The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-08-05

"Mr. HITLER p' she called out.
"Miss Laura p' responded the young
gentleman, with smile of provoking
GOODNESS.
"Do you see this flag ?' waving it
proudly. This means war to the
knife from this hour between you and
me-"
"As you please" said Alfred serene
ly. "But let us keep up at least the
semblance of civilized warfare before
the Others"
"Very good" said Laura, retiring
with final wave, while Alfred laugh
ed quietly TO himself.
Early the next morning Laura stood
i'm the garden waiting for her aunt.
The horse was harnessed, waiting to
take them TO the village where Miss
Southwell did all her marketing. She
had been trying for some weeks to in
doctrinate Laura into its mysteries,
and the young lady proved herself an
apt scholar.
The old-fashioned, pleasant house
which Miss Southwell and her brother
had occupied some thirty years stood
on hill in the outskirts of the village.
The grounds were tastefully laid out,
the mountain air delicious and invig-
Grating.
There could not be a more glorious
morning than this, yet the expression
of trouble on Laura's pretty face show
ed that her mood was not in harmony
with the day.
$50 provoking" she muttered, "that
| should have lost my temper that way!
But it was bad enough to have my ball
croqueted way to the ends of the earth
without his looking 50 pleased over il.
Sophie Higley, too, Growing over
Mr.. Palmer and me as she did Ii was
real unladylike. And to think of her
whispering to Mary Shaw that was
"A little stinging cockatricep / can
never get over that"
At that moment Maria, one OF their
servants, came running down the piaz-
"a steps. She looked so frightened that
Laura's heart leaped TO her mouth.
''Oh, Miss Laura, your aunt's hurt
her ankle bad, and Pm most 'fraid it's
broke. She was halfway down the
stairs when she fell, and her whole
uaiolf aonna nm n
But Laura was in the house by this
time. She found her aunt i'm her room,
front chamber opposite the stairs
down which she had fallen.
Miss Southwell lay on the lounge,
looking very pale, but composed, and
said in soothing tone 10 Laura, "Don't
be frightened child; my ankles not
broken, only badly sprained. Ksty's
drawing me some hot water to shower
it with. And now, dear, as your uncle
is away, / ieel that you and Alfred
must he my main dependence"
"You and Alfred" 1t seemed an odd
conjunction. But Laura only murmur-
ed as she laid her cheek against Miss
Southwell's, "What can we do for you
dearest aunty."
Aunt Lefty kissed the girl affection
ately. ''Our friends from New York
will be here this afternoon, as you
know, and am sure they will spend
at least a week with Us. Judging from
past experience, / fear l shall be laid
up some time with this sprain. Now,
Laura, you have proved yourself such
a capable little hOusekeeper on one or
two occasions that / feel | can trust
you even with company in the house.
And then our girls are so capable"-
with smile at Katy, who came in just
then with the hot water.
"Bless you ma'am, we'll do beauti-
ful," said Katy, though it's sorry i
am to see you laid up"
"Well, Laura, | want you to go to
market the first thing. Your cousin
will drive you over, know. Don't be
afraid to call upon him for anything.
I've always found him kind and obIig-
ing. And then ne has such good judg-
ment. Here is the list of things want
you to order"
Whatever misgivings Laura felt, she
did not make them known.
"I'll do just what you tell me, aunty,"
she said, with unwonted docility.
"Now, please attend to that poor ankle
right away. Shan't we stop at the
doctors and ask him to come around ?"
"No, no; I'm an old hand at sprains,
and can treat il oetter myself.
"Well, don't worry, precious aunty,
for we'll all do our very best" said
Laura.
But "a she descended the stairs she
felt half afraid, half rebellious.
81 hate to ask him." she murmured
to herself. "How did he treat me last
night, and this morning, too. Why,
he would scarcely look at me-"
Yet in her heart there was a secret
longing to be friends with her cousin.
She was too proud to apologize, but an
idea struck her just then. Her face
broke into smile, as, taking out her
handkerchief, she tied it to the handle
of her parasol.
'My flag of truce" she said, giving it
a flourish. II shall ask for n suspen-
sion of hostilities till uncle gets back. "
Fastening her steps, she tripped off
in the direction of the arbor where her
cousin was wont to smoke his morning
cigar.
Yes, there he was, enjoying that mas
culine luxury and the newspaper to-
gether.
Laura slackened her gait now, as she
approached, waving her .'white flag
slowly.
Alfred looked up, and his face relax
ed into a smile. "Well?" he asked
glancing humorously at the handker
chief.
ats flag of truce" said Laura, sol.
EMMY. 1--WE come to request of my
honorable enemy suspension of hOstili-
ties for twenty-four hours.
Agreed" said Alfred, rising and
speaking with such cordial good hu
NOR that Laura felt her heart immense
/ " lightened. "But may ask the rea
son for this move on my fair enemy:
/ mart 9ff