The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-09-12
LEAH.
Her Bit of Heroism and Pretty Ro.
nance.
HARRIET rRANCENE cRocKER.

| The July sun burned on the white
sand along the beach. Far out a lazy
sail cleaned family white against the
hazy blue sky, and nearer flock of
| gray-winged sea-birds fiuttered by, dip
ping and raising leisurely i'm their
flight.
Leah wandered along the shore,
sheltered by her sun umbrella, stop
ping now and then TO rest a few mo-
ments on bowlder or an inviting
heap of sand, bending over listlessly
10 watch the star fish wriggling and
twisting about in the water, digging IA
pink-lined sea-shell out of the sand with
the toe of her pretty boot, tracing idle,
disconnected words i'm the yielding sand
The girls thoughts were far away.
One could see that by the absent look
in the dark brown eyes, and the un-
conscious abandonment i'm every feat
ure.
Still, half-mechanically she kept her
watchful gaze upon the group of chill
dren playing near her in the sand.
Four happy little people they were,
pals and shovels in hand, digging in
dustriously and laboriously after imag-
mary treasures hidden away beneath
tempting mounds, running back and
| forth with water in their little red tin
pals, and laying out wonderful parks
and gardens, with walks shell-border-
ed and lakes shell-trimmcd. Their
wide straw hats We're tied securely un-
der dimpled chins- Leah had tied the
blue ribbons herself, knowing 10y expe-
rience the saucy tricks a sea breeze
| PLAYS with wide-brinlmed hats.
Leah sat and watched them languid-
ly-looked at the eight little bare feet,
sun-browned and sturdy, burrowing in
the warm sand, at the ever-reStless, ev-
er-moving little bodies, 1.-THE and grace
| fuI with the unconscious freedom of
| childhood. \ fresh wind came i'm from
| the ocean, lifting tress of brown hair
that had strayed across the girls fore
head, fiuttering her thin white draper
les and trying to bear away in a breezy
frolic the pale blue ribbon at her throat.
\ faint color glowed in the delicate
face. Youth was hers, and health, and
loveliness of form and feature; bat the
girls heart ached with Loneliness and
longed for friendship. Only three
months since her mother had died,
leaving her alone in the world, almost
penniless and quite friendless, slen-
der young thing To battle for herself
and labor with her weak hands 10 earn
| her daily bread. At first she had tried
To sew; but knowing that her health
would break with the long hours and
the confinement, she had given ii up
and advertised for situation IL nur-
sery governess-
Mrs. Robert Stevens, who desired 8
governess for her four young hopefuls,
sent for the girl, and was 80 pleased
with her appearance that she engaged
her services at once. Something in
the sad, sweet face attracted her and
gave her confidence in the young stran'
ger upon whom grief had laid it:
heavy hand. Mrs. Stevens was tri
fie arbitrary in her way, which Wa
not wholly unpleasant.
miss BREWER" she had said day
or two after arrival, ''you will pardon
me for saying 80, but really if YOU
could bear 10 discard your mourning
should be gratiiied. Black is 50 SOM
ber for the children; they do not like
tit oppresses them. You can lay il
aside. cal: YOU not? Not that | am un-
feeling,n she added hastily, as Leah'-
ewes filled with sudden tears-"noi
that al all: but if you could bring
yourself 10 do 80 it would be much
ple.,santer for all OF Us" She looked
kindly at the girl standing there with
head dropping and hands clasped ner
yously together. .Do as You thins
b.-t.' she said, ''but if you could veal
white or something bright the children
would like it better. YOU may go now
and think il over,u and Mrs. Steven.
dismissed her with wave of her jew
eled hand.
Leah had gone To her room with an
aching heart and eyes heavy with tears
A weary, helpless, hopeless feeling
surged through her, making her fee
herself more and more friendless and
alone. Even her mourning dress, thu
visible token of respect and love fol
the dear dead mother must he laid
aside. "Yes, must" she had said, Il
herself, ''for it means bread and butte
To me-"
That night Mrs. Stevens noted with
approval the simply-made gown o.
soft cream-color which fell 80 artistical
ly around the slender figure, and con
graduated herself upon the success o
her scheme. She had kind heart, af
ter all. "She will be happier because
of il. poor thing" she said to herself
II do hope she and the children vii
get along well together"
And so while the July sun lay warn
upon the san>.s and the distant sail fad
ed into the horizon, Leah sat with sad
dark yves turned toward the children
She had grown TO love them tenderiy
and though they were selfish litti
creatures and dearly spoiled by an owe
indulgent mother, they gave evidence
of loving their young governess in n
turn. Leah liked to feel their soft lii
tie arms about her neck, and the warn
cheeks laid against hers; she liked +