The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-08-01
KIRKwOOD's SURPRISE.


hyacinth bells in the south window, where
the sunshine had gotten into such hope
less tangle with the ivy vines and rose
buds and feathery sprays of fern Very
pretty girls they were, in delicate wo-
manly fashion, although nobody would
ever have been reminded by them of the
Venus de Medici, and not an artist had
ever thought of asking them to sit for
Madonna 1t is the every day style of
beauty that wears best, and Lisa and Cora
sighed for nothing rarer or more precious
1I $50 he has failed, has he? said Cora
to her uncle, who had just been promul-
eating the news of the day from behind
his newspaper What pity and he
was SO nice and agreeable" s.r.....,.
Failed MIR. Kirkwood !" echoed
Lisa, her rosy cheek losing shade or
so of its satin bloom. "Oh, uncle, how
did that happen ?"
" As most failures happen, my dear"
said Mr.. Segrist, folding up his paper
and laying his spectacles on one side, pre-
paratory to the morning meal "Too much
press Of canvass, and too little ballast
Some people will never learn wisdom.
Yes, it is a pity; he was good young fel-
low, and this will throw him back twenty
years." 'a lur H.t- -..., ..rm... -
Lisa sat thinking her pansy blue eyes
fixed intently on the pattern of the table
cloth, her red lips apart, until her sisters
clear, bird-like voice aroused her from
the temporary abstraction.
Upon my word, Lisa" the elder
cried merrily, 81 do believe you are in
trance. Why don't you answer my ques-
ton ?"
Lisa started, both cheeks suddenly
crimsoning.
ell was only thinking, Cora. What
was it you asked meY" ..f .. ..
"About our ball dresses for tomorrow
evening. l think punches of silver bar
ley would be prettier to loop up than the
commonplace roses. Everybody wears ro-
ses." .r.- ......
ooh, Cora" cried downright Lisa,
" how can you talk about ball dresses
when-when you remember who was to
have taken you there?" '' '--
70 Mr.. Kirkwood 7" said Cora, calmly;
"of course he'll not go now, but we can
easily send for Cousin George" o.. ....'.
"Then you really mean to go 2" '.'a
81" OF course why shonldn't I? Sure
ly, Lisa, you can't expect me to 90 into
mourning because Guy Kirkwood has
failed He was no relative of ours."o
" l think he loved you Cora, /" said Lisa,
in a low voice !, and you thought so
too p ,y 20 ..ri1.., .,.5',. qa9. -, ,r,-
"He must learn to unlove me, then,n
said the elder sister, with musical little
laugh. "Mr, Kirkwood, the successful
merchant, was very well, but Dir. Kirk
wood, the beggar, cannot expect to in
dulge in the luxury of wife OF course
all that is over, for good and all"
And Cora calmly poured out a second
cup Of coffee for her uncle o.
But, Cora" pleaded her sister, " it is
not as if yourself were poor. You know
we will have little money of our own"
VERY true, wise Lisa but l mean to
keep my own to myself, and not to spend
it in bolstering up the ruined fortunes Of
any unlucky speculator. No, no, child,
my husband must bring money Of his
own, not to be drain upon my slender
resourees."at .aoiiv 1Hr;oH agl jR hnG
Lisa shook her head. l nV a1d tia
That sounds worldly said she. -.
,9" Does it?% Now l. think it is just
the common-sensical sound to it, People
must look at these things from practical
point of view"
"iUuele,Y cried Lisa, almost passionate
ly, don't you think she ought to like
him all the better because he is in need p, |
my dear, my DEAR" said the old gen,
tleman, composedly, crumbling upa bit Of
dry toast on his plate. "I can't pretend
to judge of these things You girls
must settle your own affairs between
you" ha' af7a' looFT 1oiA g'iab 1i'a'
" My mind is quite made up already"
said Cora Segrist calmly. mD'H' sIa',l9.1.
And when poor Guy Kirkwoods card
came up that afternoon to thereon where
the two sisters we're arranging the bunch,i
es Of silver barley ears that Madame,
Fiehu, the milliuer, had just sent round
in a mammoth paper box, Bessie, the
maid, came courteouslys demurely down
into the parlor, withg 10 d,s,b III, oi oatL
Please, sir, Miss Cora is engagedP n
Guy Kirdwood went slowly and sadly
away, without answering single word !,
If only she had remained true to him,
he believed he could have breasted the,
cold waves of all other fate but now
Well such was the way of the world.
He must make up his mind to take the
ha