The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-07-04


went away early to her own apartment to
ponder upon some scheme, the details of
which she had yet to arrange.
Near midnight, when all had retired, as
she supposed, she descended, and noiseless-
ly sought the library. A smile, half de-
flance, half roguery, curving her red lips
as she espied the letters on the table, wait
ing for the morning to be dispatched to
their destination.
Just glancing at the superscription of
Chester Vale's letter, she laid it down again
and took up Mrs. Wharton's. She smiled
as she discovered that, with his usual care
lessness, Mr.. Masterton had so negligently
sealed this letter that she could easily open
it, which she proceeded to do, removing
the contents and depositing in their place
blank piece of paper, and resealing it
more effectually than Mr.. Masterton had
done.
This done she effected her escape to her
own apartment again without attracting at
ter tion.
"Mr. Masterton has often asked me of
late what should do if did not marry
him." she murmured to herself as she
moved actively about her chamber. 81
will show him. OF course / know that
Roxeter Hall cannot be my homo after /
have refused to become the wife Of its mas
ter. That is the alternative he means to
force upon me in the end, and he shall find
that child, as he persists in considering me,
capable of anticipating even him."
When Lionel Masterton went down to a
late breakfast the following morning, for
he was not an early riser, he found his sis
ter, who was of an indolent habit likewise
but had been waiting some time in the
dining-room this morning, fretting because
Syra had not yet come down-Syra, who
was usually up with the lark. Breakfast
waited yet little longer, and then Lionel
sent servant to see if Miss Syra had risen,
and to tell her the breakfast waited.
The servant returned Immediately to say
that the young lady's couch did not seem
to have been occupied the night before, and
that she herself was not in the room then,
though it bore somewhat Uttered appear.
ance, as though she had but just left it. In
short, SYRIA had vanished in a most mex.
plicable manner from Roxeter Hall, leaving
behind her only the briefest of good-byes
in the shape of the following note, over
which Lionel Masterton bent his black
brows grimly
"DEAR GUARDY-pm off, hoping that
when we next meet we may both be in full
possession of those senses which one of us
seems bereft of at present Il do not say
which,. Have no anxiety regarding me.
| If | find cannot take care of myself will
let you know. Affectionately,
SYRIA LoDELL."
"The reckless child I wonder what she
has taken into her head now," he mutter
ed in mingled anger and anxiety. 81 have a
mind to wait and see who will find theil
senses first, she or 1. 1t will not be long
before she will be ready enough to con
confess that she cannot take care of her.
self; the lesson may do her good, and save
mo future trouble in tanning this modern
Katharine"
He waited outwardly careless, but in
and when, finally, too uneasy concerning
her to wait longer, he instituted such in
vestigations as were at his command, ht
still was unable to hear anything Of her
and he and Olivia fell at last into half
sullky despair at being so bafled by such ;
slip of girl as that.
Chester Vale wrote toward the end of thu
month to express his complete satisfaction
with Mrs. Wharton, the new housekeepel
they had sent him, and who had been with
him already long enough to convince hin
that her equal could not be found.
Both Olivia and Lionel read amazedly
Mrs. Wharton having written within ;
week only to regret that she had alread!
engaged her services elsewhere, befor'
learning of Chester Vale's desire TO Obtain
them. Could there be two Mrs. Whar
tors?
Curious to solve this puzzle, Olivia wrote
to Mrs. Wharton's address as her lette
had given it, and Mr.. Masterton to Chester
Vale. Replies came swiftly; Olivia's cor
respondent in high indignation at her name
sake, and Chester Vale vastly amused ant
contented with the Mrs. Wharton who's
services he had been SO fortunate as to Sc
cure. She suited him quite as we'll as the
others Mrs. Wharton could possibly have
done, probably better.
Beyond that he expressed no interest, bu
he felt some. or else he would not hay