The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-07-04
A FAIR EXCHANGE.


Rockport Mrs. Harem sat in a little
rocker, hemming the last dish towel OF
the pile before her. She.looled around
her kitchen, surveying the newly paint
ed floor, the new range, and glanced
beyond into the dining room with its
new appointments. She also, with her
minds eye, surveyed with equal COM
placency several rooms around and
above her.
The old house had been changed.
The roof had been raised one story.
To tell the truth, it had been raised
several times in small domestic way
before timbers made an appearance and
her demands We're recognized.
Mr.. Harem objected To change, but
Mrs. Harem was determined TO have it.
She said she wanted 10 see something
of the world.n
This to her meant enlarging the old
house and taking city b0ar,lers.
Now everything was ready and it was
expected the first couple would make
their appearance the next day. Mrs.
Harem was ready for them, even to the
nice loaf of cake reposing in tin pail,
safely hidden from Jake, the chore boy.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harem, though old in
years, were still industrious, healthy
people, and both had the reputation of
being spry.
Mrs. Harem, in particular, had rep
ntation of possessing faculty" i'm "A
great degree, which meant the adjust
ment of her affairs toward securing
bread and bank stock.
''Now Josiah" she began, al don't
see no arthly reason why we shouldn't
make money this summer. What with
my spring chickens, an aigs, an but
ter, an your vegetables, an milk, an
berries for the pickin', should think
we'd orter do well. An all them hos
ses o. yourn can be put to account an
if you'll jest let me hev the managing
I'll risk it'll all come out right ~ and
she laid down her scissors with click.
Wal, Sallie, you kin hev it all your
own way. Pm jest goin' TO wash my
hands of the hull business. III agree
to take orders from you jest as if | was
IA hired man, an let you run the con-
sarn, 'ceptin' my work on the farm
course YOU won't meddle with that
am I've got likely feller comm to-
night, an he'll be at your disposal, too,
50, | don't see but you air well fixed.
If you'll only charge 'em enough you'll
get on ~
"Let me alone for that, Josiah ~ she
replied, significantly. "Tm goin' to
hev a good price, an no hosses thrown
in eitherln
When the stage arrived next day il
brought the expected guests, Mrs. Sim
son, her sister, Miss Abigail Hanes, and
young lady, Miss Macy Reeves, a
niece.
so we are the first to arrive? ~ said
Mrs. Simson.
"Yes, but | expect another terInorrer,
young man who used to know us well.
His folks used ter live round here, but
they are all dead an gone, an he had
a fancy to come up here 10 spend a
couple o. weeks, so / said he could
come"
The next day the gentleman Cleval
Ashby, arrived. As he did not seem
socially inclined, Mrs. Simpson did not
regard him with anxiety.
The house rapidly filed, and before
the week had passed the full number OF
twelve were comfortably established
and all seemed contented.
We wish to give you particular in
PRODUCTION To Miss Macy Reeves. She
was of medium height, slight graceful,
with good sensible face, lighted with
honest brown eyes well poised head,
crowned with an abundance of yellow
hair She looked i'll and nervous, the
result of fright at fire. She seemed
languid.
Cleval Ashby was tall, dark, muscu-
lar, with piercing dark eyes man of
marked individualities, good and relia-
BILE. He knew all the brooks, hills and
glens for miles around and took great
pleasure in going over the old haunts-
Although not particularly attracted
to ladies' society, he was attracted to
Macy and mentally resolved TO study
her in a quiet way.
Macy, on her part, who had come
there fancy free, thought Mr.. Ashby
different from the ordinary young man
and resolved to study him SO each was
kept very busy, unconscious of the sur
veilance Of the other, and became very
friendly.
Early one morning Macy strolled to
the lower end of the orchard and climb
ed into an old apple tree, whose branch
es, were easily accessible. She carried
small portfolio, and, having seated
herself comfortably proceeded to write
a. follows: