The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-12-13


The inquisitive spinster tip-toed about
the room, peering into boxes, opening bot
ties and looking behind sofas but still she
found no condemning proof of a correspon-
dence between Mr.. Castlewynne and her
niece Elfrida. She was just turning to
come out rather disappointed than other
wise at the non-success of the scouting ex-
pedition when Tom Castlewynne sprang up
the stairs, two steps at time, and strobe
along the hall, followed by his friend Frank
Ermine.
Miss Betsey made a rush at the door, but
she was too late. Toms speed of locomo-
tion had been greater than she had calcu-
lated on, and with blind impulse of con-
cealment she darted into the closet and shut
herself in among dressing-gowns shooting
coats, and odd-looking bifpcated garments
that filled her spinster soul with horror.
''They'll go out again pretty soon," tho't
Miss Betsey, painting, as she held ON desper-
ately to the inner handle Of the door, "and
then can just slip into my own ROOM"
But no such a denoument appeared at
hand. Mr. Castlewynne and his friend sat
themselves down and deliberately lighted
their cigars the blue vapor stole spicy and
pungent through the key-hole.
81 shall choke, thought Miss Betsey.
"Now look here, Tom," said Mr.. En-
mine, apparently resuming the conversa-
ton which had been temporarily Interrupt
ted, "there's no use being faint hearted
fool. Marry the little Ellie if she has forty
old maiden aunts."
"My goodness gracious" secretly aspira-
ted the captive maid.
81 say, though" said Castlenynne,
"what an old cat Miss Betsey is. Fifty,
if she's day."
"Sixty, I should think remarked
Frank
"The impudence of the creatures !"
gasped the imprisoned subject of criticism.
"But STILL" pursued Castlewynne, EEL
fie has some tender little notions about
never marrying without her aunts con-
SENT and if we could persuade her to give
it."
"Never," said Ermine. "Who could
expect shriveled up old fossel like that
to-hallo what's that noise?''
For Aunt Betsey, half stifed in the closet,
and choked with cigar smoke, had given a
spasmodic "ketch az of sneeze.
"Nothing but the cat on the veranda
roof.
81 tell you it is something in the closet"
Ermine rose and tried the door. Aunt
Betsey hung resolutely on to her side of
it.
eff it is the cat" said Castlewynne COM
ing to the rescue, "she is remarkably
strong in her muscular development give
a good pull, Frank. Halloa."
For the door flew open with jerk, re-
vealing Miss Betsey Whistleton shrinking
back into corner. One moment Castle
wynne stared-the next brilliant idea
flashed across his mind he shut the door
again, and bolted it, instantaneously.
"Thieves." he cried in carefully sup
pressed tones. "Robbers, burglars,r %
vi my Soou Hlr' luOiudS, SquedKeu
Miss Betsey wildly through the key hole,
"please don't. Please stop crying for
help it's only me, Miss Betsey Whistle
ton it's all a mistake, misunderstand-
ing"
GA misunderstanding ell p'' said Castle
wynne. at has rather burglarious look.
should be sorry 30 deliver you into Gus
tody, Miss Whistleon, but"
Have mercy on me-" shrieked Miss
Betsy rattling at the door-knob. "Indeed,
indeed l meant no harm-it was a mistake,
upon my word. Please let me out, quick,
before any one comes, and me in mans
room, too"
Dreadful" groaned Mr.. Ermine.
"Too frightful to think off, hollowly
echoed Castlewynne.
ooh, DEAR" walled Miss Betsey, As ali
the horrors Of her situation dawned upon