The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-10-10

His wife was beautiful, accomplished
and refined, and so were his two charm
ing sisters and as for his stately, high
pred, aristocratic brother, he was on,
u shine and dazzle in the proudest so
ciety-to be the envy of men and tn,
admiration of women.
Such a family, as this, living in fine
style, keeping horses, carriages and q
host of servants, and giving grand en-
tertainments, could not long be ignor.
ed by the most exclusive of the old
families, and the ice once broken, the
footing once secured i'm society, every
thing rolled along as smoothly rs il
they had lived i'm town for generations.
Having myself entered society at the
top, in the manner have shown, /
naturally came i'm contact with the
M'cLysaghts I; and after closely study
ing each member of the family for a
while, | allowed myself TO become in
fatuated with the bewitching sisters,
without designating either as my
choice.
L talked with them, rode with them,
sang and played with them, and had
the vanity To believe that had become
the favorite of both, and that | was
equally preferred by the stately dark
eyed Norah and the sweet-voiced, blue
eyed Mary. But then / was figuring
as millionaire.
Was l losing sight all this time of
the business that called me to town? |
did not think so myself, though it
might have had that appearance to
another.
One day, when riding out with the
two young ladies, we passed fine man
sion half mile from the town, the
owner of which L shall call Mr.. Ker-
wick.
The Kerwicks, besides being the old
est family in the locality, were also
known TO be very wealthy.
They had been the victims of the rob
bers about a year previous, and had
lost in money, plate and jewels to the
amount of close upon several hundred
pounds.
Experience with some people goes
for nothing" l remarked, looking,
toward the house, which stood i'm the
center of grounds of transferable extent
and was surrounded by lofty trees
''the more they learn the less they
seem to know, and sometimes won
der how they manage to keep out of
the fire."
"What is the matter now, Mr.. Cy-
nic?" inquired Norah, with laugh.
"Why, | was just thinking of this
stupid Kerwick."
''What of him."
''In my estimation, he lacks good
senss."
"Most people do, in your estimation,"
joined in Mary. "You seldom have
an approving word for anybody"
'Then you ladies should appreciate
what | say of you all the more"
''What we hear, we do" said Norah
''but we tremble to think what may
he said by so sarcastic Judge when
we are absent"
"Oh, if | only dared to speak as rap
turously in your presence ~
''Faint heart never won fair lady,"
quoted Norah.
81 shall remember that axiom,r re-
turned |.
''And in the meantime pray don't
forget your stupid Mr.. Kerwick," said
Mary, with a slight pout, as if from a
touch ofjealousy.
"Ah, Mr.. Kerwick-true. Well,
now see if you do not agree with me "a
| state the case. About "A year ago he
was robbed, as you probably have
heard, and lost property to the amount
of 900, as he himself told me. Now,
what do you think? With that ex-
perience so fresh in his memory, you
would hardly suppose he would wan.
to tempt fate again. But he does, or
will, in spite of my advice to the con-
trary. This morning he received g.
900 from his son, an extensive pork
curer in Chicago, to be invested in
good securities. He intended going to
Belfast to-day to consult stockbroker,
but something came in the way. Hav-
ina I..lt 10. ha in
cidentally mentioned these facts.
"'But this large sum of money you
have, of course, deposited in the bank
in the meantime ?" said /.
"'No,' he answered. Il merely lock-
ed it up in my desk. 1t will be quite
safe there"
''Not if your servants know about it,
or someone breaks in, as happened TO
you before" | replied.
"My servants know nothing about
it, he returned and as for burglars
well, lightning never strikes twice in
the same place you know"
''Now," l observed to the ladies, 81
should feel ashamed of risking 50 much
i'm so reckless Manner
As | concluded, the two charming
girls exchanged glances; and then
Norah said with half-concealed d
yawn,-
"If people will be so stupid they
ought to lose their money; but in this
case, if Mr. Kerwick has not mention
the matter to anyone except yOu, of
course his money is just as safe in his
desk as it would be in the bank"
"Ah, if! Well, if careless in one
thing he may be careless in all. He
may have told dozen of Others for
what / know. However, il is no affair
of mine, and really beg pardon for
mentioning so uncongenial a matter in
50 charming presence"
On reaching the home of my fair
companions, shortly before dinner they |
did not press me TO remain and take
"pot luck" with them, rs they usually |
did but Norah had headache and |
Mary was dreadfully tired; so we ex-
changed good wishes and sweet good |
bys, and l rode back to the hotel.
Curiously enough, Mr.. Kerwick was
there, waiting to see me, and l at once |
took him into my private room and |