The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-07-12

the wagon. Cieely said nothing, save
to m1rmur once, with an embarrassed
blush, that it was ''all right" She
made room for the young man on the
sat at her side, and they were off in
the semi-shadow of the woods, where
the tree-toads were already chirping
and the katydids entering upon their
sharp disputes
perhaps you're surprised that a
woman should come for you," said
Cicely at length, feeling as if some ex-
PLANTATION of the situation might make
it seem a little less embarrassing, at
least to herself. at looked like rain,
and Mr.. Judson couldn't come himself,
or spare man, because he had so much
hay out, so he sent me.n
"Well, I'm glad he did" replied the
young man, with frank smile. 'I'm
sure | shall enjoy your company much
better than should that of one of Mr..
Judson's hired men, or Mr.. Judson
himself. l beg pardon-may l ask
whether you are relative of Mr.. Jud-
sOn's?"
"No, sir" replied Cicely, blushing
hOtiy under the effect of the young
mans glance and his words. al am
only Mr.. Judson's hired girl"
"Ahr' said the artist, and for some
minutes he relapsed into silence. The
twilight slowly deepened in the woods
as they logged along, and louder and
more insistent swelled the chorus of in
sect voices. "He doesn't like me so
well since ! told him l was hired
girl" unused Ciceiy, bitterly. She did
not know why she should care, but she
did.
Some small animal glided across the
road in front of the horse, and even old
Sorrel shied little.
"Shan't / driven asked the young
man, laying his hand on the reins.
'No, thank you," replied Cicely,
firmly. "I'm used to driving, and
used to the horse. And, besides,
know the road better than you do.
There isn't any danger"
Her companion laughed. 81 didn't
imagine there was" he said. with an
amused look at Sorrel ''Pardon me
for offering to relieve you. / did not
know that you were accustomed to
driving"
Cicely cast side-glanee at the young
mans face. She could not make out
whether he was laughing at her or not.
What a strange man he was, And yet
rather interesting.
Amos was leaning over the fence
watching for them when they finally
appeared, dragging slowly along
through the shadows. He opened the
gate for them, and as they passed
through, Cicely said, with perfect
frankness, and without any attempt
at privacy:
81 couldn't help it, Amos. He didn't
come when he said he would"
"No; missed my train, and had TO
come on the next, )" added the boarder.
"But, thank Heaven, Pve got here
at last Are you Mr.. Judson ?"
"No," said Amos, curtly. There's
Mr.. Judson just coming out on the
porch. I'll bring in your luggage"
Cicely went into the house with Gu
rious intermixture of feelings partly
amusement, partly exultation, partly
regret. 1t was a new and not altogeth-
er unpleasant sensation to her to feel
that her lover was jealous of her affec-
tions, even of her civilities 10 another
man. It amused her to think that
Amos should be so sensitive and 50 fool
ish. But she was sorry that he had suf.
fered on her account, even while she
felt that she had done nothing the least
bit wrong. AS for there being any rea-
son for jealousy-that, of course, was
absurd
The young artist proved to be a very
agreeable summer boarder. He was al
ways courteous, good-natured, easy TO
plesse, appreciative, entertaining and
lively. Mrs. Judson liked him because
he was always on time to his meals,
praised her cooking, both by word and
deed, made no extra work even in the
small way of putting up lunches, and
could talk intelligently of Jersey cat
tie, which were the pride Of the good
woman's heart. Mr.. Judson liked him
because he smoked choice cigars and
shared them generously, and was good
companion to talk with on the porch
after supper. Cicely liked him, we'll
she couldn't tell just why. And Amo:
disliked him for the same excellent
reason.
IT did not seem TO very much concern
Mr.. Blake, the summer boarder, wheth
er his natural ways proved agreeable to
others or not He went and came in q
quiet manner, going out almost every
pleasant morning to sketch or paint
and spending his afternoons at home
reading, writing, or at work with brust
|. and palette in his room. But whenever
Cicely went around, close observer
might have noticed that Mr.. Blake wai
less absorbed in his book or his pictur,
than at other times. The girls fresh,
rosy beauty evidently caught his fancy
, His artistic temperament could not hell
responding to the charm of form and
color embodied in her face and figure
"By Jove! what a model she wouls
makev' he said to himself one day, a
! through vista Of orchard trees he saw
; Cicely hanging out the weeks snow
; wash. "I'd like to paint her in tina
, very attitude and, by Jove, l viii
: I'll get my pad and ask her to let M
+ sketch her while she hangs out Amos
checked shirtsr'
Thus ii came about that Cicely crep
: into a good many of the artists pic
lures that summer. At first the cir
| was reluctant. 1t made her feel awk
( wardly i'll at ease to pose. and, besides
she wasn't sure about its being jus
: right. Then there was Amos; how j
J did disturb Amos, She couldn't he'll
{ smiling over that sometimes, it was 5
: foolish. But the young artists fiatter,
e and the irresistible way he had abou
I ! him ooua hinod with that ehv vanff-