The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-10-13

they sauntered toward her table.
or course, they were not jealous, fol
each others motives were unknown,
and they met as well bred men do. ant
after offering their salutations to Ruth
fell into an easy conversation.
'They are pretty articles" /" said Clar
ence, taking up & pair of velvet slip
pers. "Did you make them, Miss Dor
lamp
"Yes. I have but those two pair,
left; won't you take pair? They must
be exactly your size"
"Yes. l believe they are. What do
you expect in return?'
"My price, as you see, is ten dollars
but in case like this We trust more to
the generosity of the purchaser.
She said this with charming smile
and he placed little roll of bills in hel
hand.
"You will take the remaining pair
will you not, Mr.. Hartley" she asked
while doing up the bundle.
YES" and West Hartley rendered
his offering.
Some one else came up just then, and
they turned away, leaving Ruth for a
moment with her father.
''Oh, papar'
"What is it?'
"See what generous heart Clarence
Hillsdale has. Five hundred dollars
for a pair of slippers. And West oh,
how mean"
"How much did he give your"
"Ten dollars only"
"Well. that was your price, and a
pretty steep one, too, considering the
fact that they did not cost more than
one-half that sum-"
81 know, but think how great the
contrast between their gifts. Why,
I'd have given more, after what was said
if I'd been obligedIto pawn my boots. I"
"West Hartley is more sensible, 4"
was papa's short reply.
They went away, each bearing pair
of slippers wrought by her dear little
fingers, and each within his heart had
hope enough to make him happy, and
Ruth lost her chance to study her two
lovers.
Long before the5 close of the evening
Papa Dorian got slepy and started for
home. Ruth wasln good hands, and
he was too tired tostay there and stand
the heavy fire and constant demands
upon his purse and patience, so he
found his coat and fnrs in the ante
room, and presently was trudging along
towards his comfortable mansion.
A 1.-the figure pas-ed him at the end
of the block, and under the light from
the street lamp he recognized West
Hartley. He was in q hurry, and with
a little curiosity Papa Dorian hurried,
too, and kept quite near. All at once
he disappeared. Papa Dorian rubbed
his eyes. Where in the world did he
go? All, There was grocery store on
the corner. Possibly he might have
gore in there. A few steps more and
Papa Dorian was peering in at the glass
door.
Yes, he was there, and so the curiosi-
ty box outside watched and waited.
II was long while, for this strange
young man was experimenting the ty-
ing up of mysterious parcels, and final
ly the rolling out of barrel of -four.
"What in the world is the fellow buy
ing groceries for? He don't keep house"
thought The watcher at the door, as
West took out his pocketbook and laid
a bill on the counter.
"These articles must be delivered to-
night" he said as he opened the door.
"All right, sirr'
Well, Papa Dorian looked after the
tall figure as it sped out of sight, and
began to think it decidedly mysteri-
Gus affair.
81 may get myself into trouble, but
Pm bound to solve this NATTER" and
he walked into the store.
These articles are to be delivered to-
night?"
"Yes, SIR"
"Where?"
"At No. y NJ street"
'-Could you give me ride around
thereP"
"Oh, yes"
The answer came promptly, but the
grocer's eyes looked wonderingly at the
finely dressed gentleman.
1t was long ride and by no means a
pleasant one, for it ran through narrow
streets and alleys and ended in a low
but clean little court.
'Here you are, sir, at No. %. Halloo,
there, Mrs. Martini
The door of No. p swung open and a
woman, pale and poorly clad appeared.
Here's load of goods for YOU"
"For me? There must be some mis-
take"
mot bit of it. Take a parcel or
two, and I'll run up with the rest"
Papa Dorian, eager to see the whole,
caught up bundle and went up stairs
behind the wondering woman and the
grocer.
1t was poor little room, as neat as
wax, half filled with freshly ironed
clothes, and its proprietress, a pale,
meek faced woman, bearing the marks
of poverty upon every lineament. Two
children, from their supper of bread
and milk, looked at the stranger, and
hailed the apples, as the grocer rolled
them into a basket, with a shout Of de-
light.
"Did you buy these, sir?" asked the
woman, turning to Papa Dorian.
"No, ma'am; did not. But 1 know
who did. Do you know West HartleyT
"Yes, heaven bless him! 1 do hi
washing, sir. Did he send these?"
"Yes, he did.
"Is everything here? A barrel q
-four, five pounds Of sugar, one OF tea
two of coffee, four of butter, bag o
salt, two bushels Of potatoes, bushe
of apples, crackers, raisins and bae
of cakes! There, all here in the book
1t is all right