The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-06-27

from here and let the matter be forgotten ;
do not let me be panied by seeing her
again"
went back to the breakfast-room. I
found her sitting as had left her the pale
face had grown calmer, and the wild eyes
had wistful expression that went to my
heart. carefully closed the door.
'Let me know my doom, Mr.. Ferne,"
she said. "I cannot bear this suspense"
81 do not ask again of your guilt Or in
nocence, Mrs. Person." 1 replied. "I
bring to you full pardon from Emily and
Mrs. Ferne, but they do not wish to see
you again. You must leave at once.
Mrs. Tenrhyn wished me to add that she
shows you this clemency because you saved
little Harry's life."
Her lip quivered, and hot tears rained
down her face.
81 thank them," she said. "I will go
now, at once Mr.. Ferne. Tell them am
grateful with my whole heart"
"You have not acted generously, Miss
Person." said, "to those who have trust
ed in you, and would have proved true
friends to you until DEATH"
81 thank you," she said, "once more for
your kindness and noble conduct to me. 1
will go now, if you will allow me my
things can be sent after me when I have
found home" Her voice faltered then
she continued, 81 have one more favor to
beg of you, Mr.. Ferne. There is the change
given me for that fatal note that belongs
to Mrs. Tenrhyn, not to me. have not
one cent in the wide world. Will you lend
me some money to take me to New York ?"
"No money! Why, Miss Person, you
forget" said, with some surprise. "You
have been here six years. and have receiv ed
five hundred dollars each year. You told
Mrs. Ferne last year you wished to invest
the five hundred dollars you had saved.
Where is that money now?"
81 cannot tell you," she sobbed. "I
have not one cent"
l do not know why, but from that mo-
ment firm conviction of the poor girls in
nocence took possession of me, and never
again left me.
In few minutes Miss Person stood ready
dressed and waiting to go. l had arranged
to drive her to the station myself, as my
wife was most anxious that the servants
should know nothing of what had happen
ed.
1t was not until she had been gone some
weeks that they were told the thief had
been traced, and the mystery solved. Their
suspicious and guesses never pointed at
her.
One thing moved me ; as we were going
out of the hall-door, Miss Person said to
me, in tone of urgent entreaty, "Mr.
Ferne, will you, as last kindness, let me
see little Harry once againp"
fetched the child. She clasped him in
her arms, she kissed each little feature in
fearful agony; then, as though blind and
cropping her way, she put out her hand and
said, "Now, take me out. can bear no
more"
l put her in the carriage and drove her
with sad heart from the home she had so
long loved-the home she was never to see
again.
Her secret was well kept, but it was many
long months before the memory of her
gentle presence and strange conduct died
away. My wife mourned her deeply; the
children were always asking when she
would return. But gradually the whole
matter faded from our minds a new gov
erness took her place. Mrs. Tenrhyn mar
ried again, and my wife felt, believe, a
grief too deep to care ever to mention Miss
Persons name again.
Twenty years passed away my daugh-
tiers were both happily married. Hary--a
splendid fellow he was, too-lived with
us ; he was bachelor, and declared that,
until he found some one as lovable as his
mother, he should continue so. My wife
was well and strong, and all things pros
pered with us. My hair had grown gray,
and Laura's brown locks were tinged with
silver; and yet the strange eposide of our
earlier life was not forgotten.
Mrs. Tenrhyn, now Madame Castella, re-
sided with her husband in gay, sunny Flor
ence we heard from her often, and contem-
plated paying her visit.
One morning, in the post bag there came
for me large packet the handwriting was
strange and yet seemed half familiar.
opened it quickly; it contained several
sheets of paper, closely written, and, to my