The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-10-23
SOMERSET. Pa WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1895

lady's body. She was in no hurry,
however. There was a visitor upstairs
waiting for him.
- man gasped Brandon, with a
sinking heart, as his mind flew to in
reviewers But it was a lady, rs he
quickly discovered, and that lady,
Minnie. His heart beat rapidly, his
breath came quickly, his eyes CLEANED
brightly, and he was about to catch
her in his arms when hc remembered
that she belonged To another, and the
memary crushed him.
He attempted TO speak, but sudden
attack Of asphyixia stilled his tongue,
and he sank into chair and covered
his face with his hands, while the
lump that had risen in his throat al
most choked him.
AREN'T you well, Brandon ~ Min
ME inquired, alarmed at his appear
ance. She placed her small hand low
ingly upon his burning forehead, but
ne WINGED at the touch as though it
was something that hurt him. "Are
YOU i'll. dear - and she sank on her
knees and strove to pull his hands
from his face.
at was only joke, darling, only'a
joke" She cried piteously, her eyes wet
with tears. II am not goingto marry
Olcott."
Brandon sat upright suddenly, his
face very white.
you are not" as lie caught her
wrists in a frantic grasp.
"No, no. Forgive me, dearest.
thought if told you that, you would
fancy / was happy, and 50 be able to
work. You said So"
Brandon sighed deeply, bent forward
and kissed her.
~ might have killed myself he re-
marked presently.
"You hld too much pride" She
was smiling now.
"But why have you come here
again:"
You never wrote TO me, Brandon,
and [ thought I"
s'You feared | should do what you
knew I would not. That's like a wo-
man - and he laughed lightly. "BGt
/ it's all over now, Minnie. have COM
/ pleted my book and sold it to the Ir-
vines for $500. The announcement
OF your engagement kicked my pride
so hard that | had to do something
desperate"
Minnie was a splendid actress.
"What:' craning forward with one
hand Oh her lovers shoulder: $500
/ You darling" and she kissed him ca
ger'y.
"Yes. and there's more to follow.
They are certain it will be success,
and they claim the refusal OF all my
other works. God bless you Minnie.
But for ou-you've got to share this
with me -
He threw the gold and notes upon
the table, bus the girl shrank back.
go, no, Brandon, your brains earn
ed It'll; i all yours? Yes! We will
share il. and all that Is to come. No
refissi you proposed it."
They were married within month.
"A Fin-de Steele Fool" was not a sue
cess. Indeed, it was an utter failure
and one paper remarked that Messrs.
Irvine < Irvine had better close up il
that was the best rubbish they could
secuTe.
How Minnie laughed at that great
unknown scribe who Penned these
lines, Like Brandon he never knew
that Minnie Horton was the real pIb-
Usher of the volume; that she paid
brandon that $3.50, and that she pub
lishcd all his following cfijIsions.
Brandon works merrily on; write:
four hours each day, and sells eact
book as soon rs it Is finished. Strang,
to relate, many Of his works are ou
of print. Though paid for, they hav
never been published. Occasionall.
hc determines to trot around to Irvine
and inquire what they mean by sucl
scandalous conduct; but when this ii
seizes him, Minnie always has some
thing for him to do, and he alway
does it.-BOstOR T'drsicr.