The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-04-15

after.
''One is an invalid-is almost near
the end of his life think, the second,
though not nearly so i'll, is so cross L
should think all his folks would be
glad when he is gone over. Now, that
seems hard, but why need people be so
disgreeable?
OF the ladies, Mrs. Ais wealthy, and
wants every one to know it. She
thinks money is all.
Mrs. b. is in reduced circumstances.
There seems to be a flavor of better
days about her. She makes the best
spread of what is left though.
Miss X. Is lady Of uncertain age
II she would get a good match on her
false hair she would look better. She
simpers and always wants gentleman
around to kill the snakes and bugs
when at a picnic.
Mrs. +. is boay, angular and suspi
cious, always watching to see if some
body isn't doing something injudicious.
Fan and give her plenty of opportu-
nifty, for we always manage to act our
worst when her green eyes are watch
ing us. Fan is distant relative of
Mrs. C., another lady here. She is so
fat and asthmatic she can't do any
thing except read and knit. She is
really good. 1 like her, and like
Fan sometimes. She is bit free and
sentimental, but then she is only
seventeen.
Miss La school teacher, we do not
often see. She seems tired and sleeps
a great deal. Should think she would
take regular Rip Van Wrinkle nap.
1t must be hard work to teach. don't
think teachers half appreciated
The exception 1 spoke of is Cleval
Ashby. He is very peculiar young
man, twenty-eight years old perhaps.
One day he is as sober and dignified as
judge. Then he seems about forty.
Next day he frolics like boy. Then
lie seems eighteen. He is really nice,
but sometimes / feel quite afraid of
him, and then again / could say any
thing to him.
Certainly he is reliable: any one
would say that. He knows all the
pleasant places here, for he used TO live
here when boy, so We all rely upon
him as a guide. Now you needn't
think am going to fall in love with
him, not bit of it. / wouldn't dare;
beside, he doesn't care for ladies' socie-
ty, and he would never think of silly
thing like me.
Now you know all about US. will
keep you informed il you feel an inter-
est. Thine, - NJ
She folded this and then discovered
that her envelopes wereS. at the
house. She descended from her perch
to go to the house. AS sine came down,
the letter fell unnoticed by her side, and
she walked on leaving the missive be-
hind her.
Meanwhile, down beyond the south
meadow, Cleval Ashby, tired of ang-
ling, stretched himself under an old
pine tree, and using his hat for desk
scratched Off the following epistle
Dear old boy deserve no end of
censure for my silence, but the fact is
felt disinclined to write even To you.
You know there must be some special
reason. You know l promised to tell
you if anything special happened to
me. Well, own up, confess the soft
impeachment and all that. am fair
ly caught and no mistake. There was
never one like her and there never will
be again. She is all my fancy painted
her, but she is as unattainable as the
moon. Have been here five weeks and
will stay while she stays.
You may call me fool if you like,
but can't go until she goes and then
well then | must make up my mind TO
live without her. Does she know?
Not except by suspicion. Her aunt
has hinted to me of the brilliant match |
she expects to make in autumn, so
am dumb of course. Now, that / have
freed my mind to you, have one re-
quest to make. When / see you don't
speak to me of her. could not bear il.
Cupid's arrow, of which you have jest
ed so much about, has struck me very
deep and hard. CA.
He folded it compactly, placed it in
his pocket, intending to add the en-
velope at the house. He hastened, see
ing ii was late, by going by the orch
ard.
As he passed the trees he saw Macy's
letter lying on the grass, and only the
signature "M." AS the pages slipped
in his hand he caught sight of his own
name Could human nature withstand
the temptation to read? He read the
part concerning himself. He sat down
on the grass to think. shouldn't dare"
he repeated, 'that means, of course, she
is not at liberty, if she were inclined.
''There is but one M among Us, so
it must be Macy. And to think she is
afraid of me- don't wonder. / must
be ferociously cross some days. / have
to be stern to keep myself well in hand.
She's silly. I'll find a way to dispos-
sess her of that idea. To me she is the
wisest woman in the world. Well, she
has evidently lost this and must car
ry it to her."
He placed it in his pocket and walk
ed on. Then a thought occurred to
him. "She will miss it and come here
to look for il. / will leave it and she
need not know that have seen it."
He retraced his-steps, took the letter
from his pocket and replaced it on the
grass. Had he examined little closer
he would have seen that it was his own
letter he had put there.
He was right in his conjecture. He
met Macy who was on her way to
search for it. She returned to her room
and decided to add a postscript. When
she opened it she saw it was not hers.
She looked for the signature. IL read
&c. A" "There is only one &C. A.
among us-it must be Cleval Ashby's."
She resoluteiy closed her eyes to the
temptation to read it and started to find
him. He was out in a hammock.