The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-08-29

chat with my favorite niece, instead of ar
irving just at the last moment before the
ceremony"
Clara looked wistrul and unconvinced, but
she said no more and Mrs. Hyde Chester
sat down to the breakfast table, whence the
odor of broiled ham arose in most appe-
tizing manner
/ Mrs. Hyde Chester's niece, Miss Gerald
| inc Raymond, was to be married the next
day but one and Mrs. Hyde Chester had
! set her warm, impulsive heart on being
present at the ceremony and, moreover, on
presenting the bride with very beautiful
set of diamonds, which, with their antique
case Of dark green morocco, lined with san
dal wood and scented satin, had descended
from generation to generation in the Chess
ter family, until the present inheritrix of
the name having no daughter of her own,
had resolved to give it to her favorite niece.
Nor were all the unfavorable omens per-
tanning to Clara Champforts dream suffi-
ciently discouraging to prevent her from
carrying her determination into ins tant ex-
ecution.
~ never was superstitious" said Mrs.
Chester, laughing "and don't mean to
begin now. Are the trunks and things all
ready, my dear?"
eyes, ma'am, they are all ready"
"Then, suppose, we may as well order
the carriage. can't bear to be behind
hand at n railroad station. Look you see
carry the diamonds in my own morocco
travelling bag, so they cannot possibly be
stolen. Does that content you?"
"Only half, Mrs. Chester" said Clara,
smiling very faint, indistinct kind of a
shadowy smile.
Mrs. Hyde Chester, bustling kind of a
person was not satisfied until they were at
the station, had purchased their tickets, and
safely bestowed themselves in the train
Clara Champfort was leaning against the
window, idly watching the hurrying throngs
as they perpetually came and went, when
suddenly she withdrew her face, with a low
cry.
"Mercy upon us, child % exclaimed Mrs.
Hyde Chester "what's the matter?"
"The face-the very face l saw in my
dream ~ Clara cried, her own face blanch-
ed like that of dead person.. "Oh, Mrs.
Chester, it is not too late for us to turn
back yetv'
"Do you mean"
al mean that lie passed the window just
now-with the dark, square face, and the
beetling brows, and the cast in one eye.
Oh Mrs. Chester our Fate is following us
in his shape"'
Clara" said Mrs. Chester, as nearly
angry as she could ever be, 81 never saw
such ridiculous superstition in my life.
Do keep your signs and omens to yourself /;
you fairly make my blood run cold"
"But the diamonds" muttered Clara,
as if speaking to herself; "their glitter
was interviewer though itall. 1t must be-
yes, it must be that he watched you when
you got them from the bank-that he is on
your track p
Clara, hush tell you will not have
it
And Mrs. Hyde Chester's fair, plump
face actually looked, for the instant, almost
pale. Clara turned toward her with an
eager wistful glance.
"We go as far as Terriswode by train.
Then TelTiswode is twelve miles from
Daingerfeld, from where We take private
conveyance" ft HlJ tufI
4" What kind of road is it -
"Very wild and picturesque"
"And lonely?"
Eyes" Mrs. Chester admitted, almost
unwillingly sit is little lonely"
"Do we pass over it by daylightP"
Mostly, if the train is in time"
sit will rot be in time to-day" said
Clara, quietly.
"Clara, how can you tell %
az don't know but am quite sure of
| it,"
"I wouldn't have my head so full of
Old World notions as you for its weight in
gold, Clara Champfort," said the elder
lady, trying to repress little shudder,
which, in spite of herself, would thrill
through her frame
But Miss Champfort, strange to say, was
right. The train, due at Terriswode at
five did not arrive until some minutes after
six, owing to the delay consequent upon re-
pairs on the line
81 knew it, said Clara quietly, while
Mrs Hyde Chester stared at her, almost
beginning to believe that the old house
keeper was right, and Clara Champfort was