The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-09-13

ced. If could command her interest and
attention, and hold her spellbound by the
efforts of my intellect and superior tact,
Gerald's handsome face and youthful en-
thusiasm obtained smiles far more captiva-
ting, since they were freely bestowed, and
not won away from her by superior will.
Moreover, Gelald was thoroughly in ear
nest, and as for myself, think she detect
ed my lack of sincerity. She had a won
derful genius, and quick, keen intellect,
and must have OWNED, intuitively, how
little heart was in my efforts to please her.
Nevertheless, to tell the truth, it was get
ting rather dangerous for me. grew more
and more fascinated with her beauty, and
so interested in character, at one time
so open and ingenious, and at another so
complex and shrouded, and full of mys-
terry.
Sometimes would grow startled and be-
lieve l had come to love her madly, and
1 would shrink away from her with shiv-
er of horror and aversion, unaccountable
even to myself. One day, as our party
were setting out for the beach, we discov-
cred tall stout man, with shaggy black
whiskers and fierce mustache, lettering
about our boarding-house
"There's that Whskerando," said Bell,
lightly laughing. (Which of us has he
fallen in love with, that he haunts our path
so frequently?"
The question was not debatable in my
mind, for saw his bold eyes fixed steadily
on Lady Waldegrave, and was confident
that telegraphic signal, or dumb Ian
guage of the fine fingers, accompanied the
gaze. At all events, she grew deadly pale,
and pleading headache, excused herself
from the party and returned to her room.
Two hours after, as accident would have
it, whom should meet on a sequestered
by-road, where I was riding on horseback,
but this same Whiskerando, as Bell aptly
christened him, riding in a chaise, with a
closely-veiled lady by his side, and on the
fair hand resting upon the side of the chaise
glittered diamond and ruby ring had
noticed hundred times on Lady Walde-
graves slender fingers. "Perhaps she has
found her friend" said l, and gave no more
thought of it. Yet that evening she was
unusually sad and depressed. One other
circumstance made that evening remarka-
able. We were sitting upon the rocks in
the moonlight, at full tide, with the rolling
waves at our very feet.
"Take care, Allie" said I, as my niece
bent forward toying with the waves, and
allowing the briny waters, to gurgle through
her fingers, stake care-who knows but
the Sea King may reach up and clasp your
hand, and bear you away before our eyes ?"
A soft sigh was my answer, and the
words, "It were no great matter. My
hand is not worth much"
"Not worth much % said I, drawing her
to my side and spreading out on my palm
the rosy dripping fingers. "I wish all the
hands in this wave-washed town tonight
were as clean and pure as my little Allies,
stained by no deed of guilt or shame"
"Here's another like it," said Gerald,
touching reverentially the soft hand lying
on the rock, blazing, even in the moon
light, with the gems that circled it.
Lady Waldegrave raised the hand he
touched and looked at it askance, as one
might do with treacherous, dangerous
serpent, and then saw it clasp it's fellow
with awoful despairing gesture that alarm
ed me.
Quiet Nellie Barrett was the next to
speak, with solemn, thrilling cadence in
her pure soprano voice. "Yes, on such a
night as this, with the enduring sky, and
the mighty eternal sea before us, it is well
to remember stainless hands hand and un-
burdened hearts. How terribly such a
scene must jarupon guilty conscience
The very waves wouldshriek aloud the hid
den crime, and the stars point down like
accusing fingers from above"
The quiet homely face of the speaker
had caught the highest beauty, the CLEAN