The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-01-10

the bond when he should tire Of it. Else
could he be making love to another wO-
man?
And she had cared for him so deeply
her faith in him had been so entire
And her love for him had 50 filed her
heart and her life Oh, it had been no
light matter to her.
And nox-what? She could not find
relief in tears, as she asked herself that
wrenching question.
She felt frozen, benumbed. She sat
motionless, and stared up at the first
faint star in the gray sky.
"Nettiel" a voice called, imperltiyely
and half impatiently.
1t Vas Stanley Mayhew's and he fol-
lowed it. He came hurrying up the
bank.
"Mrs. Loney told me she saw you COM
ing up here. What on earth-You must
have known I'd be there. Or, no;
told you the eight O'Clock boat, didn't 1 {?
Well. l got through before l thought l
should, and here l am"
He threw himself down beside her, a
shadowy form in the dimness, and pat
ted her hand by way of gresting; nor
did he notice that she drew it away
quickly and far.
He was laughing, and when he had
paused moment to get his breath, he
began to explain why.
"Now, what do you think 2' he de-
manded. "Now guess I've just seen
Eleanor Wells. What do You think she
told me?'
Nettie shiyered.
"Well, they're engaged !" said her loy-
eE with an air OF triumph.
What did he mean? she wondered
But she did not care. What difference
did it make what be meant? What diff
ference could anything make now?
They're engaged" he repeated. "The
trouble is over, the storm is ended, and
they've got into smooth waters, with the
matrimonial port in plain sight OF
course she's told you all about Leonard
Talked TO you about him for hours, /
supposed %
"No ?" he went on, though Nettie had
not spoken. Il can't believe it And
you such chums
"Wel, I've told you about Leonard,
you know-my next older brother who
went to California in April to manage a
mining syndicate-the cleverest fellow
you ever saw.
swell, he and Eleanor were engaged.
Really, didn't she tell you? Why, that's
part Of our family history, for it's an old
affair. The Wells children and we uns'
used to play dolls and tag together. you
know, and it has always been a settled
thing, somehow that Eleanor would mar
~ Leonard when they got old enough,
because they were always sweet on one
another.
"Well, they had been regularly en-
gagged for a year or so, when 10, and be-
hold early this spring they had tiff.
'It was about young Spsniard, that
Eleanor didn't care any more about than
she does about me; but the spat grew in
to a quarrel, and the quarrel ended in
Eleanor's sending back poor Lens ring
and all his photographs and tin types
and presents.
81 believe there was a packing box full
ofthem, and Fred and 1 arranged them
in his room and put Grape on the door
But we were really broken up about it,
all Of US. Mother was actually sick for a
week. And Len-Len was a mental
wreck.
"He looked like ghost. He said he'd
got to get away, and first We knew he'd
packed up and gone of 10 California to
manage a syndicate.
"Pve been glum enough over it. l
knew Leonard thought the world Of her,
and that she-well, I'll come to the
point" said Stanley, with another laugh.
Il met Eleanor down at the house just
as I got there, and she told me that it's
just fixed up.
''She said she knew all the while that
she was to blame, and the other day she
mustered up courage to write and tell
Len so, and the very next day she got
long letter from him.
"He vowed he was in the wrong and
wanted her to forgive him and take him
back, and SO forth and so on. Their
letters had crossed each other; the spirit
had moved them both almost at the same
time. So aow they're both back in their
seventh heaven.
II don't see why Eleanor never told
you. She's just the girl to confde her
troubles TO sympathizing girl friend.
Rut you say you didn't know-Hello :"
He had lighted match for his cigar, and
playfully held it to her face. 'Nettie,
what's anything"
But Nettie grasped his coat-front with
swo tremulous little hands.
"And when she told yOu-you kissed
herr" she queried.
did you guess that?" he asked,
laughing. "Of course kissed her. l
was so glad didn't know what l was
doing but should have given her that
kiss Of brolherly affection and congratu-
lation if | had known. Why, Nsttie-
why dear"
She was sobbing softly. OF course his
cigar fell to the ground, that his arms
might 10 their duty.
"I-Pye wronged you" she sobbed
"You and her. YOu wouldn't speak to.
me again ifyou knew :"
But hedid know two minutes later,
and he only laughed and drew her closer.
Now do know you care for me-" he
declared, in high contentment.
"And i'll hadn't been so-jealous Of
her.. Nettie whispered, sit would never,
never have happened. l should have
told her of our engagement then, and she
would have trusted me and told me
about her affair, and should never have
suspected either of you. Oh, Stanley, can
you forgive me-ean you? ?"
Yes, he could, for he kissed her.
81 think you had the worst Of it little
girl" he said, in tender banter.
al know did" she answered, solemn