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

ing her hair as though she had been a
child.
The colonel started up with his face
flushed with passion, and going to her said,
Leave him VIII you persist in your
folly in the face of these circumstances?
Would you wed a felon?'
Rolf gave q scornful laugh, as he re-
piled, "Let us have no tragedy, for l am a
poor actor l will come again." he said,
looking down to Kate, who was still cling
ing to his arm, and speaking as though no
one but her was present, " when l can
prove my innocence. Not until then. Will
you then be my wife? Will you wait for
me Kate?"
81 will wait for you though it be years."
she quietly replied.
Her father called her sharply, but she did
not turn toward him.
Rolf stopped and kissed her, and said,
"Good bye, my darling, remember that
will come for you, even though wait long,
long years. l will come for you when can
prove my innocence"
Then as he left the room Kate turned to
her father, and stood by him watching Rolf
as he went down the hall.
There was no longer any use for US to re-
main, and we therefore took our departure
for the village, feeling as though there
was mystery in this affair which some
time perhaps should be able to unravel.
The next morning left the village early,
to go to the western part of the State, and
was gone several days, stopping at Johns
town on my way back to Richmond.
The evening of my return ! hastened to
see Stout to ascertain if anything further had
been discovered, which would throw light on
the Raleigh case. After saluting him at
once asked if he had learned anything furth-
er. He replied that he had not But" said
he, 81 have been out to the Coloneps good
deal he is fast snking.''
"What p asked I, "is he ill P''
eyes" said he, she has not been well
all winter, and this affair has completely
upset him. He has now taken to his bed,
and doubt if he will ever get up again.
| His mind seems unsettled too"
"Well, what about the young man." I
asked "has he done anything toward
clearing up the mystery ?''
GAN that can be done, reckon, was the
reply. glanced at him as he said this,
the tone of his voice showing his feelings
! to be against Rolf, and at once expressed
my belief in his innocence.
"Well, you can think as you please" re-
piled Stout, "but have no doubt of his
guilt. His conduct forces that belief on
me. How would an innocent man have
acted? How would you? How would I?
Stormed, ragged, torn the whole matter up
by the roots, and dragged out the truth
somehow"
laughed at his enthusiasm as replied:
" But the boy showed feeling enough that
night. look upon him as no ordinary
young man." ...f ,...fr
"Oh," said Stout che has made a pre-
tence of clearing it up, but with dogged
sort Of way that seemed to say he had no
expectations of success. 1pve no faith in
him. He takes after his mother, and new
er did like the Palms. Thank God, that
for the old mans sake, the secret is safe
with us. And, beside this, gather from
the Colonel's talk that this not the first Of
fence" H" N''' ''I tN''
A" But how about the young lady?'
:" She seems entirely taken up with at
tention to her father since he has got SO
poorly. She waits on him night and
day"
"If no other person has faith in Rolf"
replied, "she has"
Yes" answered Stout, "but she has
as much pride in the family name as her
father. The other day when l was
there mentioned Rolfs name, and spoke of
his attempts to solve the mystery, when
the old man quickly, replied, !" God grant
he may succeed. Then after n short ST.
lence he continued, "My little girl here,'-
patting Kate on the head" thinks it all
right, know, but she has solemnly prom
ised me never to marry the boy until he
proves his entire innocence. You have
promised Kate" niit- n1l
"Yes," she replied, 81 have promised,
and win keep my word"
After she had gone out the old man
said, "it has been bitter disappointment
to me. ] thought to have seen Kate, Rolf's
wife before ] died, and then he. entirely
broke down. ,t...l.
"There is young fellow ont there now,
some connection of the family, his name is
Forest, and fancy he has warm regard
! for Kate He has been there all summer