The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-09

state of restless anxiety, and every day
found him at the store, waiting for the
arrival of the mail which the stage
brought daily from Stoper's station.
One evening the postmaster handed
him letter in large, official envelope.
He stared at it a moment in bewilder-
ment. Then he glanced at the post
mark and next at the printed words on
the corner, his heart giving a great
bound. Governors Office" were the
first words that caught his eye, and
thrustine the letter into his pocket he
walked towards the door.
"What's the news, Sol?" asked the
postmaster, whose curiosity was raised
TO a high pitch by the sight of the
letter.
"It's only er letters from the guv'-
nor" he he replied, loftily, and open
ing the door, he went out.
ats my 'pointment," he muttered
to himself, as he hurried across the
prairie in the direction of his little
cabin. 1t was getting dark when he
reach home. He replenished the smok
ing fire, lighted small kerosene lamp,
then seated himself in one of the low
splint-bottomed chairs, he drew the
letter from his pocket. He gazed at it
for some time in fond anticipation be-
fore venturing to break the seal.
eyes, it's from the gov'nor" he said,
as he opened the missive and spread it
out under the rays of the lamp. "I
recken he thought he'd give me sur
prise by sending the 'pointment by
mail. It's good thing / told the
squire to mention bout Lige, an'-the
twin. But let's see what he sez."
He read as follows:
STATE OF k"
Executive Department.
Governors Onice,
january Il, lSl-
"Mr. Solomon Holt, Benton's Postoffce, *,
Ny Dear Sir: Yours of January received.
We note your application for position
as one of the guards at the penitentia-
say that the same will be filed and carefully
considered with other applications.
Yours very Truly,
Al. l.. BRIGHTON,
"Private Secretary"
The letter fell from Solomon's hand,
while look of deep disappointment
came over his face.
'"Tain't the ointment after all, /" he
muttered, then relapsed into silence.
The disappointment was a severe one
to him, but he did not lose hope. He
read the letter many times, studying
its every word. How cold and formal
il all seemed. 1t was not even written
by the governor himself as he would
have wished. Perhaps the governor
had no. seen his application at all.
He could hardly believe that such a
formal note would have been written
to him had the truth been known.
Perhaps he would hear from the gov
ernor later on.
"The gov'nor don't know nothin'
bout this, like as not" he muttered.
al kent b'lieve he'd have sich a letter
as that written the twin brother NV
Lige."
Three days later the squire returned
from the capital and came over to Soils
cabin.
81 didn't have time to write after
learning of the appointment" said the
squire, land as L was coming home L
thought it best to wait till got here
and come over and see you in person."
Sol nodded.
"Im thousand times obleeged ter
ye," he said. al reckon I'll halter be
goin' ter the capital fore long"
The squire shook his head.
"I'm sorry it turned out the way it
did; but you didn't get the appoint
ment."
"What. didn't git it," said Sol, his
face growing a shade paler.
mo; you didn't get it after all. 1t
was given to Bill Shucker, who lives
over on Soap creek"
Solomon Holt sat as if stupefiei gaz-
ing in the smoldering fire. 1t was sew
eral moments before he could find voice
to speak.
aye seed the gov'nor in person?" he
asked at length.
"Yes."
"You tol' him about Lige?"
"Yes."
"An'-an' the twin?''
ayes; but there were so many appli-
sa1ts for o.fice-u
81 reckon he never knowed Lige,"
said Sol, in sort of hopeless, detected
way, as if speaking to himself. "No,
he couldn't a-knowed Lige."
He sat there gazing gloomily into
the fire long after the squire had taken
his departure. The darkness deepened
around him; the fire died out and the
cabin grew bitterly cold. Still he sat
motionless, his chin resting in his
hands. He was thinking of-well, no
matter; his lot had been a hard one;
his life had been fierce struggle with
poverty and want-yes want. He had
not always had even the necessaries of
life. If he had got the appointment
he expected he might have got along;
but now
He shivered like one with a chill,
and rising, he groped his way to his
cold, hard bed.
Three days later some of the neigh
bors came to the cabin, to find him i'm
dying condition. Pneumonia, the
doctor said. He had but q short time
to live, that was the verdict of all who
looked into his pinched and wasted
face.
They gathered about him as the end
drew near. He lay as if he were al
ready dead, save when he would muir
mur some ineoherent sentences.
"Yes, the gov'nor'll know Lige," he
said, in faint whisper, his mind wan
dering. "Tell him-Tm his twin
BROTHER
He lay silent for a long time, his
breath coming family. Presently he
spoke again.
"It's long dark road" he said,
feebly, "but l ken see the light now.
It's gettin' closer an closer! / see 'em
comini Ter take me up thar-How