The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-05-24
MARILLA NEWCOMB'S
BEST DELAINE,

second and listened intently, then she
smiled q satisfied smile as she heard
the gentle closing Of the front door,
then the creaking of the parlor door, a
movement Of chair, and the subdued
murmur Of voices
"He's come" she nodded across the
table to her husband
He looked up from his paper some
what blankly. "Who's he?" he que
ried.
She dropped her sewing into her lap
and glanced at him reproachfully
through her glasses. "Julils New
comb, you don't mean to say you amt
never noticed that Seth Reynolds
been coming here steady ever since last
Easter-time, when he came home from
the concert at the church with Eme-
line? Every Sunday, and holidays too.
YOu don't mean to say you amt never
noticed that, Julius? and your own
daughter, too. 1t seems to me you
don't seem to show much interest in
such things. Maybe you've forgot you
were young once, but I amt"
The touch of asperity in her voice
died opt, as his clear blue eyes rested
on her. why, bless you, Marilla," {"
he replied dropping the paper and
breaking into smile, 'how you do go
OFF halfcock-jusl same's you used to
when you was young and 1 was court
ing you, and you used to go off az moth
ing, just like you do now. You amt
changed one mite
"Well, if you sin'tinterested she
began.
"iTain't that all, y he went on, good
naturedly. "Here was a-readin a piece
about expansion. and you suddenly
say, He's come Now how on earth
was to know who he was? warn't
a-listening and expect you was, of
course, f" as she nodded assent.
That's ali right and natural. You
was expecting him, and was wsy off
in the Philippines. That's the differ
ence"
"Well, did you know it?p she insist
ed ~ amt totally blind,n he retort-
ed. "Aud / guess there doesn't any
man come here TO see our Emeline
without me knowing it, even if / am
stupid. Maybe you think 1 didn't
know that Joe Belcher was comirg
here once pretty steady, then stopped
short? Well, ! did, cause / sent him
home one night.p
"You did?" Marilla leaned her
elbows on the table and her eyes spark
led. "Well never ~
"T don't tell everything / KNOW
her husband continued, but | guess
keep sharp enough lookout on our girl,
Marilla. She's too much like you to
have fellows who amt worth while a
calling round. SO just followed that
young BeIcher out one night aud told
him he didn't need to call any more.
And be hasn't, has he?n
'No, never once" Marilla answered
excitedly. "And I'm glad of IL Only
wouldn't have wanted to say any
thing about it, cause, you know, she
might feel interested in him. Its nat
ursl for young girls TO like to receive
attention, Julius, and wouldn't want
to be responsible. But it's different
with you, Jalius-yOu're the head of
the family of collrse -
"She didn't care nothing about him" +"
Julius replied, hastily. 'She had too
much sense. Emeline's dreadfully like
you, Marilla. You couldn't never
abide nighty sort of men, could you,
Marilla??"
His wife laughed consciously. "You're
kind Of praisipg up yourself, amt you,
Julius? Just as if you were the only
likely fellow had chance to get.
guess you forgot about the others, see
ing It's so long ago" She glanced at
him coqueitishly. "But you didn't
forget it then. You was about as per-
sistent fellow as ever / did see.
guess liked you for that pretty well.
never could abide folks who didn't
know their own mind, aud when they
did, couldn't stick toiLv
"You can't say that about me, Ma
rilla. knew from the very frat time
I ever set eyes Gu you. l just said TO
myself There she is; and remem-
Der | thought how nice you'd look cit
ting down opposite me at the table all
our own. | amt never changed my
mind since"
He looked al her across the table;
then he rose ciunsily and walked
around aud leaned Lover her.
You're Just as pretty now as you
was them" he declared, as he passed
his rough hand over over her hair with
its broad streaks of gray. you've
grown older, Is'pose, Marilla, seeing
Emeline's old enough to have beau,
but il don't seem so, does it?p
mo, il don't, she replied, pressing
her cheek for a moment against his
grizzly one. 1T don't seem no time at
all. can remember 80 well aIl about
how kind Of proud felt a-walking out
with you that first Sunday, and won
dering if the other girls didn't wish
they'd got you. You were a pretty
likely fell w then, JuiIus.n