JUL
Terms of lublicatio:i
Ths Somerset Herald
u published erery Wednesday Morning UflM
mt annum, P1I m advanca oUierwlse fj m
wM lnvarlably.be charged,
y;o tubscrlptla". wlU be discontinued untU an
rrersr are "paid P- Postmasters neglecting
to notify suuecnoers ao.aot tana eat
their Ppe iU h beld liable fur the subscription.
pobKTibert rwmwlng from one Fonoffio to mo-
other should flxt tn' nan! of Lh former
well as the prcarnt Asddrea
Somerset Printing Company,
JOHS" I. SOCLL,
Hustnest Manager.
.1 TTORNEYS-A T-LA W.
li
KNKY FSOHELU ATTORNEY ATLAW,
V.i l"ntT ix I'mili Agent. Somerset,
' . .. tji i . - 11 f
.y B S lATOKT AT LAW,
J Somerset, Peon.
U PUSTLETHW AITE, ATTORNEI
t S,ti,F. ProfaartanaJ tul-
,!' reiiciiilj solicited uil punctually altud-
(W NoTH'E. Alexander H. Uollroth has
. resumed the practice i taw in Somerset and
jw,!!iu"t.uuiic. Oihoa laAUuiaioU JJulldmg.
teu. . ' .
ALtNTlN E H AY. ATTORN EY AT LAW
Y and dealer iu real estate, S.HiH.rset, .")
,,r. u,i.UICf 6 BU .
. i T. H1FR ATTORNEYS AT
I l.av. ?. .7.1.- aV. .T... ..
..... i 1- will nnuuiM In Sum-
e i, .-,.,.. ,iiiuiuul
iru-l. w l!w - t"
. .E V fc'V ITT 1U StlM.
I . I'a will iT.uii.ilv astend to all busiueae
.i-rii If l IO li-
.c. t.;ii. in iiawnioU IJuilding.
. . . . .VV. v"("m.t a miUNKY AT
U .' S MO.-wt, Ha-, will pive uuiit atUn-
V 1 the '!"i'Jn eounllea. Uttlea In ITlulln
H use Hw-
i . hi N O. KTtfM EI ATTI.KN E Y AT LAW,
, s..i'u.el, y-, tu toallluaiiieen
iVuLd to hw c n S..uiMwtanJ al toluimt .un
.rumptuea aud ndalitj. ome. in Mam-
i u.mU.E
ATTUKNEI ATUW,
; ."rwU Ta ProfesaHial I'Uflncss entruMed
Li 'nly w attn.ied w lib i.romi.uie and ndeUtj.
"a H. t-oW ImttL
. I..I-FKOTH k EVI PEU ATTORNEYS AT
(Tli. AlH.usi..ertiemrui.ted UUieiroarewiU
,.lilvand).uuctuvUyatU!U.lwi t.
urnrt-"u Slam Cro itrjet, oiiW tUe
Mau;u.!i JiUk.
OUN Il! SCOTT,
J
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
n.n..rH-i 'a. otnetup tairt in
AIH'i"le' Diruto.l u liu cure atteudcl I
,rniu;i'.ncH and ndelitr.
J
AMES L. rUGII,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
s,.n-r-et fa. OtBce. Mainni.th lil.K-k,u i-ulra.
i tr.'..-e Main Cn SU Oolleeti. made. i-
I-eiTk-l. tule eaimlne-l. and all leaal l-ul.
aV-faitendcJ luwiih j.nii.mcM and Bu.jU'y.
julylt
gl'KVEYING,
Writing Deeds, Ac,
, . . . . . . .:. : I DiiiJi'li tor m.
jj.inlre at llasoK-cr k Oo.'s Store.
C. I'. WALKER.
AUil. '
1'HYSICIAXS.
nii I. K. MILLKK ha perraancntlT l.mited
In tierlin I. tl.o .rariic ul lii pn (ton.
1 1 tire Obarie Rruwiner'i wr.
.ir. 2i, "iV-lU
11 K Rf B A K EK ten ler hlf prufestmal
L; niMotl.ecltUni ol f""1"1 2?"
lu . itce in nfldenc, one dour west ol tbe Har
riet livuie.
OK si. KlMMEL.wlllcommnelo j-artlej
Mttlicloe, and tenders hl pr..liwl.l r-l-r,,
u. tbe citltn ol i.wret ail .urrouodiiij
, .Hirv. tlltisi at the old pUoe, a lew doon east
DK A G. MILLER, after twelve
vc active practlca In Shanknille. has
a ik ri itillv l.rnvl at S..int-ret l the i.rae
linri'l m- lbe.'aad tenders his prolesi.xl ser
,.. to t .Itltens ol S.mwt awl viclnltJN
.mt it til lru: Store, ow-wlte
..ae, w ere he can be eon.ulted at all Umes
m ,m -r-(issl'iaSly eni;aed.
-M ckII promptly tntwered.
dec. 13 n-ly.
Dr. . F. FUXDEXBEKfl
Late ISch dvni KnrROon,
Km Tort Eje aiil Ear Mnnaiy,
Zas lecaiei permanently in tie
City cf CT72ELA2r2, Harylasd
fr the EXCLUSIVE trcatacnt cf all
dls:a:cs f the Eye and Ear, inclui-
:-r:li::e cf lis Kcco ard Threat
OKirv, S: 20 Kaatti rrstlr rilret.
.lunrJ.
DENTISTS.
IK WM. 1'LLINS, DENTIST, iSomerset,
M'a. Iti In (liwtiwfl ll'.ix'k, up stairs,
l ere lit- in at ill times iie lound pn-pansl Udo
ilUiii.lf.it w.fl-k, su.-h as BUUia:, n-nululinir, ex
tr :in. ac. ArilDi-ial Icciliol all kinds, and of
till ltaiatnai.liiertel. Operations warranted.
J (MIX HILLS.
DENTIST.
n. In iRrolh k Ncfl's new Imlldinsr.
Main t"ns Street.
Somerset, Pa.
ll
COLLINS,
IKXTIST,
( uiht aln-e Vnfcitrr k Fmife's store. Sumcmt,
lutl.e Inst tillec-n years 1 hava ;rvatly n-ihi-ni
the pruw ol nnin. lnl teeth In this phiew.
The ruiiMnoi iiM-rpayiiia: demand l.ir teeth has in-'lu-ied
nit ui so enlarKe my tiu?iliiie that I ean
muke sets ol teeth at lower -tci than yoa
e..n i them in any other pla lu this oountry.
I m ikiw ti.aknia a sruod ft ul teeth ior . and II
'li.-rv tliml.l l any person amuna: my immaands
ol rurLairrs Intl.ir iir the alolniia "unties that
1 have made teetiisor that l not alvli.K km! sat
IMarinm. they ran call . me at any una and iret
new set Ire ot charsre.
aiarla
UTIFIC'AL TEETH!!
J. V. YUTZY.
L) E NTIS T
BALK CITY, jomerut Co.. a"..
Artttirlal Teeth, war ansf iu be of t be very best
auaii.y. lair like aid Maii.wve, Inserted In tl
ii i tie. ParUculai atteutWss ild t.i the jre
entlm of the natural teeth. Vh, wUhlna to
nn,auit m by letter, caa du so by endosina; stamp
A'l.lrew as alwvs. leU-TX
HOTELS.
KNOW
T.f rradjn; and prartlrmit
the hi.-viiui.ible ti ulhs con
tain. U ta ilie bc- aadical
bonk ever ! d, rrrt.tW d
THYSELF
isEi.r-ruKii.i; aiio.-
arnceonl) (1. NntbyaUd
I"it o! r.xbtntrd Vitnlhr. 1'rvmsture Urclinr,
J.triuia and Hiv.-al la bility, and threndieas
naomiiiuit llia'and umold miseries Hot result
'li r. l'iim,anuaantajramunthsasorit;iurJprr
riitn, snr one of wliM-l. i wialh llrt1 P'icc of
ine tKiJi, lliit book ws written bv the irtnt ex
l iwic sr.d -o!.aUyllirmot akilfulpractitirsiir
hi Ann m-a. to whom was awarded scold s1)i w.
il ! medal l.y the sllonal MrdiC:.! A'socisuon.
A IUi.i,ld.t. lUu.tr jt.d with the very tattt
m ffri mi of t.nrc. At
i'U Linsvirir. a mar.
'l 4 srt and beaut)
rnx io all.
I f It st once. Ai1.r,
HEAL
'NMITL'TE, o. 4 KaW
THYSELF
Lokoo. !.
BESTS
'Iwidnrss ra eaa et.rairs In. i to -0 lr
i.y ron-'e l.y any wurker of cither sex
riifiii m ilt.-lrowa loralltlc. I'artlcniars
and siunt.l-a arairtli a, fepe luttinn'e v.asr
trtin,ottt.lalmHneea. Address snr-o fc
F'Ttisnd Maine.
Mrvn -xi
WID PLATE n WATCH Eg. CVaaest
a. oe kirn w a worM. Aaapu B uKA rrt as
attaw. AiiUreea, A. Cut i.ru A Co, CZiaaga
S2500
Ass.au. Areats wauwd. DoaV
aesa lerltlmata. Partlealars ree.
liie
VOL. XXVII. NO. 0.
BANKS, ETC.
J. O.KIMMEL & S0SS7
SuecciEort u
Schell & Kimmel,
SOMERSET, PA.
Accounts of Merchants and oth
er Business People Solicited. Drafts
negotiable in all parts of the Coun
try for sale. Money loaned and
Collections made.
JED12
Somerset County Bank
CHARLES J. HARRISON,
Cunhiir and Hanayer,
Onll-ttn made in all part of the United Statu.
Chars w inoilerate. liutter and other eliecisa col
lected and easliod. Eastern and Western exchange
always on hand. Bcnilttanecs maile with pr nipt
neat. Aeeonnt solicited.
FarUcs desiring to purchase V. S. 4 PEB
CENT. FUXDEI L(JAN, ean be aeeommo
datol at this Iiank. The rnpons are preiahl in
denominations of
J MO. HICKS
la mm a. hicks
Ipb for Fire aii Li Iiisnraiice,
JOHN HICKS & SON,
SO M Kl i SET. I'A..
And Real Estate Brokers
12STAKLJSI lED.iaiO.
rerwiot whodeslrato sell, boy or exehance prop
erty, or l.-r rent will find It to their advantage "
rnuif.tr tne destTtpti.in thered, as nochnnrels
Duadeonlt-ss Mild or rented. Real rrtate basinees
irenrrally wlil be promptly attended to.
auxin.
Totera ait Cto
WHOLBBALH AD KKTAIL,
J. II. Ziiumerman,
Main Cross St,
Kouierwt, Peuna.
The best of rlirars of different brands, mannfae-
tnred by bimaell, of the choicest of tolaoros.
1 hese clirais rannut beexcelied iy any m tne mar
ket. One of the best storks of ehewlns; tobaeoo
ever brought to feeuieniei. Prloc to suit the
times. janao
S.R.PILE,
DEALER IN
FLOUll AXJ) FEED
Groceries, Confections,
Quccnswarc, Willow ware.
Salt, Fish,
Tobnwo and CinrM,
etc., &.C.. itc,
OXE PRICE.
Al I Goods Positively
SOLID .A.T
BOTTOM PRICES.
FAIR AND SQUARE
IS
Our JVEotto.
Do l Fail to Ciive
E 2, BASE'S BLOCK A CALL,
When doing your
sHOPPnsra
Jan. 3D
11 lTrn Farms to sell andexehari ire. Wa
WnNIC.U'" hundreds or customers
wanlinu to buj iarmsjust now. Never knew a
letter time Uiwdl Arrrs al lair prlocs, as wople
are IIIiIdk wey from lanks and seek'nf Acres
Msaiity. Ad.lress S. M- J ,
Plttsbunth Farm Aj;nry, VA bmlthneld ht.
Pltislinrxh. Pa. ..,,
Th.we in search of farms send for printed Farm
Rrarlioer.
Hut.-J
THE
Verflctiok Earth Closet.
Al. TICMT, MtStlK! AID AITIMATH.
ahrars clean and free from dast, and.
n, oimmi caa ocape.
i;,e.cl.-ly asaated tst as la Rasaitala,
Hot. I. aad FaaslHes. aa ha used la laa
slelrmai allheal clflag aa eaea.
Prices, 10, 14 and 18 Dollar.
t dureaa, with stamp, for cucnaar,
PEErECTIOK EARTH CLOSET CCKPASY,
No. .'IO WatorSt. Urokl-en,
Iconic I Bland.
15
A. J. Mill.lt ak CO., Wl'ra
tr!i;s' Or.rlsal A walker's araaieraiat
NtkrouM liOksE Hit rok. .
oaly siasle, doubla s shear rorksthat
I
I ilr, sou or nasima -a
Ki Hit inlnafssBeot.
- - . . . wHiial warn, sat
aaaf Sat Is Be r sa ataes. sSSMal - r--s
' A. J. KELLU a CO. rutaksnk, TM
Msy'At
-r- i f
m
(Tlllti ALL 001
T i - prssa.
on, 3Ug jzjZ
MISCELLANEOUS,
GLENN'S
SULPHUR SOAP.
Thorocchly Ccau Diseases of the Skti,
JtjKt riHtS THE CoMI'LEXION, PxKVENTS
anl kkm1.l.1f.s rhkujiatism anu got't,
IIkais Sokes and Abrasions uf tub
Cuticle and Counteracts Cuxt.iuon.
Tlus Standard External Rcniedy far Erup
tions, Sores and Injuries of the Skin, not only
REMOVES FROM THE CoUPU.XroN ALL liLEV-
ISIIES arising froin heal iitipurilics of the
Uoul and obstruction of Ike pores, but also
those produced by the sun and wind, such as
tan and freckles. It renders the cuticle
UARVLLOUSLY CLEAR, SMOOTH and PLIANT,
and being a wholesome UEAUTIFIkk ii far
prclcrable to any cosmetic.
ALL THE REMEDIAL ADVANTAGES OF SCX
THI'R Haths are insured BY THE tsE OF
Ulenn's Sulphur Soap, which in a.Wi-
tion to its purifying effects, remedies and PRE
VENTS RHEUMATISM and GOUT.
It also DISINFECTS CIXJTHINIl and LINEN
and i'.EVENTS DISEASES COMMUNICATED BY
CONTACT with the PERSON.
It dissolves Dandruff, prevents bald
ness, and retards grayness of the hair.
Physicians speak of it in high terms.
Prices-25 and 50 Cents per Cake; per
box (J Uakes). GOc and Si. 20.
N. B. The 50 cent caltct an triple die size of those at
5 ecu,.
" HILL'S nilll AXI) TVHI?KE!t DVK,"
Black or Brown, 30 ( rata.
C. I. CUT IE3K3, f,-.jV. I SMS lv.,l.l
The Great New Medicine
A Health-Giving Power
PURIFIES the blood,
INVICORATE8 THE LIVER,
PROMOTES DICESTIOM, and
STRENGTHENS THE NERVES,
Tliws eaTrrtwally rwrtnft ttlst aseof wltai.
trer mn me .r satart. It ta wortbjr of Si
trial. ItELIEV guaranteed.
ta AGRRKABLK to the taste, ORATE
FtL tosh ilomark, and arts elllrlesitlx
as m CAT II AH TIC, ALTElttTIVE a aid
DU KKT1C. Its aelloai la wot allencled
M II h aayssplraasal f, ellng, neither Is
lanaaar aor dehtlltr xf Meed, a alt
las contrary, refmhiarat Bad la
vlsiorallow. lis Immediate rlYeetwpon the digestive
rasia.whelsier Impaired by disease or
eiliaaaled from any cast ae. Is to Increase
Ihetr powers araMlmllat Ion and nsitrl
tlost, tha appetite belaapt Increase,! at
are. Telhoei sfrrlcd with ss tssar.
Ked cwndltlan of tha tlrer. as Bllluas
neaa,ehararterlaed by adn.ky romples
o". m coaled loncwe. pasty, had taste
In the snonlh. n t a prlrlows appetite and
slasrclah attlon of the bowela. with m
arnaeoffallneaa In the head and ait men
tal 1 dallaesa, VIMIUEXE prwves inoal
waivable).
Its efTeet wpon tha kid Beys Is ss less
happy, a tnrbld, Irrllallag mine is
sjuirkly cleared np by It.
iBflamsnmory and Chranie RTIKC
M ATI8M will sown disappear by a r
slatent nse af VIUORE AK.
For tha rare or tikln Dlaeaaea and
Ernptlons of all kinds, VIOOKF.NK Is
most certain.
VIOORKNR Is enmposed of the arllro
properties of HEHIIH, IKKtTS. Ol MS
and BARKS, that Kstars alone fnr
nlahes, (treat care being taken by wa
tbat they are gathered at the right
season at the yetr. and that they possess
their native Tlrlaes.
That V1GORKKR has the rower tn
PtRlFV THE BLINin, l. VIGOR AT 12
he I.IVER, and "TIMf LATK the IJI
OKSTlVh: tIRUAKn. Is lnril.pnl.bly
i.roven by thoao aa ho has slrra Is a
t rial and have been permanently eared.
Hes to rzperteM.e rel ef. for we GriK.
TEK yon will t cl Letter from I he
Hrt few doses.
VI GORE: Is astanl.hlng the world
with Itscnrrs. and tf hrowingallolher
I'OSKS, ALTKHtTIVKs and IMIIi-
ORAT). into the aha.'e. Pi.1 np tn
Ixgr loltles.donllelirng(I. It eq a I res
nasi nnaes. ass'l l p'ea.aal to lake.
Price, sjl.oo icr Bottle.
V ALKER L BAPGFB KFG. CO., Pna't,
i: sis :t.. k7 r a. ; jirisr cp.y. .
i i;r. oiurrr cr eai ino - a new boo
J" shou'-d rutd. tit In e uroa rcc irt o a ma
ceDtaUli p.
FOISSALEUY
0. W.SPEERS,
MUG GIST, Somtrnt, l'a.
Felintary
Cook & Beerits'
FAMILY GROCERY,
Flour and Feed
WaVoold sanet respect folly announra to our
Metals aad the paid Ic reae rally, la the tewa aad
rhHulty of Somerset, that we hare opened oar
new store oo
MAm CROSS STREE7
Aad la addition Is fall Una of tha bast
CwnrectlosaetieH, Xotiwiia,
Ttbat?reR. Clrarn, 4c.
Wt will endeavor, a all ttsaea, ta sapply oar eas
toaners with tha
BEST QUALITY OF
FAMILY FLOUE,
CORN-MEAL,
OATS, SHELLED CORN,
OA TS A CORN CU0P,
BRAN, MIDDLINGS
And everything partalnlng to tha ft id IXpiit
tent at tha
LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES.
FOIt
CASH ONLY.
A lao, a weU selected ttoek af
Ulasswars; Stoneware, Woodeawire, Btciatt-
al kinds, aad
STATIONERY
W hlek wa wlU Mil as aheap at tha ehsapast.
Plaass eali, exasUna our goods of all kkvla, gad
be satlsfled rroai yuar own JadgsseaL ,
Ltaa't hrgM. wksra wa star
MAIN CKOKS BuwtDssMINi, Fa.
rft1
Someiset
-
DICK tOLEJIAX'H WILL.
Just roll me over to He other tide,
And stir the straw yes, that's better si.
Smooth down the blanket; no, the funk's n
wide;
Bring In some water, before you go,
How long have I been sick? a week to-day;
Yea, that It It; Iv'e taken cold train;
Ysu do not know bow hard It Is to lay
Without a soul to speak to In euch pain.
Take that old eoat and place It 'nestb my lt3ad
Ami bang this shirt just so, to hide the light,
The boys do all they can, but then the bed
Is not of down, and sunshine huru my tight'
There, t hat Is nice: pull that old box up near,
And sit a moment. Are the boys In camp?
Tell them to brlnir my pick an.1 shovel here ;
What struck a katl, Ben? won't you light the
lamp?
Not dark, not dark; just lako my hand, dear
Ben;
I think my head bus gone a little wrong.
You do not think I'm dying now; well, then,
Call in the boys, I know It can't hut long.
All here? good bye: 1 bare no will to make:
Yet there's my claim, boys; It you striko
lead.
Jint give my mother something for my sate,
Trust you, aye, with a thousand cluinii
need.
Then a faint gasp, a quivering of the breath,
And all was quiet. Not a word was said.
We stood a moment faco to face with death,
Each with an honest sorrow for the dead.
Dick Coleman tnoke liroad-shouldercd. tan
browned youth
Long shambling limbs, nd sinews lough as
oak
We knew his heart, bis bravery and his truth,
Anl listened while his words the silence
broke.
"Hero by the dead, boys" every hand was
raised,
And every bat was lilted from the brow
'I make my will" hit brown eyes upward
gated
"And here's my pile: be can not see me now,
But ha will know In the great world of bliss
How I stood by him, even after death;
To help his mother, I will send her this
Ho thought of ber, aye, with his latest
breath."
Before the twilight deepened in the west
Six piles of gold dust heaped upon the fltor,
Told bow we stood by Dick's kind words im
pressed,
Lach gave his all, a king could do no m:,ro.
Wc dug a grave and laid our cimradc there
On the hillside, and marked the place when
done
With a great Btone; our hearts were full of
prayer
Korthe poui ni .ther who had loft a son.
San Jose Mcrcvry.
Til E STORY OF A LF.T1 ER.
BY JILIA KAVANAGII.
Every one has beard of Sir John
Percy's great lawsuit. It ia a great
trouble to Sir John. At least bo
says so ; bis first, bo calls it ; but I
always thougLt bia troubles began
with bis uame. He claimed to be a
real Percy, lllnatured people Eaid
tbat bia grandfather bad been a
green grccer ; this may be true, or it
may not, but I never knew a more
honorable, noble-minded man than
Sir John, and I ,mean opajtbat
whatever his real origin, tbo Percy's
might have been proud of such a
kinsman. There would, therefore.
have been little harm in his claim of
noble descent, which no one bad ev
er dreamed of opposing, if good Sir
John bad no thought fit to strength
en it by assuming the temper and de
portment ot Hotspur. One of hi fa
vorite theories was "race," and the
transmission of hereditary peculiar
ities. "ily dear Sir John," I argued
once, "allow me to tell you that type
changes. Keen observers tell ua tbat
there is a periodic alteration in man.
lie passes from the nervous syetem
to the plethoric, and hence, physiolo
gists 'declare, spring those cycles of
disease which are one of the puzzles
of modern science."
You should have beard Sir John
laugh ! ".My good fellow," said he,
yoa know nothing about it. Goto
Home ; you will find Meesalina or
taustina in the Capitol, in old dis
colored marble, and you will also
find ber in tbe streets with a silver
arrow in ber hair, looking at you no
longer with cold stony eyes, but with
a pair or sparkling black ones. Xay,
more, 1 have seen the pure Etruscan
type in Rome, a girl whom you could
have painted on a vase holding a
mystic serpent in her hand. But
need we go so far? Look at me ! Am
not one of tbe old Percys in phys
iognomy aa well as in blood ? And
unluckily for me, have I not got
tbat dreadful Hotspur temper which,
as it cannot ba vented ia rebellion.
or on a battle-field, has brouehl this
eternal lawsuit on mr hands?"
I groaned, for about one part of
thia sta'cment there could be no
doubt; it was tbe Hotspur temper
tbat had brought on tbe lawsuit, and
as I candidly believe tbat Sir John
acquired that temper to prove bis
descent from tbe same illustrious line
as gave Cbeyy Chase its hero, and
Lord Douglas bid enemy, I am justi
fied in my assertion that bis troubles
began with his name.
Amoag tbe troubles of Sir John
there was one which seemed to me
aa real as bis relationship to the
Percys. He complained that all his
letters uid not reach him, and be laid
tbe blame to his legal opponents. At
first be concluded that they had an
agent at tbe Post Office ; then be
gave up this crotchet for one as im
probable, but at least more plausible;
the agent was not in tbe Post Office,
but out of it ; and it was bis habit
to waylay tbe postman, and either
bribe or drug him, aa be might find
most convenient, then abstract Sir
John's letter for this knowing agent
never took but one letter, though, of
cooree, it was always tbe right one.
This explanation of bis losses, how
ever, bad to be given up as well as
the first ; and Sir John's third and
last conclusion was tbe saddest and
most ominous of the three, so far, at
leas', as bis peace of mind was con
cerned ; be declared tbat the agent
was one of bis three female servants.
II is only man servant, James, was
incorruptible; but Mrs. Green, the
housekeeper; Ann, the cook, and
Martha, the boase-maid, did not, un
luckily, belong to that Immaculate
category. Tbey were changed re
peatedly Mrs. Geeen became Mrs.
Long, Ann and Martha turned into
Eliza and Mary, a Dramah lock was
adapted to tbo letter-box ; but letters
important letters, saia Mr Jonn,
all referring to bis lawsuit contin
ued to be lost, or, what came to the
same tbing, not to reach him.
I bctran to feci staggered. Sir
John was positive, and though very
angry, he preserved a sort of .calm
ness in his anger which was unlike
' SiJ If-?'
ESTABLISHED, 1837,
SOMERSET, PA., WEDNESDAY,
HoUpur's wrath, and " helped to
shake my skepticism. There could
be no harm, at least, 'Q trying to as
sist him cut of h:s j difficulty,. ' and I
undertook to provide him , with a
thoroughly reliable .servant girl. I
applied to my . tister-in law in the
country, a woman ,cf strong sense
and much penetration. I sent her
down an account of ir John's pre
dicament, and begged of ber to let
us have a good, sensible and honest
girl, if she knew sach person in her
neighborhood. Sir John preferred a
girl from the coanfry. "It ia tbe
lover who ruins everything," he said,
"and the lover is thj growth of time.
If I can have a fortnight's fidelity, I
shall be well pleasep." B7 return of
post my sister-in-law wrote: "I have
got the very girl ybi want; she is a
heroine, neither more nor less. She
spent ten years in niy cousin's fam
ily, and saved the youngest child
from drowning by Jber presence of
mind. Twice the loose was attack
ed by burglars, antjtwice Nelly dis
played the calmest iourage. On one
of thoso occasions, she was alone
with the . children J Her fidelity is
beyond suspicion. defy any one to
bribe Xellv. For tpe last three years
sue caa ocen engaged to a young
man of the best chtracter a carpen -
icr aau it 19 ior ari sate, as weu as
not to leave her mojher and her little
sister, that Nelly ,,ould not go to
Australia with my jiousin. Tho chil
dren were broken-ejarted at the de
parting." ,
This high-flown fnlogium conclu
ded with the intimation tbat Nelly
would be very glad ,tf a situation in
Sir John Percy's household, and es
pecially of tho liberal terms ho of
fered, and that sh would leave S
at once, and call npon bim the
next day
Sir John was taking bis breakfast.
when Mary, tbe hoose-mald. came in
and said tbat "a yoang person want
ed to speak to hinLf
Great was Sir Llohn's surprise
when the heroine of tiy sister-in-law's
letter entered. A little childish thing
stood before him. i
"nny, my aear, now 01a are
you ?" he asked, in some dismay
"Twenty-five, sir " replied a quiet
little voice. ! ;
Sir John looked at her. Yes.
there were sonic of tho lines on that
young face. And, though it was a
young face, with slight features, it
was a remarkable face in us way ;
pale and resolute, with dark eye
brows, and dark eyes looking quietly
at you from beneath .their arcb.
" bat is your name ?" be asked,
a little abruptly.
"bilcn Kelly, sn."
Yes, she was Irish, and that was
a drawback. Not (hat tbe prejudice
which forms a part f the tradition
ary. Joha BulLfouoA-any room, id Sir
John Percy's mind ; but he had been
jilted, poor fellow, ty an Irish girl,
who bad Ellen Kelly's eyes, and be
considered this coincidence ominous.
He assured me afterward that if it
had not been for my sister-in-law's
sake, be would have sent Ellen back
forthwith ; be said so, but 1 rather
doubt it. I have a fancy that those
eyes of hers were pleasant to the
good old bachelor a memento of his
young days tbat had a charm of its
own.
"Well, Ellen," he resumed after a
while, "I have beard a good account
of you, and I trust you will justify it.
Though you are but a small tbing to
be a heroine, we all know tbat tbe
best goods is made op in tbe smallest
packets. I am a good deal out, all
on account of a confounded lawsuit
which I have bad in band these thir
ty years, and I want a faithful, trust
worthy servant to sit in this room
and receive letters. The housekeep
er will give you some needle-work to
amu.se you, should you need such
entertainment ; but you are to sit
here from eight in tbo morning till
twelve, and from two in the after
noon till evening. When you
feel tired just touch tbe bell, and
James will come and relieve you.
He ia too old and t)3 active to bear
the confinement otherwise I should
require no one else. Now, Nelly,
please to mind my words. I suspect
neither tbe housekeeper nor either of
tbe two servants. I have laid traps
for them, and tbey have come out of
tbesnar s white as driven snow;
therefore I have no right to mistrust
them ; but I expressly desire von to
act with as much prudence as if they
were one and all bent npon stealing
my letters. In 6hort,you mar be as
civil and as friendly aa you will, but
you are not to trust tuem. mat
will not be pleasant, will it, eb r"
"No, sir; but I knew as much be
fore coming."
"Well, then, as I said, von shall
sit here and sew. When the post
man comes, go and take the letters
from him. 1 had a box, but I have
suppressed it"
"And where shall I keep tbe let
ters if you are out, sir?"
"Jn your pocket, my dear, and do
not let a soul lay a finger on one of
them till I came in, and you hand
them to me."
"Very well, Bir."
"That is not all, my dear. You
have relatives, I believe."
"Mother and my little sister, sir."
"Dj you exp9ct any letters from
them?"
"Mother can't write, sir, and my
sister is only seven."
"Nevertheless, yoa expect to bear
from them ?"
"We have a friend, sir," replied
Nelly, blushing a little, "a sort of re
lation of onrs, who will let mo know
how mother and my little sister are
getting on."
"In plaia speecbrTOu have got- a
sweetheart don't deny it."
"I do not deny it, sir," replied El
len, rather warmly ; "we are to be
married as soon as be has saved a
little money to set op busioess on his
own account."
-'(Juite right; but my object in put
ting all these questions to you is sim
ply this: when your sweetheart
writes to yon, you are not, if you
please, to read tbe letter, but simply
to hand it over to me."
Elle n turned crimson. No, she
could not do 'that. Sbe was very
sorry to disoblige Sir John, but she
could not do tbat
"But, my dear," he argued, with a
smile, "I save not tbe least wisu to
read tbat young man's letter, and,
JL JL
AUGUST 7, 1S7S.
as soon aa you have handed it to me,
I shall give it back to you. I trust
you with all my letters ; can you not
trust me with one of yours now and
Holi
sm Ellen demurred. Iltr letter
was her own, and it was plain that
E'.lea wished to do with her own
wh3t the pleased, and bo subject to
no one's control. But Sir John was
firm, or, if yon like it, obstinate ; and,
after sortie hesitation, and with ev
ident reluctance, Ellen yielded.
Mind, you give mo vour word and
honor to obey mo in all these ia
junctions," said Sir John.
"lea, sir, I do."
'Well, then, repeat them fjr me.'
hllen did as she was bid, and she
went tbrougb the series of Sir John
1 e:cy a behesta with a precision and
correctness that pleased bim very
nigniy.
"The housekeeper shall show you
your room," he said, ringing the bell;
ana, wteo you are rested, you can
begin your duties."
The housekeeper was a verv sour-
lcoking lady, and, having little cause
to 03 pieased with the step Sir John
uni tasen, sne treated hllen wnn a
superciliousness which the girl had
the good sene to ignore. Sbe had
icome to fill a difficult position, aad it
wa3 nseies3 to auarrel with us inev
itable troubles. Presently she came
down in a lilac print "dress, with
pla n white collar and sleeves, look
ing so trim and neat that Sir John
was quite pleased with his new ac
quisition, lie made her sit in the
bow-wiudow which commanded a
view of the street door ; he again
rang for Mrs. Long, and requested
her to provide Ellen with some darn
ing or mcnuing or making, as she
pleased, and, having seen this order
executed, and Ellens little band dive
into a deep basket and come forth
with a pair of bis own stockings, be
left her, chockiiag and rubbing his
hands, with a "Now we shall see."
But alas! what was glee and hope
to him was darkness and tribulation
to Nelly. Tbis gloomy Lo idoo par
lor, looking out on a gloomy London
street, filled her heart with desola
tion. She Lad parted that morning
with the widowed mother, who had
reared her through much poverty and
sorrow; while the little sister," who
clung to her, alternately kicking or
weeping, as her grief prompted; with
the true-hearted fellow who had lov
ed her years so faithfully she had
left them ell for thia strange place,
and tbis strange house, and on ! when
should she see them again ? Not for
six months, perhaps; perhsp3 not for
a year. She bad done all tbat for a
little money, tempted by Sir Joh 1
Percy's liberal wage3;but it was
hard, very hard, and Nelly felt it
keenly. She also felt the change
from, the .country . to town, - How
grim looked those brick houses, with
their yellow blinds half drawn down;
what a prison air thev had, with
iron railings guarding them. Nelly
had been reared in a cottage, with
green fields around it. She had been
a servant in a pretty villa standing
in its own grounds. Tbe Utile town
where her lover lived bad a garden
and an orchard to almost every one
of its dwellings. And then the lanes,
tbe delicious hawthorn lanes, where
they had walked together the very
day before this, with Nelly's little
bister Jane romping around them,
and filling ber pinafore with butter
cups and daisies ; these lanes haunted
poor Nelly as she sat and mended
Sir John's stockings. Should she
ever hear tho uightingald sing again.
aa it sang last night on that lime
tree which smelled so sweet ? Bot
a postman's knock came to the door.
L p jumped ellv, and awav flew the
dream-lane, lime-tree, nightingale,
and all. She went and openeof it ;
three lettera were put in her band,
and, closing tbe doer carefully, Nelly
went up with these letters to Sir
John, who happened to be within.
All right," be said, "but I am
afraid it is nt all right," be added,
abruptly. "You have been crying.
Have these women already begun
worrying you
Hotspur was up and ready for
war, and Nelly hastened to assure
bim tbat no one bad said a ward tj
ber in fact, that sbe bad not seen a
soul since he bad left ber in tbe par
lor. "Theu what are you crying for?"
be asked, looking injured.
"I parted with them all this morn
ing. Sir, and tbis being the Grst time,
and tbe first day, too, it seems a lit
tle hard."
"It ia hard," confessed Sir John,
"but time will comfort you, or at least
enable you to bear it."
In ber quiet way, Nelly said she
hoped so, and she went back t the
parlor and to ber darning.
Poor Nelly ! she soon bad other
troubles besides those of separation
and remembrance. Tbe housekeep
er, the cook, and the bonse-maid
combined .to make her life wretched.
Mrs. Long found fault with Nelly's
sewing, and was bitter on tbe sub
ject of her darns. "There never had
been such," she declared. Nelly felt
this acutely. Ilemember how old
and universal an accomplishment
damning is, aud then imagine, if you
can, what it is to b9 singled out
among all past and present darners
as the very worst of tbe lot. It was
enough to crush Nelly's spirit for
ever. Tbe cook said nothing;
"Deeds, not words," doubtless was
her motto ; but she made it a rule to
make Nelly cat what she disliked.
Nelly hated fat, and Nelly got noth
ing but fat meat ! Nelly disliked York
shire pudding, and Yorkshire pad
ding Decame a rule in Sir John's
kitchen. Tbe housemaid, too,
would not be behindhand- It bad
been her duty to receive the letters
and to attend the door. Not being
now allowed to do the one, she loft
ily resolved not to do the other. But
Nelly, who bad been quiet hitherto,
and scorned to complain, now rebell
ed, and showed some spirit. 'It was
contrary to ber instructions to open
tbe door to any one save tbo post
man, for he might come while she
was showing a visitor op stairs. She
laid the case before Sir Jon. Hot
spur flew into a towering passion
and threatened cook, maid, and
housekeeper with instant 'dismissal,
if they ever meddled with Ellen
again. Neljy bad not been loved be
fore, but now she was fairly hated.
c
I fj,ncy hers was no pleasant life,
sitting darning stockings in that grim
old parlor, taking in letters, and feel
ing herself detested ia tin regions
below as well as in the housekeep
ers room above. But, if bia little
maid lookod rather pais and melau
cholly, Sir John wa3 in tip-top spir
its ; he had not lost a letter, so he
said, at least, since be has had Nel
ly. "Tha dearest little jam'tress that
ever was." he said, "and true as
steel. St. They had a plot to get
ber away from the door, bat Nelly
came and told mo all about it. And
I gave them a trimming, sir, by Jove
I did."
A month and a day had Nelly
bacn with Sir John when tho post
man handed her a packet of letters
ono morning. Nelly's heart beat as
she looked at them. There was
cn3 for ber. It had the S
postmark upon it; besides, Nelly
knew the writing. Now, there ia a
sby, delicate instinct in a girls love
a feeling tbat makes her wish to
hide what e'uo ia not ashamed of.
Nelly longed to slip that dear letter
into her pocket, and not let Sir John
have a look at it. Bat she remem
bered htr promise, and went up with
it, a3 well as the rest. "Oh ! one for
you," he eaid, detecting the stiff
round hand-writing at once; "there's
a good girl, I shad not keep you in
pain ; go down with it at once." Nell
obeyed. She bad a warm impetu
ous little heart, I suppose, spite her
calm face, for she was no sooner out
on the staircase than she broke the
seal and read the lover's epistle. But,
alas ! no dear, no glad, home fra
grance did that little sheet of paper
enfold ; nothing came out of it but
the dreariest and saddest news. Sir
John bad not got. half through his
first letter when the door of his
study opened add Nelly broke in up
on bim, pale, distraeted, and her
open letter in her band.
"I must go, Sir," she cried, "I
must go at once. My mother is dy
ing shei3dving."
She seemed beside
herself with
irief. Sir John took np the letter
she had dropped and glanced over it.
les, sure enough, Nelly smother was
dying, and asked to see her daughter
'once more.'
"Of coarse you must go," he said",
warmly. "I can not spare you to
day, bat you shall start ts-niorrow
morning."
"To-morrow, Sir; will - death wait
till to-morrow r I must go now
now."
"My dear child, I am to be out all
day, !:(! I expect a most important
Utter, and James, poor fellow, ia ly
ing ill ia bed, as you know I canDot
spare yn-j to-day."
J-Sir John," resolutely said Nelly,
"I shf.U go to-day. I am sorry to
didobl ign you ; but I shall tro." -
"Hotspur bad a great deal to do
to keep bis temper down," said Sir
John, when be told me this1, "espec
ially aa the little chit's black eves
had just a lurk in them which I re
membered rather too well. However,
I remained quite cool, and all I said
was: 'Well, Nelly, I have servants
to obey me, and not to have their
own way. I give you a month's
warning from ibis very day.'"
"Very well, Sir," composedly re
plied Nelly. "I am sorry to have
annoyed you, but I can not help it."
dotspur deigned ber no answer,
aud Nelly went. S ia within
two cours or jionaon oy rail, it was
three o'clock when Nelly reached it.
She bad to walk a mile from tbe ta
tioa to her mother's cottage. Her
road lay along tbe very lane in which
sue naa wanuerea witn ner lover a
month back; but how sad and chang
ed was its aspect Its June beauty
was goce. The bot July sun bad
scorched it Tbe hedges were white
with dust ; tbe trees looked atbirst
for rain ; tbe sky was gray and low
ering, and the beautiful country seem
ed sad and plague-strickeu to poor
Ellen. "I felt 6ure, Sir," she said to
me later, "tbat my poor mother was
dead."
At length she reached the cottage.
Her band shock as she raised the
latch and entered, ner lover was
the first person whom she saw. lie
came forward and comforted her with
a word.
"Alive and better, Nellv."
"Better !" If be bad said "cured,"
Nelly's joy could scarcely have been
greater. She cried, she laughed, she
kissed her little sister, her mother,
ber lover, Mra. Dering, a kind neigh
bor who had come in to nurse the
sick woman. 5r he could have kissed
the ground in the gladness cf her
heart. Yea, tbe poor woman who
bad been dying the day before was
better now, and what waa more, tbe
Doctor felt sure, from the torn her
complaint had taken, that she would
live. This glad news Nelly's lover
gave her outside the cottage door,
for ti e invalid waa too low to hear
much.
"cu tave Lad a useless journey,
Nelly," said Mrs. Dering, coming
out to join the pair, "but we bad to
send for you to quiet tbe poor dear."
"And do you really think sbe ia
safe now, Mrs. Dering?"
"Tbe doctor says he is almost sure
of her, Nelly. And how do you like
your place ? Yonr mother says it is
such a good one."
Nelly answered that it waa a very
good place indeed ; but she sighed
aa sbe remembered bir John's warn
ing. "iol'11 be saving lots of money,
aad comiug back to marry Joseph."
continued Jirs. Dering.
"1 hope so," said Joseph cordially.
Tbis Joseph waa a very good fel
low, a steady workmau, and he
adored Nelly, but be waa not very
bright, and Nelly never told him her
little secret. So, even after Mr?.!
Dering left them and entered tbe cot
tage, sbe said nothing about Sir
John's warning. Sbe knew what a
shock it would bo to ber sick mother,
and suppose Joseph should let it out?
Joseph was so happy t see bis mis
tress again tbat be was in tbe high
est spirits. He could talk of nothing
bat the future, and be could not see
that future unless under tbe rosiest
OFfecL His song bad but one bur
den to it. Sir John's twenty pounds
a year, Ellen 8 savings, and wedded
bliss.
Matters, as he viewed them, went
on delightfully. Nelly was to Bave
thirty pounds, and he, Joseph, thirty
T 1
WHOLE NO. 1 113.
! more. With sixty pounds they could
I begin life. Of course, they would
take time; Nelly must send money
'home, and Joseph had his aged and
.' helpless grandfather to support ; but,
I 'with time,' argced Joseph, 'it could
'be done.' And again followed a
I gltmrs) of that married life fjr which
Joseph had been pining for years, 03
! only tbe poor can pine for love, borne,
1 and weman. Nelly heard him, aad
said not a word. She- was very glad
! to have found her mothor alive and
t 'efe,' aa she said, but a dirknes-s had
come over ber joy. "Poor fellow ! if
; he knew the truth," she thought, as
she listened to him, "and if he knew
! that every word he utters Is a etao
i to me." But every one seemed bent
; on tormenting ber. Mrs. Dering came
- out again and extolled Nelly's place
'and salary. Little Jane, bearing so
1 much about money, wanted to know
! what Nelly was going to give ber;
' and when the sick woman was able
j to speak her first words were an in
junction on ber daughter not to ex
ceed her leavo of absence. Nelly
mu3t not vex Sir John on any ac
count. She became so excitable on
this head that, to pacify her, Ellen
asked if sbe should go away by tbe
night train.
"Yes, you had better, my dear,"
replied ber mother, rather eagerly.
She was as anxious to see her
j daughter depart as she had been to
make her come. Nelly herself was
cot so anxious to go. The burden of
her secret was too much for her. Aa
she left the cottage Mra. Dering fol
lowed her out mysteriously.
"Ellen," sbe said, "I have some
money unknown to my husband, and
I want poor William to have it. You
just take it from me. and he will call
for it in a day cr two. I can't send
it by the post."
Sbo slipped a little silky packet, in
Nelly's hand. "And to take earo of
it," she whispered again, "for it ia
four five-pound notes, Nelly."
Ellen hesitated. William, Mrs.
Dering'a son by her first husband,
bad been so beaten and ill-used by
bia step father that he had run away
to London years before. But mis
fortune bad followed h-:n, and he
waa only a sickly widower with
three Iittlo children.
"Ycu cannot refuse doisg that for
me," eaid Mr3. Dering.
"No, no, Mra. Dering, I will do it
with p'easore. But it it - uh a large
sum suppose I should lose it?"
"You'll not Ueo it, Neliy ; here,
take it, aad do not tell any one.'' .
"Any one" meant Ji -r.h, who
now came up to escort N. l!y to the
station. They walked tloo the
shady lane, arm ia arm, and as they
bad plenty of time, por things, they
lingered. Nelly felt much depressed
when they parted at the station, and
Joseph saw it. - - '
"You are fretting about your moth
er," he said. "I ara sure she'll d ,
Nelly ; but I'll be sure to write."
"No," suid Nelly, nervously, "no
news is good news only write if she
gets bad again."
Nelly had ber reason for this.
"How should I bear tbe suspense if
Sir John was out," she thought
But Joseph said a little shortly,
"Very well, when I write you will
know it is bad news."
Nelly wanted to explain, but she
bad no time to do so. Tbe train was
going to start.
"Make haete," said Joseph, hur
rying her away. "IHa only writing
bim a line when I get to London,"
thought Nelly. Poor Joe ! be was
hurt.
An accident which had taken place
on the line delayed the train, so that
it was nine n the morning when it
reached the station. Sir John lived
at the other end cf the town, and it
was ten by the time Ellen got to his
house. James opened tbe door for
her, and very cross James looked.
The poor fellow had been kept on du
ty almost the whole time sbe had
been away.
"A pretty mesa you made of it,
ma am," be said, witn sarcastic po
liteness, "and a nice way Sir J..hn
and I have been in all the time."
"I bave not been twenty-four
hours away, James," answered El
len, "and if yoa will just let me go
up and change my dress, I shall be
down directly. You can tell Sir
John so."
"Sir John ia cut," was the short
reply. "How'a your mother ?" he
added, more kindly.
"Much better, thank yo ."
If Nelly had but "said "Mnch
worse," James would have been soft
ened thoroughly, but "Much better,"
showed what a perverse, tormenting
little creature Bhe had been; so be
roughly bade her not be long ; and
when Ellen came down be did not
wait until sbe had reached the bot
tom of tbe staircase to go out of the
front door. Ellen entered the parlor,
and went and sat down in her usual
place. She felt giddy with fatigue,
and her Grst feeling was- to long tor
more complete rest than tbat of wait
ing for Sir John's letters. Sbe look
ed cut languidly tbrougb tbe wire
blind that protected her from the in
discrete glances of passers-by. Dark
er and duller than ever eeemed tbe
houses. Welt, she would soon cease
to look at them. A month would
soon be over, and then ebe would go
back to ber mother and Joseph and
Mrs. Dering. Here an awful blank
followed what had become of Mrs.
Dericg's twenty pounds ? Ellen rush
ed up stairs like a mad thiog. Sbe
searched the clothes sbe bad juat ta
ken off no trace of Mra. Derieg'a
money did she find. It was lost;
that money which the poor mother
had taken years to put by for her
sick son and bia three children waa
utterly lost.
Ellenls first feeling was one of stu
por ; then sbo a.-ked herself tbe usu
al question: "What am I to do ?"
Ellen had been ten years a serv
ant. She had had to help ber moth
er and little sister ; she had not sav
ed much money : fifteen pounds and
ten shillings in all. Tbat money she
must now give up to Mrs. Dering,
and yet it would not cover ber debt.
But could Mrs. Deriog's money real
ly be lost? It seemed impossible;
she searceed arjain with renewed ar
dor, but tbe money she had not. She
could not imagine bow or when it
had left ber possession ia tbe lane,
on ber way to the station, ia tbe rail
way carriage, or in the cab that had
t brought bT to Str John's door; but
one thing is sure, she bad bad it, and
she had not got it now. To tbe rich
the loss of money is generally light ;
to the poor it is almost always calam
itous. In a moment all tbo conse
quences of Ellen's loss rushed to ber
rated; Mrs. Deriog's son must suffer,
then Nelly Lerselt. Adieu to many
Iittlo comforts; adinu to love; adieu
to bopo itseif. The poor girl could
not bear these thoughts. She flung
herself on the bed and burst into
Iteara. The postman's knock at the
jdour below reminded Ntllv th st iu
ber own coocers sbo bad iorgottcn
her master's. Sho flew down stairs,
and she reached the door just as tbo
maid was opening it. Mary looked
any thiog butcharmed at Eilen's hasty
appearance, and, turning np I er nose,
she said scornfully:
"Perhaps, ma'am, you'll be kiad
euugh to let mo hava my Iet'ei?"
"There ia none for jcu," replied
Nelly, glancing over the lettera which
the pjstman bad put ia her hand;
"but, oh, my goodness! there ia one
for me."
It waa a letter from Joseph, with
the London post mark. With
trembling haad Ellea was going to
break tbe seal, when Mary's mockiog
eyca fastened upon her reminded her
of Ler promise. She bad forgotten
ail about it, but sho remembered it
now ; she could not open that letter
until she bad received it from Sir
John'a own bands. And Sir John
waa still out ; be would not come
back till dinner time.
Ellen entered tbe parlor aad sat
down, with the letter on her kcee-.
She looked ht it aa surely never let
ter was looked at before. Within
that square envelope lay Nelly's fate.
Either Joseph had written to Bay that
ber mother had had a relapse bow
sbe remembered his words, "When I
write, you will know it ia bad tews"
er be had dh-patched thia letter,
following so close on her steps, to tell
ber that Mrs. Deriog's money waa
safe. The very London postmark
was a sign, only i'. could be read eith
er way. It was plain that something
had occurred just after her depart
ure, and which Joseph, on reaching
home had wish: to impart to her.
He had evidently found someone go
ing to London by tho early morning
train to whom be had given bia letter
that she might get it half a day soon
er. Yea, all that was plait, enough,
but it helped her no wise to solve
the mystery. Joseph knew noth
ing about Mrs. Dering'a money, and,
aa tbe lane was dark when he went
home after parting from hr, he could
not possibly find four fi ve-pund notes.
Moreover, Nelly searched her memo
ry well, aad she was sure tbat she
had not once put ber band in her
pocket while Joseph and sbe walked
to the station. Then tbe letter could
not refer to the money ; it must be to
tell ber that her mother waa worse,
and tbat she, Nelly must go back at
once.
When this thought came to ht r,
Nelly's hand waa on the lotter ready
to break the seal, but she remember
ed her promise, and she paused.
What if the letter only rtferred to the
money? What if it was only being
patient and doing her duty ? For it
was her duty. Sir John bad given
her warning, bnt she still waa his
servant, and she still owed him obei
sance. She bad made a promise
which she was free to withhold, but,
having nicde it, sbe was not free to
break it Poor Nelly ! I often won
dered bow sbe resisted such tempta
tion. For I do not suppose tbat Satan
did not offer her many an outlet.
"Break the seal," he whispered, "read
your letter, then go up stair, seal it
again with red wax like this, and juat
tell me if Sir John will be any worse
for it. It is your letter after all !
Think of your long agony till he
cornea home, and do tbis ; wbc will
be tbe wiser?" This was cruelly
plausible, and are there many men
and women who could have resisted
either that suggestion, or tbe bolder
and more bonest one of breaking her
promise altogether, and not conceal
ing from her master that she bad done
so? What had Nelly to lose? He
had given her warning; thia fine sit
uation, with its twenty pounds a
year, was gene ; sbe bad risked it tc
comply with her mother's wish and
she did not repent having done so.
Why should sbe not win peace when
all was lust and risk was gone ?
Why are not conscience, integrity
and honor mere words, and net aw
ful realities ? Nelly could not do
thia thing. Tbe sacrednefa of her
word stood between ber and ber de
sire like tbe angel's flaming sword be
tween man and paridase. Fir, after
all, her reading tbe letter would
change nothing. It would not give
ber dying mother life or restore Mrs.
Dering'a lost money. "Well, then, I
must and I will bar it," thought El
len. And she bore it. What tortures
Nellie suffered as she sat in that dull
parlor on a sultry July day, with Jo
seph's letter on ber lap, sbe never
told perhaps sbe could not Great
mental or physical pain can never be
remembered in its intensity, for to re
member it would be to go through
with it again, and Providence is too
merciful to inflict tbe game pang
twice over. Still, it must surely bave
been something terrible for the poor
girl to let tbe slow Lours go by and
bear the kitchen clock ticking below.
Cook and hou3e-maid were very
merry together that day. How cru
el and how mocking sounded their
loud laughter and tbeir idle talk. If
she could even bave told tbem her
trouble, it might have eased ber.
"But they bate me," thought Nelly,
her heart swelling at the thought.
They celainly did not love ber, and,
though Nelly was a poor girl, sbe
bad little, short, precis ways, which
free, easy, unscrupulous natures must
dislike. Not a soul came near ber.
Sbe sat unheeded and fotgotten,
neither eating nor drinking nor stir
ring but looking at Joseph's letter
on ber lap and feeling : " VY ill be ever
come?"
When tbe hour of Sir John's re
turn drew nigh, the suspense grew to
be almost intolerable. There was
nothing tbat poor Ellea did not im
agine. Suppose be dined out ; sup
pose be did not come back till tbe
morning. Could she or ought sbe to
bear it? Surely, in such a case, she
must be freed from ber promise. SLe
had never pledged herself to on in
definite wailing.
Sir John was one of tbe trtosl
punctual cf men. He dined at six
exactly. Yet at five minutes part
six he wasn't at borne. "He ia not
coming borne to-day," thought Ellen.
Her hand was on tbe letter ; but she
paused. "I shall wait till the clock
strikes tbe quarter," she thought,
"then I shall see what I am to do."
Sbe bad not to wait long. At ten
minutes past six Sir John's knock
was heard. Nelly ought to have
flown and opened to him, but sbe did
not. Now that deliverance had come,
sbe shrank from it as if it bad been
a calamity. Sbe never stirred till
Sir John entered tbe room, and, see-
Conlinued on Fourth Paye.
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