The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-08-25
HOW HE WON HER.

| I1UM III W UN HEN.
The poor tutor was alone with her
and, though it was in the days when
men fought hard battles even against
their own kinsmen if they thought il
was right, his heart throbbed just as
the tutors heart might throb to-day,
with the difference that he had not
learned to count its beats, as our enam-
ored youth, 200 years wiser have learn
ed TO do in a self controlled manner
eminently conducive To the steadying
of that obstreperous organ.
What mattered the great insurrec-
ton, the cruelties of Judge Jeflries,
and fugitive patron with a price upon
his head when love had sought shelter
in his heart, and she TO whom he had
built a shrine was just as far away
from him as the width OF the table?
OF what consC quence that she was
the Lady Gertrude, the daughter of a
noble conspirator, and he but tutor
without land or wealth? SO he con-
tinued his story, looking at his book as
if he were reading therefrom.
"And the poor man loved the rich
lady, and he dared not tell her OF mis-
love, lest she would scorn him."
''Then surely he was fearful at a
nothing, which, methinks, means he
was a coward, Master HumpL rey."
"a coward, if 'twere cowardly TO fear
the anger of his LADY,
"Why should he expect such an
ger?"
"He had naught TO offer her but his
lOve.n
Love were wealth enough, but l
am tired of your story. Ills not so
good as you are wont to tell, Master
Humphrey, and tits our last iesson,"
she added very gently.
"You will not miss the lessons
'sNo, not my lesson, only the stories.
/ have loved some of them. And she
moved restlessly in her seat, as il she
would say more, yet could not find the
words.
"But surely my father should be here
even now," she murmured at last.
The poor tutor turned pale. "Iou
will go with him TO Holland"' he
said.
''It would he too great risk to ac-
company him, but follow tomorrow
if all succeeds as We have planned.
All, if they should take himl They
have killed the duke. Why are they
not satisfied? Poor Monmouth
'sThey will not take himr'
Now, at the last moment, ! am ter
rified lest things should not go well.
Look at the timei He may be here at
any moment. Indeed he should he
here howw
Then Lady Gertrude rose hastily and
stood, tall even as the young tutor by
her side, with a look of esger impa-
thence on her fair face.
"Not yet come, | think" said he.
''To cross the marshes on foot needs
indeed an hour"
So they stood irresolute, each with
heart for one another and thought for
the absent fugitive.
"There are learned men in Holland,
| am tol6," stammereG The young man
irrelevantly.
at is so rumored, yet, not more than
that, there would still be room for
another, am sure, Master Humph-
rey.
Which pretty speech nigh over
powered the equanimity of Master
Humphrey and threw him into dis
courteous silence like enough to pique
his noble pupil, who, indeed, felt she
had made him too bold and who lack
ed in modesty, since he would vouch-
safe no answer.
"Continue your story, sir" she said,
with marked coldness. al have no
mind for lessons just now"
'There is no more to tell, my lady"
he said.
"Then tits poor story"
"'Twas poor man."
"With a poor spirit"
"Nay, do not challenge him for ne
hath an idea 'twere better to he poor
spirited than false hearted"
"Why should he be either"
sWere it not mean thingto harass
an unprotected lady and false to betray
the trust of her noble parent, his patron
when he was absent risking his life for
his country"
ITO harass her would be wrong,
sir; 20 betray trust worse wrong.
Yet cannot see that, if he loved the
lady well, he would be doing either Of
these things"
MADAM, were l, your humble tutor,
the poor man, would you still so rea-
son?''
"Were you that man, Master
Humphrey, ! could but be sorry ior the
lady"
"'Tis fair answer. 1 crave your
pardon. Shall we continue the trans
lation?"
"were you the man, in truth |
should be sorry for the lady to have so
inconsistent lover"
"Inconsistent, madam"
"Who will make you love, wherever
he may find a ready listener, though
in covert language that save him from
declaration. Pray, Master Humph-
rey, if it be as you declare, that you are
this man, convey my sympathies TO the
lady"
Now the tutor rose in wrath and
would have gone his way-for without
doubt bis mistress was making sport of
him-but the sound of faint footsteps