The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-02-13
MISS SCAMPER.
BY THOMAS DUNN ENGLISH.

None at the Rappaqua Sulphur
Springs knew who Miss Scamper was.
and few cared to know. She came with
AN old gentleman, who registered the
pair as -. Scamper and grand-tlaught-
er, New York city" They were doubt
less poor folks on Il holiday. They had
no servants with them. The old man
wore a suit OF rather rusty black, and
his trunk, an antique leathern conve-
niency, bore the letters ;. :. in brass
headed nails. The young woman's
trunk-she had but one-was large
enough, and of modern make, bat il
was apparently not well filed since
she had shown but three dresses all the
three weeks she had remained. One
of these, of rich material, she wore of
evenings; the other two, of some wash
able material, were worn alternately in
day time. She had no jeweiry beyond
Il plain gold brooch. One of the eligi-
bic young men there said that "1'he
Scamper has one sunday go-to-mectin'
and two worll-day suits" forwhich his
neighbor should have Kicked him but
didn't. The eligible young man was
looking for an eligible mate IN the per-
son of Miss Bolsover, the great heiress,
whom the society paper had said was
coming 10 the Rappaqua; though, as
she hasn't come, the Browns young
man of the society paper labored under
a delusion. The match making dow
ayers did not fear this modest, pretty,
and well-c,;ltured young woman, for
the gilded youth, who We're also lying
in wait for Miss Bolsover, much more
gilded, did not dangle in her train. In
deed, she had no train. Her business
was to look after her poor grandfather,
who was not in good health, and with
whom the waters seemed to agree.
Didymus DOdd, who had scraped an
acquaintance with old Scamper, as the
fellows irreverently called him, seemed
10 be her admirer; but Didymus was
nobody. He was well-made, tall, hand
some, and of good address; but he was
only an upper clerk in n Philadelphia
life insurance company. To be sure,
he would be superintendent after jan
uary, rice Higgins, retired and super
animated, and would then draw sal
AIRY of five thousands a year. But no
one knew that, and the possible good
fortune to poor Miss Scamper and had
they known, five thousand year was
no great matter. 80 the field was left
to Miss Scamper and welcome.
Didymus only began paying atten-
tons to Miss Scamper out of courtesy,
and because no one else did; but the
more he saw of her the better he liked
her and it ended in his being badly hit.
As he and she were the only impecu-
nious persons at the old and old-fash-
ioned resort-the other visitors count
ing their dollars well up in the hun
dred thouSands-the matter attracted
attention and by way of getting both
out of the way of marriageable sons
and daughters, scheming mothers lent
the affair all quiet encouragement pos
sible. And this passed into "A more ac-
tive nature from two little incidents
that occurred about ten days before the
end fthe two months vacation of
Didymus.
There was Mrs. De Nyse mt the
Springs, who was well known as an
amateur vocalist Of merit, and whose
voice, though little reedy in the upper
notes, had been trained 50 well as to
make her worth hearing. One even
ing, when few were in the parlors,
her friends besought her TO favor them,
and 80 on, and she expressed her read
iness, but there happened to be no ac-
companyist. Miss Scamper, who was
chatting near by with Didymus looked
up, and quietly said, Perhaps | can
serve you in that way, Mrs. D. Nyse. +"
"Can you play at sight, Miss Seam
perez inquired Mrs. DE- Nyse.
Miss Scamper nodded assent, and
seated herself at the piano forte, and
accompanied the voice with such good
judgment the singer was delighted.
II wish could carry you about with
me, my dear" she said. ''Blt do you
not sing? You surely must"
"a little"
Urged 10y all around, Miss Scamper,
To her own accompaniment, sang an
aria II TrOratOrc. Her voice proved to
be a rich soprano, of full register, clear
as silver bell, and admirably cultivat-
ed. There was moments pause when
she had done, as though not to lose a
note, and then II storm of applause.
Here was sensation. Everybody
talked of her method, and the gilded
youth were in raptures. The mammas
conferred, and concluded that Miss
Scamper was member of some church
| choir, or attached to some English
opera troupe, who knew? But they
were civil. There was party going
over to Almont, Col. Parsifali's place,
next day. Would she go? She assent
ed. Didymus said to her in a low
voice:
at is a riding party, Miss Scamper.
/ know the best horse in the livery-sta-
bile here, and if you'll permit me, III
secure it for you"
To which she replied in the same
tone: 'Thank you, Mr. Dodd you are
very kind, but | have one at my com
mand already. Get that for yourself. "
Somewhat rebuffed, Didymus color
ed, but she added: "Mine shall not
disgrace you," which was distinct in
timation that she expected him a.
escort. The spirits of Didymus rost
| from zarn IN blOo1 heat