The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-08-02

ihlhu WAS III III. one was indeed so absorb
ed in her occupation that if a person had
come up the gravel-path, and across the
lawn, and straight into the room where she
was, it is doubtful if she would have no.
ticed it. Of course, it would be unlikely ::
but | say if a person had done so (the piano
was at the farthest end, in the shadow of
the large room,) Noddy was so preoccupied
that it is not probable she would have OBJ
| served the intrusion. She had been grind
ing away at the + minor scale, up and down
and up-One and two and three and four
and one and two and
go bother !" said Noddy, flinging her
hands on her lap, "what an awful little
goose you are You havn't bit of gump-
tion, nor a mite of common sense. AS to
being goveness, and can't play scales,
you must be a noodle to think of it--a
dreadful noodle ~
You're about right there ~ said an un-
unstable masculine voice from somewhere
by the door. Noddy started as if she had
been shot; then she blushed red and hot
at being surprised But the owner of the
voice walked boldly into the room. Noddy
being left in sole charge of Braithfield Villa,
and seeing an entire stranger march in like
this, did not like the look of it. His looks
were nothing to provoke dislike, be it
said-a tall, fine-bronzed man of thirty,
with tawny moustache and handsome sun
burned features. She resolved to challenge
him.
"What do you want ?' she said, brus-
quely.
"You," said he-"you are Miss Mucil-
Ter, imagine?"
"No; am Noddy-Norah Cray, that is, ;"
she stammered correcting herself. "Please
what is it ?''
"Cray?' the stranger said, "Cray? any
relation to Mrs. Mueller ?'
eyes"
80, think know, then. So you are
Miss Cray, Ell? You will see who am from
this card and as you have not offered me
seat, I'll take one, after shaking hands
with YOU" He held out his hand frankly,
and Norah could not refuse it.
81 don't know who you are, " said Noddy.
The stranger had lounged himself on the
sofa.
"Then, perhaps, you'll look and see."
''Mr. Frank Ge-Ge-Geog-a-g p" asked
Norah, puzzled.
"GG-gan, if you don't mind. It's spelt
heathenish, but it reads easy You've heard
of your cousin, Frank Geogagan, in India,
surely? That is, he mi 9ht have been youl
cousin, if Mrs. Muciller's marriages had not
mixed the relationships so confoundedly."
"No," said Norah.
He whistled. "Didn't Mrs Mueller tell
you was coning?"
Nora did not wish to expose the precise
state of things between herself and hel
step-mo cher, and did not choose to tell al
untruch ; so she replied "Mrs. Mueller
received letter just before she went out
this afternoon, but she was hurried, and
did not know its contents. So you are ex
pected, then?"
pt'ANt htto NOihiilS5S pub llOU OAdCblO
when."
"That's awkward, said Noddy.
"Why?".
"Because we are not prepared to receive
you. Mrs. Mueller would have been home
and Julia, had they expected you to ariy,
to-day"
You are very plain"
You are not complimentary" retortet
Noddy.
81 didn't refer to your looks but won
der if you would insist on my saying the,
were anything different?"
"You can say what you please" sait
Noddy cit is a guests privile ge."
"Well, you are the coolest little baggag
of cousin to welcome any one home iron
abroad one could well expect to find. Ar
you not glad to see me ?"
Well, not particularly" said Noddy
How should be, never having seen yo