The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-01-10
WHAT SHE SAW.
EMMA A. oPPER.

Happy? Yesl Never had Nettie
Frame looked for such happiness. 1t was
wonderful, incredible.
Would her mother think it too sud-
den? No, no; not when told all about
ii. Ithad been three long months that
she had been here with Aunt Julia, who,
extravagant woman, owned two summer
cottages elsewhere, but who so greatly
preferred this big, jolly, lovely hotel on
Cliff Isle that she had come hither for
two entire seasons, bringing her favorite
niece with her. And this summer her
fayorits niece had met Stanley Mayhem,
been loved by him, loved him and prom
ised to be his wife.
Nettie sat in the corner Of great, soft
sofa in the long psrlor, thinking her hap
by thoughts. Only three months. But
how well they knew each other now
Stanley came down from the city ey-
cry night. and every Sunday for all day,
and how her cOntented mind teemed with
sweet memories-of moonlight strolls on
the sandy shore; Of quiet hours on a
rustic bench on the hill of grabbing and
fishing on his little skiff; of long talks,
only bright and friendly at first, then
something more of the moment when
he had spoken and she had yielded her
full trust to him; Of the blessed two weeks
since then.
She had written to her mother and she
had told her Aunt Julia and she wonder
ed if she ought not to tell Eleanor Wells.
Why hadn't she? Eleanor and she was
chums, and Eleanor was an old friend OF
SANKEY'S family in the city, and was the
one girl besides herself to whom Stanley
paid any attention.
Was she, perhaps, just the least little
mite jealous of that old friendship, and
Of Stanley's frank admiration of Flea
nor? Was it because of that lurking
little doubtfulness that she had not con-
fided her happiness to Eleanor ?
Nettie was ashamed Of the feeling. OF
course he admired a handsome, clever
girl. He himself had introduced them,
and wanted them to be friends, as they
were. 1t was herself whoal ne loved.
Was not that enough for her? Did it
notseem to fill her world with radiance
She would go and find Eleanor this
minute and tell her. She would tell how
she almost wondered that he had not
chosen her instead and they would laugh
together-probably cry little--and have
good talk.
She must hurry. Ii was after seven
o'clock now, and he would be down on
the eight o'clock boat tonight, he had
told her because he had little extra
work at the Office. She would just have
time, when she had seen Eleanor to get
into her prettiest gown for him. She
rose, smiling and flushing, and went trip
ping down the long room humming a
gay air.
A huge, gilt-framed mirror was at the
end oft. She stopped suddenly, in the
act Of passing it.
He had come. There he was Just en-
tering the farther door of the parlor.
Eleanor Wells was with him.
Nettie stood waiting, her eyes fasten-
ed on tie mirror which reflected them,
The moment she stood there seemed
to her an eternity. Her smile faded, q
quiver passed over her, and her face
took ona marble coldness; for she had
seen Stanley Mayhem stoop over Flea
nor Wells-seen her raise her pretty,
graceful head, and seen their lips meet
Herself they had not seen. Poor Net
tie She turned away. Her trembling
hands were clasped so tightly that ii
hurt her her breath came in little, mis-
erable gasps.
She hardly knew what she was doing,
when she passed out across the broad
piazza, and, bareheaded went gropingly
out into the thickening dusk.
10 be alone-to get away from every
body and everything-that was her be-
wildered longing.
"He must haSe come by the seven
o'clock boat" she said to herself me-
chanically again and again.
And that was at first as far as her
thoughts would go for she could not be-
lieve what she had seen.
"No, nor she whispered, wringing
her hands. at wasn't Ssanley!p as
though every feature of his, every look,
were not familiar and dear to her.
She found herself mounting the hill,
and reaching the rustic seat where they
had sat together so often, she sank down
aud there she pressed her face on the
rough wood and tried to think.
Think? She could not. One thing
blinded her TO all besides and stified
fhought--fhe remembrance Of that which