The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-01-31

Clara Richmond has been there twice."
she added, and though her manner was as
sweet as ever, he saw a keen look in her
bright eyes.
| In spite of himself he colored. Did she
suspect that he was interested in that
young lady?
"She is then wealthy?" he asked with
an efIectatiun of carelessness. He had of
ten thought he would like to know.
The young lady dropped her eyes, and
her face was not quite SO sunny. " Mrs.
Conway is rich," she replied, dryly. 81
believe Clara has only few hundreds
year of her own. But she acts and dresses
quite like an heiress, don't you think so ?"
81 really do not know" Fred said and,
indeed, he could not recolect a single gar
ment he had seen Miss Richmond wear.
"Shc does" Miss Severns went on.-
"She is fond of dress, and of wealth. I
don't blame her, I'm sure. But she will
have to marry money"
This last remark was accompanied by
lool, that set Fred S heart on fire. ga
young lady who would marry for money
is unworthy the name of woman y he OK
claimed Indignantly.
He expected to see Miss Seycrns angry.
Instead of that, she seemed delighted. All
her smiles and sunshine returned But he
was by no means in a smiling mood.
There was no hiding from himself that in
one short week he had fallen desperately in
love with a girl who disdaincd him, and
whose worldly advantages placed her be-
yond his reach, even if she did not. lie
was angry and astonished at himself. He
was frightened too. Well he knew the
strength Of his own feelings and how such
a passion was likely to possess him. He
tried to think that he would go away di-
rectly, but the thought Of leaving her gave
his heart wrench which made him almost
faint. His life had been too busy for love,
! but now his time had come, and the slavery
was more utter, in that it had been post
poned.
They were on picnic to the hills, and it
was the view which had brought up the
| talk about scenery in general, and lastly,
| European scenery in particular Fred and
| Miss Annie were by themselves. in little
dell, from which the land rose abruptly
braced with rocks, and almost shut out the
| light. Some one called Miss Sovem5 She
glanced at Fred "Iwill stay here" he
/ said rather coldly 50 she went, not over
pleased.
lie stood and looked absontly at q dan
cling little brook that flowed past his feet,
and as he stood light step came near. lie
/ knew Miss liichmond's step would have
/ known it from thousand. Some sharp
tinglc Of anger mingled with his pain. Why
should she have met his courtesics with
coldnoss, refusing him even the ordinary
notice that any Indifferent acquaintance has
| a claim on.
/ The step came nearer, but he would not
look up. How often had she turned away
rather than salute him, and affected un-
consciousness Of his presence while ho was
waiting for some acknowledgement Of it !
She should not think that he was hungrily
waiting now for glance
An abrupt pause showed that she per-
| ceiyed him. then she went ON, evidently
turning out of her path for the sake OF
avoiding him. He raised his eyes quickly
and, looked after her, longing to follow.
| Her dress cleaned whitley in the forest
shadows, and the long gauze scarf on her
hat floateG back, rs il beckoning him. She
stopped and bent to gather Il flower, and
rising again glanced back at him. Was it
his fancy, or did her fair cheek color sud
denly? A lady does not like to be caught
looking back at " gentleman, and in the
case the gentleman was veXed at being him
self caught. "Sho wants to make sure that
| do not follow" he thought, putting the
worst construction on her look.
Perhaps, indeed the girl was q little sur
prised at his not noticing her and giving
her that opportunity of sighting him which
she had not failed invariably TO talio adj
vantage Of AT any rate, she reyenged
herself by not seeing him all the way home
though they rode in the same carriage.
" You're going homo to tea with us, Mr..
Jones ?' the Misses Seyerns said, in chorus,
No, he was not going. lie had letters
to write, he had something to do, he had a
score Of excuses.
1T is too bad - exclaimed Annie tossing
her flaxen chignon. "And Clara has re-
fused too. Is it a plot between you?"
Miss Richmond opened her blue eyes
haughtily, and in scathing her friend, gave
Fred also short flash, as if he were to
blame. "It is so little of plot, Annie,
she said, "that l may change my mind.