The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-09-16

blow, for I had been counting on the
money to buy Jennie's summer dress.
She was rather cross when / told her
she must wait awhile longer"
"My dear little soul ~ said the young
man, ''you are overworked. That is
the simple explanation of the whole
matter"
The kindness of his tone seemed to
altogether break down Mary's compos-
ure, fOr-after a momentary struggle
for calmness-she dropped her head
into her hands and cried heartily.
John Redmond's face presented a
curious study, so many were the emo
tions that passed rapidly over it. He
made an involuntary movement tow
ard the little weeping figure, but the
next moment checked himself, and
waited quietly until Mary herself
spoke.
al don't know what you will think
of me ~ she said, rather shamefaced-
ly, as she wiped her eyes. II don't
know what made me do it, But Pm
so much obliged TO you for letting me
have it out | feel better now"
''To be sure you do" said John, with
friendly and rather tender laugh. ''I
have always understood that a good
cry was great luxury to young
ladies'
'For PHYS sake, don't call me a
young LADY," cried Mary, with an
assumption of her usually energetic
manner. 81 do hate that phrase"
"Just as you please" returned John,
easily. "What shall call you? Nov
elist Journalist ,"
Neither one nor the other" said
Mary, flushing little, shade of her
late dependency again falling upon
her, az am nothing in the world but a
writer of penny love stories, and losing
even the small amount ofcapability re-
quired for that"
'That is nonsense" exclaimed John,
now speaking earnestly. "As / said
before, you are overworked. You have
been doing too much. You brain
needs a rest, and it ought TO have one,
Mary"
"Well it can't just at present." said
Mary, shaking her head very decided
ly. There's Jennie's new dress
and the grocer's bill. shall know no
peace until those two things are off
my mind"
John was silent for minute, but he
looked troubled.
"If / could just get an idea," said
Mary, more hopefully, 81 think | could
work it out. | seemed TO have used up
everything have written about lost
heirs, and lost wills-about the heireSs
who pretended to be poor, and the ad-
ventures who pretended TO be rich. /
have told about the man who express
ed the utmost detestation of 'the new
woman and ended by falling madly
in love with one. ! have related the
history of the girl who determined to
have a career and finally gave up all
for love. These things are worn out,
John They have become so feeble
that am ashamed to press the poor
things into further service"
John smiled.
"They are far from dying, Mary I!
They are full of vitality yet"
"Well, somebody else may have
ther1," said Mary returning the smile.
'At least, for while. / may be glad
to fall back on them some day, but just
now l should like something fresh. All
sorts of queer things are constantly
happening in real life, if / could only
get to hear of them. John, haven't
you an idea of any kind? Or some
little thing that has come within your
own experience? Anything that holds
a tiny spice of romance, you know"
John looked at her for moment,
and seemed inclined to speak. Then
his mind apparently altered, and he
shook his head.
"Ohr' cried Mary, disappointedly,
''that is too bad. You looked exactly
as if you had an idea"
"Well," said John, slowly, "a faint
glimmering did seem to come to me,
but I'm afraid you would think it
silly"
"Do tell mep exclaimed Mary. al
shall be so grateful"
"And / don't know that it is particu-
| larly new" went on John, in the same
doubtful way.
"Well, never mind" said Mary, in
business-like way. "A great deal de-
Sometimes a very hackneyed theme
can be made to sound quite fresh. /
have noticed it in several instances. Go
on, John"
She fixed her eyes on him expectant-
ly, and smile dawned in the young
mans eyes as he looked at her.
as it humorous?" asked Mary inno-
Gently, as she saw the smile.
81 don't know" answered John, re-
lapsing into gravity. That entirely
depends upon how you regard it.
Things appeal so differently to differ
ent minds, don't they?"
"They do," rejoined Mary prompt
". sometimes | have written things
which thought were funny, but other
people entirely failed 10 see the joke !
and on the other hand, have been
laughed at for sentences which were
penned in perfect seriousness. But let
Us proceed with the subject in hand.
/ wish you would begin, John, for the
time is getting on, and | shall be mis-
erable unless / succeed in making a
good start this morning"
"There's lot in making a good start,
isn't thereon asked John, with evident
anxiety.
"Oh great DEAL" said Mary. at
is often the most difficult thing possi-
BILE to start. Once fairly begun the
work is comparatively easy, because
one thing seems to lead to another"
al see" replied John, refiectively.
"Do go on ~ said Mary, impatiently,
at last.
"Well, the fact is, Mary, I''-with
considerable emphasis on the pronoun