The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-01-03
SOMERSET. Pa, WEDNESDAY JANUARY g. 1900

asked leave to call, and leave was given
him, and thus in the fulness Of time
the rosy-faced children who lived in
the cottages round the baronetical
manor house curtseyed with grateful
humility to Sir Percy and Lady Ell
phinstone. Such was the main feat
ures OF that vision world in which Miss
Maria passed so many happy hours,
now so familiar to her that she regard
ed its sumptuousness with calmness-
Embellishing details were always hot
from the mint of her brain, but the
broad outlines of the vision were in
variable. Yet this morning, after the
affair of the letter, it was with some
excitement that she went to her room,
and with a new sense Of the beauty Of
that much admired piece that she read
Mr.. Longfellow's "GOlden Legend"
For, indeed, her romantic weavings
seemed extraordinarily real to her, and
her heart went out with feeling of
akinship to the creatures Of the poets
brain.
Now, it must be understood that
Miss James seeming impatience with
her sister..at breakfast sprang from no
more vital or intimate emotion than
curiosity. Hot and burning curiosity
it is true, but no more than that. It
was therefore, no great concession
when, an hour later, she saw Miss
Maria drifting towards her across the
lawn with letter in her hand, that
she was fully prepared to welcome her
possible revelations in a sisterly and
sympathetic spirit; she even at the mo-
ment spared snail because it was so
little a one.
al have come to consult you, sister,"
began Miss Maria, in some confusion,
"about Tuatter-about a matter in
which should wish, if possible, to be
guided by yorr judgment as your
longer she could not deny herself
this little thrust )-''your longer ex-
perience of life. This is the letter
received this morning.
And, stepping back after giving Miss
Jane the letter, Miss Maria, in her
maidenly confusion, upset the basket
of snails. But there are more poignant
emotions than snail catching, and
greater issues than their destruction,
and Miss Jane took the letter and let
the snails lie.
She read it through and then again.
Most extraordinary, she said, still
retaining it.
Maria bridled.
'Mcst extraordinary, repeated Miss
Jane, calmly oblivious of her sisters
feelings.
Then for moment she stood in ST.
lence, and her intensely practical mind
reviewed the situation and grasped its
issues. An unknown gentleman, Per-
cy Elphinstone by name, had written
10 Maria in IA neat, almost copperplate
hand, asking her TO grant him tie IA
vor Of an interview that afternoon, or
the next afternoon, or any afternoon,
in the Cathedral close, opposite the
west door. He might be known, he
said, by his wearing a piece Of hello
/ trope in his buttonhole, aud he would
be dressed in a gray frock coat and
| top hat His intentions were honora-
bic, his heart was not his own, though
otherwise disengaged, and he threw
himself on his charm,r's mercy. A
mind les remarkable than Miss James
might have failed before the magnitude
of the situation, but she remained her
self For Maria's sake she was delight
the heliOtrOpe and the frock coat of
| Percy which fairly enslaved the imag-
ination. "Where is Percy's top hat and
/ the heliOtrope?" Now the sentence
tripped OFF the tongue. Thus senti-
ment stated the case, and business an
swered. If all went well with Maria,
| Miss Jane would be much better Off
than she was now, for she would sell
the house which belonged to ber and
| buy a smaller and more economical
habitatiOn. That would leave her less
| fettered in many ways; she could get
second bicycle, though indeed the first
had scarcely enough exercise, and if
she ever purchased any more cigarettes
they should be gold tipped. She had
often surmised that it was only their
cheapness which was SO indigestible.
she looked up at Maria. Her re-
Elections had been almost instanta-
neous.
''You must go, she said, "you must
certainly GO" Then, with an air of
fine resignation-"It is better that
went with you. Though 1 am pressed
for time oday, l will go with you.
We will go together this afternoon"
Thank you for being willing TO give
up so much of your tin,e," said Maria,
with faint acid note in her tone, "but
+ | think that will be needless, sister.
Percy-I mean Mr.. ElphinstOne-
might feel less able, more timid 1
should say, if he found two Of us. But
/ do you really think had better go at
all? IL would be so dreadful for me,
Jane, if he was not quite all that one
would naturally expect from his note"
"Most certainly you must CO." said
] Jane, with decision. '.You are getting
on in years, Maria; you are no longer
quite young, and it is time that you
began to think of settling down"
Then, as curiosity rose like torrent
/ over her:
"But think-I am sure-I had bet
: ter come with you"
II cannot consent to go on such
terms" said Maria, with finality.
Miss Jane stood awhile in thought.
"It would be more regular" she
said at length, ''if l went first and got
a good look at him. Then if he turns
out to BE- the sort of man whom could
fancy for you, Maria. would say you
had cold, or something of that kind,
and ask him to tea. That would be
the more prudent plan"
"B0. haven't got a cold, Jane, and
wouldn't drag you' replied Maria.
"AIso, it would look as if / distrusted
Z him."
ssI don't know that you have any