The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-11-04

company.
General Sprague called one evening
on the Drews, and in ten minutes drop
ped a bOmb-shell at Audrey's feet.
There's Ned Narroway gone and
got married. Went to his wedding
week ago. There's the paper, Miss Au-
drew-girls like to read about we'd
| dings-it makes them think of their
own-ha, hal ha.
" Do tellp' cried Mrs. Drew. "Ned
married?"
al don't see why anyone should be
surprised, mother" said Audrey. 'Its
the natural fate of young men,"
$50 it is,'' said the general. ''I mean
TO try it myself some day."
Audrey took the paper to her room
and read the notice:
'On the lst of August, Mr.. Edward
Narroway to Helen, youngest daught-
er of Howard Hotspur, Esquire"
Therein, so she believed, lay her
worlds end.
Mother" said Audrey, week after
this, ''you know Miss Rose always has
wanted me to come to her and learn
millinery. I'd like to go now"
There amt any need Of your pas
daughter learning trade"
"But could make our hats and save
lot.n
SO the girl had her way. She only
wanted TO let her heart break away
from tender watchful eyes. The farce
of cheerfulness could be played no
longer.
In fortnight Audrey went to New
York To learn 10 make bonnets. She
wrote letters home to the effect that she
was very happy; but she stitched indie
fatigably, thought and wept by stealth,
grew pale and coughed. In fact, nom
sense as you may think it, Audrey was
dying of broken heart.
1t was October, and the twilights
were warm and golden at home, the
foliage gorgeous in its bright decay. In
the city the few trees were sere and
sombre, and all the gorgeousness was
in the shop windows.
About five o'clock one day, when
Audrey, who had been to Brooklyn,
came down toward the ferryboat, think
ing hard upon a subject which had tor
mented her for long time-Ned Mar
roway's photograph. She had il still,
and he was another wOman's property.
She was doing wrong; she must destroy
it. Why not toss it into the river? Her
hand was on the chain-she took a step
forward.
LET me take your shopping bag"
just then said voice she knew.
She turned her eyes that way. There
stood three persons-Ned Narroway, a
young lady to whom lie had spoken,
and an elderly gentleman. Audrey
dared not meet them. She turned to-
ward the boat, not needing her steps
not noticing that the boat had left her
moOrings.
''Stopr' cried dozen voices
But the girl had gone too far to stop.
In second more the waters had en-
quilted her.
"Don't go, Ned" cried sweet young
voice, and two hands clutched his arm.
"Let me aloner' cried the young
man fiercely, shaking the fingers away
with jerk.
Now there are two figures in the dark
water instead of one, and Ned's voice
cried in Audrey's ear:
"Be calm. Don't cling to me, and
will save you"
She was quite insensible, and Ned,
dripping himself, carried her into a
house near by, and gave her over to the
care of the go0d-natured Irish landlady
who soon had her warm and conscious
of this world again.
"She's quite herself, sir" said the
woman, coming out to Ned, ''and will
see you in a minute. I've just brought |
her jewelry and things to you. L can't
watch every one going in and out of
the house"
Ned took the glittering handful
pin, little silver portmonnaie, and a
chain with framed picture attached. |
In a moment more he gave a cry. How |
she came by it he could not guess, but |
the face he saw through the blurred |
wet glass was his own.
Half an hour afterward he was kneel- |
ing beside Audrey, who reclined in a !
great arm chair in the landlady's best |
room.
"Thank God, you are safe, Audreyr'
he said. "I.ife would have been worth |
less without you, my little darling"
At these words, weak as she was,
Audrey started to her feet.
"How dare youl You have risked |
your life for me, know, but that does |
not warrant you in speaking so. What |
have | done to lead you to insult me?"
she cried.
10 Insult you, Audrey! God iorDld |
that should ever do thatr'
"Words that single man may speak
without vexing girl are insults from
a married man. Your wife"
my what?'
.'Your wife would
''Stop, Audrey. Answer me. What |
do you mean by my wife? ! am not
married.
Not married! we saw the notice |
in tie papers-Edward Narroway to
Helen Hotspur. l read it myself, and
/ saw her with you on the dock.n
Edward Narroway is married to
Miss Hotspur," said Ned, "and you
saw her on the dock; but it is my uncle
who has wife, and the lady you no.
ticed is my aunt by marriage. She
x.-z,,Il h.x-.. sx;xra,, l.or f,.nl ~.