "sainted
father. If you are going out, trust that
if you meet the present owner of The
Court you will not so much as acknowl-
edge his presence"
Il shan't bow to him, auntie," says
Letitia, in a very small voice.
Detestation of herself and her duplici-
ty is still raging in her heart when she
meets JACK Hardinge in the old trysting
place. She had certainly promised her
aunt not to bow TO him. Well, she
doesn't she only filings herself into his
arms-glad young arms that close fondly
round her!
"Oh, Jack, she's getting worse than
ever. She was simply raging about you
as came out. l really thought she was
going to forbid me to come at all. She
say you're an objeetional young man"
"Oh, l say" says Hardinge." "What
have l done to be called names like
that p
Nothing nothingw cried Letitia fling
ing her arms about in daspairing protest,
except that your grandfather once
punched my grandfathe-'s nose"
"Well, I'm awfully sorrow" said Har-
dinge, and they both laugh. Would it
do any good, do you think, if were to
go down now and apologize for my ex.
rude old forbear?"
~Ishouldn't advise you to try" says
Lstit;a.
"But what are we to do ?" says Jack,
his arm round her.
They are sitting on the grass safely
hidden behind a clump OF young trees.
The sun is shining madly on their heads;
the birds are singing on every branch.
1t is May-delightful May, the lovers
month-and the hottest May that has
been known for years.
Il don't know" says Letitis, with deep
dependence.
ats such beastly folly" says Har-
dinge presently in an impatient tone.
"If werea fool or poor man or rep
rebate, but Pm not-am /, now?"
"Oh, no." says Letitia. She creeps
closer TO him and encircles his waist with
her arm, or, at all events, tries bravely
TO do so. 1t doesn't 90 half way round,
but that doesn't matter. She grasps a
bit of his coat and holds on to him so.
do you know what you are, Jack The
dearest old boy on EARTH"
"And you-do you know what you
are?" says Hardinge, pressing her fingers
to his lips.
No." says she.
"Well, l can't tell you," says he, "be-
cause there is nothing on earth fit to
you with. You are you, and
that's all"
"What lovely speech No wonder l
love yon," says Le;ilia naively; 'but,"
collapsing into gloom, "what's the good
of it all? Auntie will never let you
marry me.
1--WE could marry without her permis-
sion," says he slowly.
"No, we couldn't" says Letitia, with
decision. She looks at him earnestly.
Il wouldn't marry you without her per-
mission for anything. We would have
TO run away, and that would break her
heart. ] am all she has in this world,
and though she scolds me a good deal l
love her. l wouldn't desert her, Jack"
"You could come back again." says he
"0f course / know that But then she
would always feel disappointed in me
and hurt and-No, no, shall never do