Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-24


decorations.
Don't fancy. Miss Jessie, this is all got ur
on your special account Other people car
to-day, and he means to share in the honors
too. Here he comes He'll take you in tc
speak to Mrs. Hale and the girls"
Mr.. Richard Hale raised his wide-awake
and shook hands with Jessie. He had taught
her to ride one holiday, and play chess another
so they were old friends
Mrs. Hale was a stately woman, who
kissed Jessie on her cheek, and bade her
welcome with an air of polite patronage
Pride of birth was Mrs. Hale's failing. She
had the misfortune to be the granddaughter
of a baronet, and had weakness for good
blood hence she never took so kindly to
Jessie as the rest of her family. Her hus-
band, with delicacy of feeling peculiar to
him, had never divulged to any one the real
facts of Jessie's parentage but Mrs Hale had
formed a shrewd guess on the subject.
To-day there was even q more than usual
amount of dignity in the good ady's demeanor;
her head was carried more erect and her dress
rustled more imposingly, as she swept by A
young lord was to be her guest, to-day, and,
to meet him, some Of the first families in the
neghborhood, and the elite of Canterbury had
been invited to Hale Fields consequently
Mrs Hale's reception of Jessie was quite SOL
emn and impressive sight.
The daughters were rather more humble.
minded, and being old school-fellows of Jessie,
welcomed her right gladly. They were soon
ont in the garden together-all three glad to
escape from the drawing-room, and have few
minutes chat before the hustle of the day com
menced.
Jessie almost trembed when she heard of
the grand doings that were to take place, and
the grand people who were expected But
before her friends had half finished their con-
fdences, the confab was broken up by Mr..
Dick Hale rushing down to the arbor where
they sat, and summonng his sisters to their
mothers presence.
Make haste, girls There's mother be-
coming rigid with horror. His lordship has
arrived, and nobody to receive him. Do, pray,
go to her aid, or she'll be SpeechlesS in five
minutes"
The TWO girls flew away to the house, and
left Jessie to their brother He stood and
watched them with laughing face.
"Well, Miss Mallet, this is doing US honor,
such a birthday keeping as this"
II am lucky in having such friends, and
such home to-day. l little thought, though,
when Mr.. Hale brought me over, that / should
find such a gay assembly, or, perhaps"
Jessie hesitated.
"Or perhaps, you wouldn't have come.
Well, that's very polite. think had better
tell my father that you'd like to have the hor-
ses out again, and go back to Canterbury
He's sure to oblige YOU Mr.. Dick turned
very pale.
No; don't talk nonsense. l didn't mean,
Richard. to-to"-- Jessie stammered, and
stopped again.
" To insult your guardian, eh !" said Dick,
recovering his good-humor, when he saw JeS-
sic looking distressed. You had better not
let my mother hear you insinuate that you
don't care to meet her friends, Jessie. Oh, if
you only knew what she's gone through to get
them together, and the management it has ia
ken to avoid giving offence. Just imagine her
position this morning, when the RomleyS sent
word they'd be able to come after all, and we
unhappy wretcheS, on receiving their first
note to decline, had invited their mortal enc
mics. the Cheeseman's The families are at
daggers drawn, because young Romley, l sup
pose, wants to marry one of the Miss Cheese
mans, and old Romley spurns the alliance, and
swears he'll never consent. A pretty thing for
an anxious hostess ! wish the Cheeseman's
were all at Jericho, Im sure. never wanted
them to be invited here at ALL" Richard Hale
looked really half annoyed.
." Why not 2" asked Jessie.
"Oh, because nobody knows who they are,
or what they are It's said he was tallow-
chandler, and had a large fortune left him.
They have just that cut. He has taken large
house near us. | don't know them, you know
By the way. you don't hope"
Jessie had suddenly grown crimson, and
Dick feared he had said something indiscreet
"No, don't know them"
"Oh, that's right That sort Of origin al
ways makes one suspicious"
Quietly as Jessie had disclaimed acquaint-
ance with the Cheeseman's, there was such a
sudden tumult in her heart, aud such a singing
in her eafS, that for the next five minutes she
heard not a word her companion said.
There goes my father !" suddenly cried
Richard. "He is looking for you, know.
Let's follow him you have to be introduced
to such lot of people. / must be off, too,
or we shall have the Romleys falling foul OF
the Cheeseman's, and there'Il be blood split.
Come along"
They hastened away to the lawn.
Everything wore gala air there. The WIS.,
itors were arriving there fast /; asplendid COLA
ton was laid out in one of the tents, and a
banu of music was playing under the mulberry
trees. The Forthcoming archery fete at Hale
Fields had been the talk of the neighborhood
for days past.
Jessie was an object of considerable inter
est to the guests. She was said to be sort
of ward to Mr. Hale's, and very rich ; also
there was some mystery about her fortune
Had they known that it was a halfsovereign
lent, many years ago. by Mr.. Hale'S father to
zebedee Peck, the hOppicker boy, that had