The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-11-07
A BAFFLED BEAUTY.

Burt, for whom she had formed 20
many ambitious schemes for marrisge,
was even now in love with shop
girl.
Ada informed her further that the
store where this person worked was
opposite her brothers. club, and that
Burt was always seen waiting in the
neighbOrhOod until the shop girl finish
ed her work, when she joined him
outside.
This news was a terrible shock TO
Kate Netherby, who thought that no
woman in the world was quite good
enough for her brother. When he
came home that night and they sat
down together at dinner she lost no
time in berating him for his conduct in
no measured terms. He waited calmly
until she had finished her accusation
and replied with some dignity:
IL will not deny, as you seem To think
| will, that the story with which some
meddling busybody has filed your ears
is true. Its, every word Of IT, Two
months ago, by the mercst accident,
saw and fell in love with the ioveliest
girl | ever set my eyes upon. That
she was hOnorably working for her
maintenance only made her nobler in
my estimation. ! procured an in
PRODUCTION, not without difficulty. Az
ha. ri 4 a -.
often-I may say frcquently-and
several times / insisted, when the
weather was stormy, upon seeing her
home. Kate, it never entered my mind
that you had any Of tina. lOw-bred
pride that would deem il derOgatOry To
person to be obliged to earn her living.
You complain that / have deceived
YOU. 10 was not deceit, bat reluctance,
for until learned my fate did not
care to speak to YOU about il. And -
probably you would never have heari
anything about il had il not been f,r
your informant, for my fate has been
learned-tO my cost"
The conclusion Of his sentence
brought Kate to her feet.
''To your cost? Burt, what do YOU
mean? -"
simply" he replied, ''that your bro
ther has had his self-esteem pretty
effectually crushed out Of existence.
The girl love ears not the least for
me, save" bitterly. ''as friend.'
With the last words Burt's head sank
into his hands.
Kate looked at him aghast. Never
before had she seen shadow upon her
idOlized brothers frank, merry face,
and now IL was no mere cloud but
tempest Of suffering that cOnvulsed his
features. She went To him and put her
arm about his neck, anger and pride
completely routed.
''My poor brother, i il as bad as
this? Forgive, oh, forgive me, if | have
wounded you / never will again"
And 20 they are recoaciled, and for
a time everything goes on as before.
Then something happens that has the
finger Of fate impressed on IL Burt,
who has always justly prided himself
on his hOrsemanship, while riding in
the park is thrown.
The Netherby household is a sad one
that night, for in his darkened room
Burt lies, now delirOus and now lapsing
into uneOnsciOusness. In his fall his
head had come in contact with sharp
stone, and grave injury had been the
result
One morning a small, richly-dressed
lady enteres Mr.. Hensels music store.
Although her figure is far from stately,
there is in her bearing that unmistaka-
BILE something that tells of social i'm
pOrtance and refinement.
MAY I speak with Miss Leonard for
a few moments in private" she asks,
eOurteOusly.
Her wish i granted, and little later
Kate finds herself alone in the pro-
prietor's private Office with the young
lady she had come % see.
A. her eye ryst upon the pure. noble
face, with it, soulful eyes and sensitive
mouth, kate's wonder at what she had
hitherto termed in her mind "Burt'-
infatuation" die. Taking Mis- Leon
ards hand. she plung,- at once into
the object of her visit.
II am Mis- Nethcrby, Blrt's sister"
she says. "IIc has told me u hi- love
for you and % your rsfi-aL have
come To satisfy my--lf a. O. why that
refusal wa- given-ifit it eouli po--ihly
IT, that where my brother Lowell hc Wa
not car,-d cor In return. or II there were
not some other underlying rsa-un- lie
i very IN perhap- diving. Mis- Leon
ard, and upon your reply hi fate may
re-t."
Mr.. Netherby dying oh, do not
say soe'
Have YOU, then, not heard of the
accident-of his being thrown from his
hor-e 90
'.No. Oh unsay four words he may
be very IN, but not not hopeles-ly.' -
Time alone can tell that, bat your
agitation convinccs me of something
that have felt must be ~. IL was not
because YOU did not love my brother
that YOU refused him"
\ wave Of crimson swept over the
lovely face, and a. she raises her eyes
Kate -ees that they are fun Of tears
"You are right" she answers softly.
s'It was not lack Of love, but my stub
born pride. had heard Of his wealth
and high social position. ] was poor,
working for my daily bread II might
be said married for mercenary reasonsi
80 hid my heart and said-'NO.'"
''But you will unsay it-you will
come with me and save him Oh,
listen To me, for what | ask Is as much
for my own sake a. for BIrt's, for, like
him, have fallen in love with you at
first sight. Sister, will you not come ~
What gentle woman heart could
resist such pleading?
Burt lives; whether il il the sight Of
Faith LeOnard's lovely face that cured
him or not. il i certain that from the
moment he felt the clasp of her soft,
worm fingers, and heard her sweet
a.. 4 a ..-a.rsl. - their