The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-04-28
ON A JAUNTING CAR
BY ANNIE F. JOHNSTON.

OF their party at the hotel, TO recover
from the effects of a rough passage,
and had started out TO explore the
| quaint old town.
The jaunting ear ratified along
| through the crooked streets, and turn
ed into wide, smooth avenue, whose
hawthorn hedges were white with
blossoms, and whose wayside trees COW
cred it with cool, deep shade; then
back again into the crooked streets,
where detachment of soldiers passed
them. Look cried Emily with
girlish- enthusiasm, ''there are some
Highlandersr'
A band came next, followed by sew
eral carriages, while noisy rabble of
hooting, barefoot children and bolster
Gus men and women struggled after.
"What is the matter?n she asked of
the driver, who had stopped his horse
to let the procession pass.
''Its O'Brien, miss" he explained.
''He'll be after spakin' in the park, the
day, and they're fearful av riot,
miss"
The procession was long one, and
they waited several minutes for it to
pass. Just as they started on again,
Emily, happening TO look across the
street, saw man. evidently tourist,
hastily shutting up a small camera.
"Auntie," she almost gasped, II
actually believe that man has been
taking photograph of usr'
Miss Briggs looked quickly, but they
had turned a corner, and he was out of
sight. "Well, it can't be helped she
said laughingly, but with an indignant
pink flushing up into her cheeks. at
serves US right for making a spectacle
of ourselves by getting on to such an
outlandish conveyance"
On the following day, while Miss
Briggs sat alone in the parlor of the
Imperial Hotel, busily engaged with
her journal, Emily entered, her hat
awry and her face glowing.
"LOokr' she cried breathlessly.
"Here is a sketch | made this after
noon, auntie. did il in Sspia. And
oh, I've had such an interesting expe-
rience. We all went up to Shandon
churchyard, and old Mr.. Lumb took
me up in the tower to read the in
scription on the bells. When we came
down again, you couldn't guess who
was standing in the ehurehyard, by
Father Prout's tomb"
Miss Briggs held the sketch off at
arms length, surveying it critically,
and shook her head.
"Well, it was that man who took
our picture yesterday. As soon as he
saw me, he came directly towards me.
He took off his hat with as friendly a
smile as if We had always known each
other, and said, Pardon me, miss, are
you not the young lady whom l saw
yesterday on a jaunting ear while the
procession was crossing the bridge"
was so amazed | did not know what
to say, and he began at once to apollo
gize and explain. He said he was out
with his camera, taking pictures of in
teresting types of Irish character, and
was attracted by our coachman's face.
He paid no attention TO Us until We
were driving away. Then he saw me,
but did not notice you particularly.
While he was developing the picture,
that afternoon, he was almost startled,
he told me, As your features gradually
| appeared on the plate. He said: They
bear such striking resemblance to one
| knew years ago. VIII you allow me
to ask if the lady with you was Miss
Briggs? Miss Caroline Briggs"
Emily paused to note the effect of her
words, and Miss Briggs looked up with
lively interest depicted on every feat
ure.
''Go onr' she demanded.
Just then Mr.. Lumb came hurrying
up and slapped him ond the back, and
said, 'Hullo, Fritzie, old boy! Is it
really your 1t must have been 'Frit-
zie, old boy for they began talking
about old times, and forgot my exist
ence ever 50 long. Then Mr.. Lumb
introduced him-Howe, or Power, or
some such name. He's stopping at our
hotel, and is going to join our party
till we reach Belfast"
Emily paused to observe the effect.
Miss Brigs opened her mouth as if TO
say something, gave little gasp and
closed it again.
"It's Frederick Powellr' she declar-
ed with an air of conviction. 81 know
il, Yes. / knew him fifteen years ago."
| She looked out of the window mo-
ment as if considering, and then went
on in her concise, matter-oEfac way,
"We were TO have been married then,
but We had a quarrel and the engage
ment was broken off. Ii was a good
thing. We were both high strung and
obstinate, and never could have learn
ed TO agree"
Miss Briggs gave this little bit of
personal history as uncoDcernedly As if
she were speaking of the ancient
Greeks. and began TO gather up her
writing material. Emily looked at her
curiousIy, wondering If there could
have been spark of sentiment in such
a severely practical nature.
"He showed me the photograph"
said Emily as they climbed the stairs
together. at was bad, even for an
amateur. Only the back ofmy head
was taken, but you were in strong
light that made yeu squint and wrin-
kle up your face, and your feet looked
immense"
When Miss Briggs went down stairs
10 dinner that evening, she had laid
aside her customary gray serge dress,
as homely rs it was seryiceable, and
wore a dark blue, tailor made suit
n. tlaf L,,.fl,- l..d n har