The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-08-01
SET, PA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1894

i
closer look at that sheet Ofwater, which
seen from distance, seemed to contain
such delicious promise Ofsport-
This though had been the moter o
his action, but once having reached th'
open air he was in danger of forgetting
his object, 80 surprised and pleased wa
he with what he saw on all sides ; no
that the trees at DOrcnburg were old
der or finer than those of his old home
or the flower beds better kept, or the
lawns better tended, but because fol
years past he had not seen any of thos,
things with the first veil of morning
still Identifying them, for which rea
son he appeared to be discovering then
over again. There was something dis
tinctly soothing about this conscious
ness of being fhe only member awak,
of a household. Why, the chance:
were that not even the kitchen fire wa,
yet lit, nor was either rake or spad,
being piled anywhere within sight
No privacy could have been more per
feet, no promenade more ideally plan
ned for the purpose Of II quiet medita'
ton. So irresistible, i'm fact, We're the
accessories that Conrad had scarcely
reached the middle of the lime tree
avenue, which led from the door of the
house, when he found himself drifting
into a course of serious reflections.
my father had an object in sending
me here beyond that of shooting wild
ducks" Thus ran the current of his
thoughts. II know he thinks il time
for me 10 settle, and nothing would
please him better than for me to marry
one of the daughters of his old COM
rade. Dear old father | would please
him if could, but nothing would ever
make me content with either a giant
or pigmy. And it's pity, too" he
continued, ''for like golden hair, and
both the big and the little face are very
pleasantly pink and white, and | sup
pose il is about time for me to be get
ting settled"
When he had paced down another
bit Of the avenue, he seemed to remem-
Der that his father had spoken about
three Dorenburg girls
"And | have only seen two "a Yet, "
he reflected, (which means, I suppose,
that the third is in the nursery"
so deep was he in his meditatiOns
that when at the end of the avenue he
stepped out on the very shore of the
lake, he stood still i'm a much aston
ishment As though this had not been
the object Of his walk. At the same
moment he became aware that he was,
after all, not the only member of the
household abroad In boat chained
to a pole at the edge Of the water there
stood girl with a straw hat shading
her face and her back turned to him,
while she busted herself with the fast
ening.
COnrad's first impression was one of
annoyance at the interruption of his
privacy. His second was the question,
"Who can this be g? Both the hair
and what he could see of the curve of
the cheek seemed To be of the right
color, and yet did not appear to him to
be either quite the big or quite the little
Dorenburg girl.
At this moment she Strengthened her
self and turned round, evidently de
spairing of the chain. Perhaps il was
owing to his thoughts having been oc-
clIpied with the question of feminine
stature that Conrad was now aware of
distinct feeling of satisfaction, for
there could be no doubt about this ap-
paration being of the right height, F"
just a. there could be no doubt about
it, being the youngest Dorenburg girl 8.
"Let me helpyOu with that chain, -
said Conrad, stepping forward, much
relieved by the discovery that the young
boatwoman's skirts were not quite reg
ulation length, which was enough with
one blow To Danish etiquette from the
scene, 81 fancy | know that sort Of
fastening. But first let me introduce
myself. | am"
II know you are quite as well as you
know yourself" she briskly interrupt
ed him. "Why, the house has been
positively alive with your name since
this time last week. | never thought
/ could get - tired of any person before
seeing him."
''You don't say 80. really was not
prepared Conrad, whose
habit il was not to he easily taken aback
/ but who nevertheless felt rather at a
/ loss for words wherewith to answer this
unexpected address. II was not aware
of having east 50 huge a shadow before
me. There, the chain is undOne, and
now, unless YOU have irrevoeably made
up your mind to solitude, perhaps you
will allow me 10 row you out on the
I lake,"
She looked at him critically as
though turning over the proposition in
her mind, but ended by aequiescing.
~ want some of those bulrushes over
/ there" she remarked when they had
pushed off from the shore. ''And YOU
can help me to gather them if you like.
So perhaps, after all, il was a piece OF
good luck that brought you out walk
( ing 50 early, though | didn't think sc
ut first sight. l had been looking for
ward TO having the whole lake to my
self and was greatly bothered by seeing
you"
'If am to be quite honest" said
/ Conrad, showing his even, white teeth,
~ must confess TO having likewise fell
! far from delighted at the first moment
of our meeting. After all, it is only
human nature TO bear grudge against
the person whose appearance on the
scene brings us down peg ia our OWL
estimation by proving to Us that we arr
not the only individuals about"
"You are describing exactly what
felt, remarked the girl, with grave ap
proval. "I do believe hated you al
first sight"
'sThat sounds a. though your virtu,
were as spasmodie as mine and wer'
mistaken i'm counting you among tha
chosen tribe known as early risers-'
''That depends upon what l have go
to get up for. Surely nobody in theiI