The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-09-08
THE HELMET.

i'S was nOJ tutre, determined TO
brave his anger. Besides, there is
nobody like timid persons fog display
lug courage under certain circum
stances.
My cousin snid nothing; she only
held down her eyes-while her cheeks
were rs red MS those of cherries in
May.
checked myself.
"Are you angry with me?" ]
asked, tremblingIy. "Are you angry
with me, Rose?"
She held out to mo her hand, On
that, my heart secthlng with audacity,
my head on fire, | cried:
Rose swear it? / will be your
husband !" And rs she shook her head
aud looked Mt me sadly, L added
'Oh we'll know that my uncle is
seIf-willed, but 1 will be moro self
wlllcd still; and, since he must be
forced to say yes, | will force him to
say It'll"
But how?" asked Rose.
All ! how? That was exactly the
difficulty. But, no matter; L would
find way to surmount it
AT that moment n heavy step re.
sounded In the street. Instinctivclv
we moved away from each other; |
returned to my double handed sword.
and Rose, to keep herself in counte-
nance. set to busting, with corner of
her apron, little statuette in it's
faded red velvet case.
My uncle entered Surprised mt
indlng us together, he stopped short
and looked sharply Mt IL, from one to
the other.
We each of lis went on rubbing
without raising our heads.
Here, take this" said my uncle.
handing me bulky parcel from un-
der his arm. ga splendid purchase,
you'll see "
The subject did not interest me in
the lenst.
l opened the parcel, and from the
enyeloping paper emerged steel
hcImet-but not an ordinary helmet.
on, no!-a superb, monumental
morton, with gorget and pointed visor
OF strange form. The visor was
raised, and | tried to discover what
ut VIII not go down the hinges
have got ont of order, said my uncle ::
but it's superb piece, md, when it
has been thoroughly cleaned and
touched up, will look we'll THAT shall
be your to morrow's Job"
VERY good, uncle, / murmured,
not daring to raise my eyes to his.
That night, on reaching my room. 1
at once went t. bed was cager to
be alone and able to think nj my ense.
Night brings counsel, it is said; end
] had great need that the provcrb
should prove true. But, after lying
awake for an hour without receiving
any assistance, l fell off to sleep, and,
till next morning did nothing but
dream the oldest dreams. 1 saw Rose
ON her way to church in strange
bridal costume, n fourteenth-century
cap, three feet high, or her head, but
looking prettier than ever; then sud
denly the scene changed to moonlight.
IN which iuuumerable helmets and
pieces OF old china were dancing n
Wild farnnaola, while my uncle, clad
lu complete armor and with u formid.
able hnlberd in his hand, conducted
the bcwlldcring whirl.
The next day-nh, the next day
was no nearer. In vain, with clinched
teeth, | secured the immense helmet
brought by my uncle tue previous
evening scored it With such furry ms
almost to break the iron-not nm idea
came to me. The helmet shone like n
sun my uncle snt smoking his pine
and watching me; but could think
OF nothing aud no why of forcing him
to give mo his daughter
At three o'clock Rose went into tho
country, whence She was not TO return
until dinner time i'm the evening. On
the threshold she could only make n
sign 70 me with her hand my uncle
had not left as alone for SINGLE i'm.
slant. He was not cusy in his mind .
] could zee that by his fnce. No doubt
he had not forgotten our conversation
of the previous evening
] went ON rubbing nc my helmet.
fOu have made DO Qutto BRIGHT
enough put o. down, ' sald NY uncle.
put it down. The storm was patb.
criug ] cpuliuot do better than allow
1t Co blow over.
But suddenly, cgif ovcrtakcn bv fl
strange fancy my uncle took mp tho
enormous morton and turned mud cx
umInod it on a., .idgs.
"a handsome piece Of armor. thcro
is no doubt about DO; but 10 must bnyo
weighed pretty heavily ON it wcnrcr's
shoulders hg Wuttorel; and. URGED