The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-09-11

| was coWaruiy ana uisastrOus tnlhg,
/ declared; and finally | painted a
picture of my rising to dizzy heights
in the United States, and her coming
across to meet me i'm twelve months
time to be my wife.
The picture of making her home in
the United States did not seem to at
tract her, 50 1 altered that part and
in the amended version / returned
after twelve months, with my pile in
my pocket, and We settled in London.
Beside Amy and her people (who
regarded me rs perfect hero, and
gave me keepsakes, to think of them
in the distant land the only person to
whom it was necessary TO announce
my intention was maiden aunt of
mine, who lived i'm Dorking. She told
ME frankly that / was fool. AS she
looked at me with a certain admira-
ton, however, was inclined to think
that in her heart of hearts she was not
without a sentiment of approval for
my action, and was firm once more,
and reiterated the arguments with
which had favored Amy.
My relative gave me an excellent
lunch, and after wishing her an afiec-
tionate farewell, for she had always
been very nice to me, / went back to
town, and commenced my prepara-
tions.
My furniture, consisting of desk,
an arm chair and few dilapidated ar
ticles which forgot, disposed of "at n
sacrifice III ordered couple of suits of
clothes-clothes | understood were dear
in America-and / booked a passage on
the Germania.
Having put my affairs in order and
receiving, to my surprise, letter from
Dorking repeating that l was fool,
and enclosing check for fifty, paid
a.last visit to Threegates, folded Amy
in my arms and sailed.
| enjoyed the voyage immensely.
We had fine weather, sociable people
on board, and / was exhilarated by a
consciousness that was doing noble
and resolute thing. / smoked my pipe
with satisfaction and looked at The
ocean in the moonlight, and Amy's
photograph, with pleasurable senti-
mentality. So much for the trip.
arrived in New York with the best
part of a hundred pounds in my purse
thanks to my aunt's liberality-and
/ went to a hotel, and thence removed
to comfortable boarding house in or
der to give myself time to look around.
No immediate prospect of making a
very large fortune presented itself, and
my money dwindled rapidly.
When / had been in New York a few
months / was glad to forget my anxiety
i'm reading.
learned that there was an admira-
BILE public library near blythe public
libraries of America are better than
ours-and one day strolled in there to
see what of the newest English fiction
/ could procure.
1t was huge building, and in the
upstairs room to which / was directed
| found the attendants were all young
women.
The book had asked for was ''out, !"
but was supplied with another. |
read it and returned il the following
afternoon, when the book | most desir-
ed was ''out' again. This went on for
week-I always missed it-and | ex-
pressed my annoyance at last rather
emphatically.
As / was doing so my eyes fell on
one of the girls behind the counter,
who rivited my attention i'm the most
extraordinary manner for an engaged
man. This girl cannot find prop
er adjective to describe her, well she
was peerless! Her hair was positively
of the most glorious color / had ever
seen OH woman there was a sOupcon
of color i'm it--only soupcon, though
and it had a natural ripple in it all
over. from the whiteness of her brow
down to the base of her divine neck.
Under this, imagine blue eyes, and you
will have an idea of what she looked
like-a veritable goddess.
She had heard my exclamation and
moved forward with a smile.
"What is it you are asking for ?" she
asked.
told her.
ooh" she said, 'you see it is new
book, and of course there is a demand
for it. I'll tell you what I'll do; the
next time it comes i'm will save il for
you"
thanked her cordially, and she
proved as good as her word, for the
following afternoon when presented
myself she nodded directly she saw me
and held it up.
81 am awfully obliged ~ | said.
''That was really kind of you. Have
you had it yourself?'
Eyes"
/ changed my books every day now,
always going to that part of the long
counter where she was standing, and
always admiring her more fervidly
than before. / feasted my eyes on the
girl. If saw her full face, or in pro-
file, or if she had her back to ME, she
was still conspicuous, stately and en-
tirely adorable. i thought about her
when | was at home-I could not ban
ish her from my memory.
How this might have ended who
shall say? Did Amy's dynasty tottel
I'm the balance? l fear, sorely and
tremendously fear, that it did but il
was restored i'm bewildering, and
even disparaging fashion.
Who can conceive my astonishment
when, on entering the library one
morning, 1 saw my divinity with heI
hair cut short-cropped like a boys
was staggered Momen
tarily I had failed to recognize her,
she was so painfully changed. Gone
those intoxicating ripples! gone even
the richness of color! gone the queen
illness of carriage!
"Why~ 1 gasped-I could not sup
press the question-''my dear young
lady, why have you had your hair Gu
since yesterday ?"