The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-05-17
A WOMAN'S STRATAGEM.

80 TT is utterly useless, Marian. In
most respects my father is per-
feet old brick, jolly good fellow, and he
has let me have my way in everything
since | was old enough to discard the
short jacket of boy-hood for the frock-
coat of ripper years, but on the one sub
ject of matrimony he is inexorable. If
| marry during his life, his entire for
tune will go to found hospital or edu-
cate the bare-legged heathen He has
told me so a thousand times, and he al
ways keeps his word. Why he has taken
this unaccountable aversion to your sex,
| do not know and hesitate to ask
lest | may hear what have long dread
ed, that my mother disgustcd him with
womankind. You know she died when l
was an infant, and since her death, her
name has never passed his lips"
Charles Osgood, whose words we have
just written, was the young, handsome,
and wealthy, in prospectu- lover of
Marian Stevens, the fair girl who sat by
his side in the window of little cottage
in the village of C, New Hampahire.
She was the daughter of clergyman's
widow, who added to her moderate COM
petence by taking in boarders from the
city during the summer months. Charles
had found home in the widows house
and in her daughters heart, and would
long before have made her his wife but
for the command Of his father never dur.
ing his life to think Of marriage.
Charles continued: Now, Marian,
cannot and will not give you up. Yor
have confessed your love for me; YOU
mother, heaven bless her, has approved
of it, and it remains for you to decide
whether we shall have a secret marriage
It an idea which | abhor-or whether
shall try to marry you and take you hom'
to get myself kicked out of the parenta
front door by the paternal boot"
"You shall do neither, Charles.
positively refuse to marry you unles
your father gives his full and free con
sent, although for your sake | will neve
marry another"
"Then may as well set myself dow
for life of celibacy. The old gentleman
is as obstinate as mule, and would fl
into passion, if I should but mention
your existence to him. How he will to-
crate the new housekeeper he is going t
engage, puzzles me"
GA new housekeeper, did you say
Charlcs?'
" Yes. You see, ever since my boyhoo(
he has only allowed one woman about til
premises, my nurse, a snuffy old woman
who loves me like her own son, and hp
managed our household ever since I ca
remember She has become too decrep
to work, and my father has consented
allow her an assistant"
"Is the place filled yet, Charles
said Marion, nesting closer to her lover
side, while thoughtful look overspreo
her pretty face.
"No, my dear. Mrs. Wilson, OF
housekeeper, is almost as hard to pleas
as the governor himself, and he has lie
all to her. She has had applicants /
dozens, but most of them were too your
and pretty or otherwise incompetent f
ours is a well-ordercd household"
"You say she loves you, Charles ?"
"My own mother could not love n
better. The fondest wish of her hea
would be fulfilled if she could see me 81
ting by my own fireside, and nurse n
children as she did their father"
Charles, you must start for hon
y this very day. Convince Mrs. wills,
;; that you have got very paragon of
housekeeper for her, and leave the rest
Il me. My woman's wit shall accompli
what your blundering straightforward
ness never could"
Charles at once took in the SITUATE
q and comprehended that the intrepid N
s rion had determined to try upon !
father the witcheries which had ma