The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-03-03
JUDGING IN HASTE.

Mr.. Ralph Sunfold was smoking lis
cigar before the kitchen fire.
He always went into the kitchen to
smoke his cigar of winte- evening.
Tie said il was TO save the s.ioMy mus
lin curtains of his Aunt Phedra's pref
ty parlor; but in her secret heart Aunt
PhedTa believed il was 10 enjoy the
light and warmth OF the huge open
fire.
And really, Aunt Phedra's kitchen
was a cozier and more comfortable place
than some parlors, with lis red and
black striped rag carpet, its tall clock
in the corner, the yellow-washed walls
all festooned with shining tin, and the
cushioned chair in the corner.
He was smoking his cigar, as we said
before; and Aunt Phedra was industri-
ously picking yellow leaves OF the big
flsh-geranium in the window.
"Yes," said Aunt Phedra, 'she's
coming back, or she wouldn't have
sent her trunk"
NO" said Mr.. sunfold, al suppose
not"
"And l am heartily sorry" added
Aunt Phedra.
Mr.. Sunfold knocked the ashes off
the tip of his cigar, replaced on the
fire-dogs a log which had rolled off,
and then asked in rather low tone:
"Why?"
because you are determined to mar
ry her." said Aunt Phedra.
Aunt Phedra wheeled around TO face
her nephew.
Because she's a heartless little flirt, +"
said she. "And I'm sorry ever adopt
ed her and brought her here to break
the hearts of half the young men in the
country"
Mr. Sunfold laughed.
Let them take care of their own
hearts" said he. THAT is no business
Of mine. She loves me, and me only,
and that is enough"
I'm not so sure of that, said Aunt
Phedra, with spice Of feminine ma
ice. "She's a regular coquet, Elsie Ben
nett is, and she may jilt you as well as
another"
"In that, Aunt Phedra,n said the
young man, slowly, 81 am sure that
you are mistaken"
"I'm only repeating what people
say" retorted the old lady. How
ever, that's neither here nor there.
She told me to open the trunk as soon
as it came, ard get cut that black silk
dress pattern and send il to the dress
makers. | think myself" Aunt Phe-
dra added, incidentally, "that black
silk dress for a girl of Elsie's narrow
means is simply a piece of extrava-
gance. Yes, Ralph, / know what you're
going to say-Ifa girl teaches school
and earns her own money, she has a
right TO spend it as she pleases' But
that cont alter the common sense OF
the matter. And she never sent the
key"
Then you can'topen it" said Ralph
SunfOld.
"Unless," said Aunt Phedra, produc-
ing prodigious ring of different sized
keys-''unless one of these happens to
lit il. | borrowed 'em from Luke
Smiths wife; her husband used 10 be
in the lccksmithing business. | wish,
Ralph, you'd come into the next room
and iry them. I'm so afraid of break
ing the lock-
Certainly, Aunt Phedra," said Mr..
Sunfold.
Ifhe couldn't see pretty Elsie's dim
pied, blooming self, TO be able to do
something for her was the next best
timing; and he followed the old lady
with alacrity into the adjoining apart
ment. where battered trunk stood
against the wall, like a leviathan in re-
pose,
"She has been dreadful hard on her
new trunk sighed Aunt Phedra-
"Baggage-smasherp' suggested her
nephew. "One can't travel without
having ones things torn TO pieces.
Give me the keys, Aunt Phedra."
He knelt before the trunk, the cid
lady standing solicitously by, as one
kew after another was tested, without
apparent success.
"I'm afraid we shall have TO give it
up" said Ralph. "Stop! here is one
more on the ring. Eureka! We have
1.-THE very thing
"Wen, deelarer said Aunt Phedra,
as the young man lifted a heavy lid aud
balanced il against the wall, 'if that
wasn't sheer good luck. Now for the
black silk dress pattern and the trim
mings. Eh-what? A gentleman's