The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-05-02

she twisted the slip of writing round and
round her finger. She was wondering if
the strict moralists of Norbury would al
together approve of this journey.
Mr.. Comberford gave her little time to
think. He went into the clerks Office to
tell Mr.. Bestow of his employers illness,
and to make inquiries about the London
trains. William Morgan looked up from
the desk and watched him thoughtfully,as
he lounged against the mantel-piece read
ing the time table.
There was no possibility of going to Par
is earlier than by the night mail. Mrs.
fairfield would have to go first to London
"a three hours journey. There was q
train left Norbury at quarter to four i'll
the afternoon, which would take the tray
elers in ample time for the Dover mail
Mr.. Comberford decided upon going by
this, and left Alice in order to make his
preparations for the journey. He did not,
however, go back to the Hall, but fidgeted
in and out of the lawyers house several
times in the course of the day on some
pretence or other, spending the interval at
the Crown, where he drank brandy and So
da water to an extent that astonished the
walters But in spite of all he had drunk,
he looked pale and anxious when he came
at three O'Clock ready to take Mrs. fairfield
to the station.
Alice was just stepping into the fly when
William Morgan came out of the house
with carpet-bag in one hand and moroc-
co office bag in the other.
"Why, where the deuce are you 60
ing ?" asked Mr.. Comberford.
{" am your fellow-traveler, sir; at least,
am going second-class by the same train"
"To London?''
"No, sir, to Paris. Mr.. Bestow sends
me across with papers,"
"Why, what consumate folly of Bes-
tow's Your master is not fit for business.
He won't be able to attend to anything for
days to come"
81 hope he may be better than you think,
sir In any case | am bound to obey Mr..
Bestow's ORDERS"
He spoke in a mechanical kind of tone,
nor did his countenance express the faint
est interest in his work.
Mr.. Comberford laughed grimly to him
self as they drove away with the old man
ON the box.
"That old FOOLS company can make very
little difference" he muttered, and then
grew moodier than he was won't to be in
Alice Hartfields company.
He frightened considerably by and by,
when they were alone in q first-class COM
partment, flying Londonward at express
rate and he succeeded in making Alice
believe that her husbands illness was only
trifing matter, and that she had no oc-
casion to be anxious about him.
"Men think so much of the slightest
touch of Illness" he said, "and are al
ways in hurry to summon their wives
We are such selfish creatures, you see,and
so miserable without the comfort of wo-
mans presence.
And then he went on to speak of his own
solitary position.
"What is to become Of me in the hour
of sickness, Alice" he asked, "with no
one but gloomy old housekeeper to care
for meP"
"You will marry by and by, daresay,
and have wife to care for you."
"Never, Alice. There is only one wo-
man on earth care for, and if she cannot
be my wife, will go down to my grave
bachelor"
"You must not talk to me like that it
is taking mean advantage of our compan-
ionship You know that am with you at
my husbands wish"
ayes, you have his orders for the jour
ney. Poor, dear George, what a fine bold
hand he writes, doesn't he ?''
Mrs. fairfield did not see the sardonic
grin which accompanied this trivial remark,
nor did Mr. Comberford again offend her
by any allusion to his hopeless passion. Ii
was pitch dark when they reached Dover,
not star in the sky, and high wind blow
ing There was considerable confusion in
getting on board, and Mrs. fairfield scarce
ly knew where she was till she found her
self standing on the deck of a steamer
arm-in-arm with Edgar Comberford, while
the lamps of Dover receded rapidly from
her vision. Her companion persuaded her
TO lemain on deck. f.sl.
"There is an atmosphere of sickness be-
low that would inevitably make you i'll,
he said. " Let me find you a comfortable
corner, where you can sit all night secure
from wind and uzeafhar y rConcluIlad on