The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-06-12
MARGARET'S LOVE.

Right by the old sun dial / saw her
first about her was a blaze of sunshine;
blood-red and virgin white roses bent
their beauteous heads beside her. A
hundred sweet scents mingled with the
warm odor of ripening fruit, and the
drowsy hum of a solitary bee was the
only sound that disturbed the summer
stiffness.
| had met her brother a month before
in London. We had been school-fel-
lows once upon a time, and when, after
years of separation, we encountered and
recognized each other, lie gave me an
invitation to come and see him.
Having accepted his invitation and
apprised him of the day and hour of
my arrival, certainly expected to find
some sort of a conveyance awaiting me
at the small rustic station.
Such was not the case, 50, with the
solitary porter's assistance, engaged
fly to convey me to my destination.
When we stopped before a pretty,
low-storied house, whose white walls
were nearly covered with ivy and other
creeping plants neat maid servant
opened the door. The expression of
astonishment which the sight of my
luggage for brief instant called forth
was quickly suppressed As she bade the
driver deposit it in the hall and usher
cd me into the dining-room.
had not been there many minutes
when the master of the house entered.
"My dear fellow" he began almost
before he had opened the door, az don't
know how TO express my regret. /
have been so busy lately-I am writing
a series of articles for the Weekly Ga
zette-that put your letter aside and
forgot to tell my people you were COM
ing.n
pray, don't apologize, if am in the
way" began.
"No, no; not at all" he hastily in
terrupted; ''only am sorry You had to
come from the station by yourself.
Would you like little refreshment
now, or will you wait till dinner time?
We dine in half an hour"
81 should prefer waiting" / replied.
"Then come up TO my room at once.
Your own shall be gotten ready while
you are at dinner"
Thus speaking, my host led me to his
chamber, an apartment of ample di-
mensions, but GRAINED with books,
pamphlets and periodicals.
Telling me to make use of whatever
| might require, he begged me TO ex-
cuse him, as he had still few para
graphs TO add to an article he wished
dispatched by that nights post.
"If | am not back by the time you
have finished your toilet you are pretty
certain to find my sister in the draw
ing room," he added as he left me.
/ made the best of myself that was
possible under the circumstances, and
as brushed my hair was even able to
smile at Robert Elliot's short memory
and the surprise which my coming
must have been to his sister
He did not return, so ventured
downstairs unaccompanied. An open
door showing an interior of softly-tint-
ed harmony of books and pictures and
flowers, with lace drapery fluttering in
the gentle breeze, and a delicate tone of
blue prevailing the furniture, guided
me to the drawing-room.
1t was empty, however, but as gaz-
cd around at the many signs of taste
and refinement scattered about, my
preconceived notion of Miss Elliot, rs
middle-aged spinster in spectacles and
wiry ringlets, who ruled her brother
and his household with impartial sew
erity, and who attired herself in sad
colored garments, began to waver and
grow dim.
There was youthful appearance
about this room somehow, a homelike
carelessness of arrangement which to-
gether with the open workcase, fitted
up with very fragi.e-looking tokens of
industry, gold thimble set in a rim of
precious stones, gilded scissors, and a
very fairy's web of dainty embroidery,
relieved my mind of the fear lest
might be domiciled with one of my
special horrors "a strong-minded,
STRAIGHTFORWARD female, delighting in
Dorcas meeting, coarse calico and fam
mel petticoats.
The smooth, green lawns, the sur
rounding beds dazzling in pomp ofpur-
pie and gold, scarlet and blue, tempted
me through the open window, and the
auaintness of the floral arrangements
Iured ME onward from path to path.
And so walking slowly along l came
face to face with my "Queen of Beauty
my "Star of Light" her claspsd hands
resting on the moss-grown stone, her
eyes dreamy and downcast, the rich
blood mantling i'm her cheeks, and the
pale cream hue of her dress suiting adj
mirably the magnificent coloring OF
skin and hair.
Screened from view by clump of
everyreens, stared on spellbound. L
had seen many handsome women. De