The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-08-15

promise was fast growing old, as the years
sped on, and still the message did not come
which would enable him TO keep his pledge
"not to return until his innocence was pro-
ven."
asked myself if there was anything l
could do to bring these two weary, waiting
hearts together.
The next day went to Washington and
in the evening attended social gathering,
where ] met Miss Raleigh.
She had retained much of the appear
ance of her youth, but the girlish beauty
had been replaced by more matured love-
liness.
! did not know whether she would re-
cognize me or not, and therefore asked a
friend to introduce me.
AS he did so, no expression of her face
gave any token of q former acquaintance,
and determined to test her feelings regard
ing her cousin Rolf, said, 81 met o gen.
tleman in Baltimore yesterday, who think
is relative of yours; Mr.. Rolf Raleigh"
Mr. Forest, who was present, at once re-
Piled, at is a mistake l think, for be-
lieve Miss Raleigh has no such relative"
AS he made this reply she gave him Gu
rious glance, and in an instant knew that
he was familiar with the whole story; but
turning to me she said:
at is Mr.. Forest who is mistaken, the
gentleman you refer to is my cousin, and
my adopted brother. have not met him
for some years, but l occasionally hear
from him through Others"
could see that her companion was thor
oughly vexed at her reply, and to cover his
feelings replied :
81 thought him dead long ago. He was
a young man of much promise, and / won-
der who why you don't claim The relation
ship more publicly, Miss Raleigh"
Her eyes flushed with Indignation, as she
replied, "Rolf was true friend to me in
my girlhood days, and our family is one
that neoer forget their friends"
Forest bit his lip with vexation, but dar-
ed not reply, and I thought to myself
"Aha ! my romance is not so foolish after
all. She evidently has waited, and is still
waiting"
Turning to me she said, 81 hope shall
soon see you again, Mr.. Page, and at any
rate you will soon hear from me-"
The next day passed, and though / ex-
pected to hear from her no message was
received.
The day following, left the city witt
my friend for Richmond. Just as l was
stepping into the coach to go to the depot
note was put in my hand-it was from
Miss Raleigh-and in it she merely thank
ed me for information of her cousin, anC
urged me to be present at the old home
stead during the next October, as at tha
time the last requirement of her father
will was to be carried out, and she greatly
desired my presence. The letter closed b!
saying, "much that has been mysteriou
and painful hope may be explained"
Was all that was mysterious and painful
to be then cleared up? Was my romanc'
to be brought to happy termination?
But suddenly an idea occurred to me, an'
turning to my friend who had introduced
me to Palm, said: .....
Z" Is that man Palm married ?'
"Yes, think so, was the quiet reply
81 have heard that he was married to
Miss Vanvort."
"Ah," thought !, "what an old fool
have been, for there goes my romance.
l wrote to Miss Raleigh, accepting he
invitation, and at the appointed time pre-
sented myself at her residence. W"
She welcomed me quietly, and though
imagined she wished to say something re
garding the purpose of my visit no remarl
on that subject was made for several days
On the evening of the third day sh'
came to me and said, AZ have written +
my cousin Rolf, asking him to be present
but have as yet received no reply, thougl
I have been expecting to do so for severa
days. Have you received any word fror
him P" 'it'' '''
had not, and SO told her.
"Well," continued she, "if we hea
nothing by the nineteenth, we win procee
to the business, for which have aske'
your presence"
The tenth day of the month came, an
still no word was received from Roll
though thought Kate had anxiously ex
pected that he would be present before tina
time. t..,.
AS the shades of evening gathered aroun
on that day, Miss Raleigh came to mo an
said