The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-06-20

this morning, and saved all there was
left"
"Shall fetch your box Miss Porson?"
said my eldest girl that will save both
time and trouble"
The child was soon back, and Miss Por-
son found what she wanted; but as she
stretched out her hand to give the elastic
to Emily, by some accident the box was
upset md all its contents strewed upon
the ground.
The children ran to assist a little parcel
rolled to my feet; it was small pair of
baby shoes and a tiny golden curl. l pick
ed them up, and should perhaps never have
thought about them but for the deadly pal
lor of Miss Porson's face.
"Oh Miss Person." cried my little Clara,
"what pretty shoes Were those Harry's
once?"
No my dear" said the governess, in a
strange low voice; "they belonged to a
little girl 1 used to know years ago, who is
dead now."
There was general silence, during
which Miss Porson wrapped up the little
blue shoes and the golden curl, and then
left the room. I saw Emily give curl
GUS look at my wife; but Laura who had
not seen the little treasures, only said,
"Some former pupil of Miss Porson's, /
suppose. She is very affectonate."
There the matter dropped.
TIa al, nrl
during the excitement and gayety which
followed, this little incident was quite for
gotten.
1t was very seldom that Miss Porson re-
ceived a letter, but one particular morning
handed her a large envelope, directed in
a bold, masculine hand. l thought she
trembled as she received it and / felt sure,
when we all met at dinner, that her calm
face bore the trace of recent tears.
After dinner Emily showed my wife a
large and handsome portmonnaie' which
she had purchased in Paris. 1t had pc
culiar and very ingenious fastening, which
puzzled us all. succeeded in opening it,
and casually noticed that it was full of
bank-notes.
"Do you not think that it is very un-
safe way in which to keep so much money,
Emily? ?" asked, perhaps rather rudely.
eyes" she replied, carelessly. 81 do
not generally do so but there are some
notes of a large amonnt there, and l want
them changed. There is a twenty dollar
| I chnlI laat, for n nY,incitu L hnI
such a queer little adventure with it.
will tell you, Laura, it will amuse you"
laid the portmonnaie down on the table
by Emily, and thought no more of it.
The next morning while l was dressing,
a message came from Emily to ask if she
could speak to me for a few minutes before
breakfast in the library. Amused and yet
astonished, / complied with her request.
To my surprise Emily looked very pale and
grave.
"Mr. Ferne," she began, 81 have some-
thing very unpleasant to say to you. Do
you remember the portmonnaie / showed
Laura last EVENING""
eyes" replied, melancholily.
"Well," she continued 81 am sorry to
say it is gone. was careless enough to
leave it in the drawing-room last evening,
together with a bracelet. l was talking to
Laura, and the bracelet, which is very
valuable diamond one, hurt me. 1t is rath-
er too tight. took it off and laid it by
the portmonnaie, intending to take them
both up into my room with me. suppose
, must have been very much engrossed by
what Laura was saying, for quite forgot
all about them until my maid asked me
this morning where the bracelet was"
"They must both be in the drawing
room," replied; cit is impossible that
they can be lost. Have you been thereP''
Yes, l went at once" she replied
apparently it has never been entered
since we left it last evening it is not ar
, ranged Or busted yet. Win you come
with me ?"
! went, feeling quite sure that l should
find both purse and bracelet but, after a
: long and careful search, could discover no
trace Of either.
, "Have you made any inquiries ?" I ask
) cd Of Emily.i
"No, came to you at once" she re-
piled. 81 asked Mary, the upper house
. maid, whose duty 1t is to see to the room, Il
she had been there, and she said she had
, been too busy" plln
5 "Did Laura carry them upstairs and
: take them into her room for you?" sug-
gestcd.