The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-09-12

there for Don't you hear what / say ?"
And she took hold of Horatia's arm
and assisted her progress with vigorous
push. ,1im ane n.lHy nt
Mrs. Dysart came next--an elegant
widow with an ivory pure complexion;
curls like the tendrils of grape vine,
whose obstinate rings she was always la
mentiug. This time our heroine knew
better than to 60 to the front steps, and
made her way meekly to the area bell.
Strawberries, is it?" said the little
girl who came to the door. "I'll ask the
missis y
Mrs. Dysart herself presently came to
the door, and Horatia started to see the
marvellous dissimilarity between Mrs.
Dysart of society and Mrs. Dysart at
home. Her skin was sallow, wrinkled
and blotched, here and there, from the
too frequent use of powerful cosmetics,
her hair was screwed up into little pdpH-
Totes secured by pins, making perfect
chevaur de fi1ise of her head her beauti-
full figure was lathy and straight like
pump draped in calico
Strawberries of course not at this
season of the year." said Mrs. Dysart,
snappishly. "Tm not made of money !"
And she slammed the door in Horatia's
face.
"Miss Ferrars will buy them at all
events" said Horatia to herself "Lu-
ellie Ferrars was always noble-hearted
and generous"
How much are they ?" said the fair
Lucille, coming to the head of the base
ment stairs, in a dishabiUe of greasy
cashmere and soiled white apron an7
Eighteen cents basket"
"Pshaw p said Lucille, supercilliously
" As if 1 was going to pay such price
as that I'll give you ten p .edi
"They are unusually fine" said Hora-
tia, timidly. .. a...
81 shan't give cent over eleven!"
Horatia turned away. r.. .r...r
81 wonder you fruit girls have the
face to ask such a price~ said Miss
Lucy Ferrars, lingering her purse strings.
Twelve, there-and that's more than
they're worth +" . ...s.... .
cannot sell them under the price |
have named" persisted Horatia, shrink
ing from the sharp, glittering eyes.
GO about your business then !" said
Lucille. Pll see the whole tribe of you
starve, before I'll be imposed upon SOL"
Horatia felt herself disenchanted.
Could it be possible that this shrewish
miser was her soft-voiced friend, Lucille
Ferrars .. ..F. .. s..
Perhaps Uncle Peles's views of hui
man nature may not be so very much
amiss, after all, she said, with half
sigh, after she had made some half dozen
or more pilgrimages, and more than half
of her berries remained unsold. .-.. ..
Mrs. Parker's house was the last on her
list. Horatia had let it remain until all
the other places had been visited, she her
self could hardly have told why-perhaps
because Justus Parker had been her
partner in the German" the night be-
fore. She liked Justus Parker--yet she
somehow distrusted his gentle, nice and
smooth manner. .......''.
81 am afraid it's all put on" she said
to herself " But Uncle Peleg was de-
termined should go there, and 1 will
not shrink, now that the ordeal is so near
ly over" ma
The servant requested her to 60 up and
see the young lady herself" she's in
her own room mostly"
Horatia had heard of Laura Parker's
lingering spine disease, although she
never had seen her. And her heart beat
slightly as she ascended the softly carpet
ed flight of stairs, carrying her basket Of
berries
Justus was sitting on low chair be-
side his sisters sofa at the further end
of the room he rose and came forward
as the stranger entered.
This basket is too heavy for you to
carry" he said, taking it from her arm
and moving forward seat, with sort Of
unconscious chivalry.
1T is not so heavy as it seems" said
she, somewhat bitterly, "and if it were
l am nothing but strawberry woman"
But suppose a strawberry woman
has feelings and sensations like other
people, said Justus Parker, smiling.
Sit down moment, while my sister
looks at your fruit"
"You must be very warm" said Laura
Parker, gently. Lay back your veil.
Justus please ring for glass of water.
Horatia accepted the water, but refused
to unfold her veil Itwas altogether too
good medium for her to observe the
quiet tenderness with which Justus Par
ker treated his invalid sister--the open