The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-08-30

hO CApulSlJO VI NOlCOJ
and sentiment the beauty of person, the
elegance of attire-all were agreeable to
him, deeply so, for he seemed to enjoy
them all immensely but not the brilliant
poetess, Miss Mountjoy, nor the coy and
artless Miss Dumain, nor the rattle-headed
young Miss Lambert. nor the naughty,
elegant, and exclusive Miss Percy, nor the
very rich Miss Oromanes, appeared to COM
mand him. He was to all alike, the agree
able companion. the candid friend, the
shrewd resistant of all arts to lead him into
loves labyrinthine
How would all these beauties of the salon
receive the announcement sure to be made
of his Gathered circumstances, as the Ma
jor expressed it?
Evidently Mr.. Watson was not indiffer-
ent. He still frequented the piazzas and
parlors, giving every friend, male or female
ample opportunity to "cut his acquain-
tance, or otherwise to express themselves.
1t was somewhat curious to note the pro-
gress of his decline, not his fall, for Watson
il'tu llluI Ill lllS ClldIdCJCT dllu
which, even in poverty and trial would
preserve him from a sacrifice of personal
dignity and self-reliance. But that he was on
the decline became to him a sorrowful
fact.
Sorrowful, did we say? That is, iudg-
ing by the usual standards of human felici-
ity or misery. To lose ones friends, to be-
hold your position in society gradually
slipping away, to realize that no longer
you are held in coveted consideration by a
chosen few, is ordinarily source of sorrow
Meantime how keenly the knife cut to the
quick of his sensibilities for, while every
acquaintance was given full facilities for
doing the disagreeable Office Of giving the
"cold shoulder" the Baltimorean appeared
like an interested spectator, and was as
unmoved, when passed by supposed
friend without the slightest notice, as if he
were newspaper reporter, anxious to see
the act and note the fact.
particularly pressed his way. If bevy of
gay fellows surrounded Miss Mountjoy he
worked his way to the circle, and at
last, received from that lady of Sappho
like lips his discharge She did most grace
fully and crushingly turn her back upon
him not three days after his removal from
the second floor.
| Miss Dumain he sought, confident that
one so artless wonld certainly be above the
! hollow-hearted crowd, and still give him
her kindly greeting: Vain conception
The artless girl was coy indeed, and when
at length he cornered her. it was to his dis
comfture. She suddenly turned and for
ced her way past him, without even one
of her downcast glances. On the contrary,
her eyes were fixed fuliy on his face, and
plainly said, "Sir, we are strangers"
Next he tried rattle-headed Miss Lambert
and she ratified on quite as usual but
Watson soon discovered that the rattle was
not for him.
Strangely enough, the proud and exclu-
sive Miss Percy unbent somewhat from heI
ANA'J N"hiietoC1 SdFO WOICOlHe
but over it all was a shadow-a fear, ap.
parently, which made Miss Percy shy rath-
er than naughty; and Watson began to
catch glimpses of a character beneath all
that conventional veil which he had not
expected to find.
Of course the wea lthy Miss Oromanes
would scorn his further friendly 8elations
Her rooms were near his own second fool
apartments she daily, all the season, haG
encountered him in his walks through the
long corridor, and must have been one o.
the first to learn of his fallen fortunes. In
deed, he half surmised that her dressing
maid had made special inquiry into his case
seeing her confidential confab with the floor
stewardess and room-girls. So Watson
with reserve or pride not entertained
with others, kept apart from Miss Ormanes
On that third evening of his changed
fortunes, when the Sappho of the Cascades