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

With q thunder storm muttering
among the hills, and dozen loads of
hay in the cock on the big meadow, it
would have been sheer madness, OF
course, to have allowed Amos Doxey,
the hired man, to go to the station TO
meet the summer boarder. Not a man
could be spared from the bayfield, that
afternoon; so Cicely Maynard, the hired
girl, was instructed to harness old Sor-
rel and fetch home the young artist,
who had written that he would arrive
on the four-o' clock s'mixed."
Cieely was only too glad TO go. Like
most farm help, she looked upon any
variation Of the everlasting routine of
daily labor as a blessing to be thankful
for. The four-mile ride to the station
through the woods and along the river
was in itself infinitely preferable to an
afternoon in the kitchen and milk
room; and then there was the added
pleasure of gratifying ones curiosity
about the new boarder and have the
company home of q young man who
was also genius-provided you looked
at him from the right level. And al
though pretty Cieely had been for two
years engaged to Amos Doxey, the
hired man, she had not yet sufficiently
subdued her girIish sensibility to be un-
mindful, in a demure and innocent
way, of the romance of riding four
miles alone with a young man who
could paint pictures, and who lived in
the city.
Perhaps Amos, with loves clairvoy-
ant insight, had arrived ct some con-
sciousness of Cicely's feelings, for, as he
denied himself his customary second
piece of pie in order that be might go
out and help his sweetheart "hiteh up'
he said, with clumsy indirectness: "I'm
kind of sorry we're so driv' to-day,
Cicely. I'd liked to have gone for
that young feller myself. It'll get back
your work considerable, I'm afraid"
"Oh, don't you worry yourself about
thaip' laughed Cicely. II can always
work twice as fast after I've had good
time. 1t chirks me up So"
This was cold comfort for Amos, but
ne was not naturally of jealous dis
position, and after making due allow
anee for the variety of inference impli-
ed in the words "a good time" he did
not find it in his heart to be very sorry,
after all, that Cicely should have an
afternoons outing. He was Just climb
ing into the hay rack to drive to the
meadow when Cicely started off with
old Sorrel. She nodded smiling good
by, and Amos's heart was comfortable
within him. He could not help think
ing what lucky dog he was-he, sn
old bachelor of thirty-five, to have Won
this sweet blooming girl of twenty-five
They had known each other for a long
time, both having been in the service
of the Judsons since Cieely was child
of fourteen. Their friendship had been
strong, sincere and without frivolity
and love with them had been merely
the natural deepening and expansion
of devoted friendship. In due cours.
they had become engaged, and nov
both of them were laying by every
penny in glad anticipation of the tim,
when they could le-se little farm o
their own and ''settle down"
The threatened shower did not come
and the sweet sun cured hay was safely
in the barn long before CiceIy returned
from her errand. Meanwhile the CIR
was impatiently awaiting the arrival o
the new summer boarder. He had no
come in on the mixed and Cicel,
was just on the point OF driving ava,
without him, when the station agen
came out with an open telegram, sd
dressed to Mr.. Judson, saying that tn
young msn had missed his train, ant
would come on the next, sn express
which stopped only st a station thre
miles farther down the road. The tel
egram requested that he might be me
there.
cicely considered the matter. Sh
| finally came to the conclusion that Mi
Judson would prefer to have her drivl
on TO the next station, returning hom
two or three hours later than expected
rafher than leave the summer boarde
in lnrch. So she whipped up old Sol
rel, and reached Mayfield in time {
meet the express. The young arts
was profuse in apologies and excuse.
A 4 l......l... L.. H.. l-..i. .