The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-07-11

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but he used to know Hatfeld's father, and
whatever May wants she usually gets, you
know"
eyes," said I, 81 suppose so;'' and re-
lapsed into silence again, while Charley
changed the subject and began on the
shooting topic once more.
When reached the house l was intro
duced at once to Hatfield, who was stand
ing on the steps with May, awaiting our
arrival. He was soft-voiced, pleasant
looking man, not over twenty-five, and with
that easy air of aristoc ratio nonchalance
which is ever captivating to the feminine
heart At the first glance / knew him.for
"lady Killer in the better sense of term.
Though displaying nothing of vulgar con-
ceit, he was conscious of his power, and l
saw that no circumstance, however awk-
ward, would ever cause him to lose his
self-possession. 1t was no wonder that
May had been caught at last.
shook hands as cordially as a man who
was unable to feel otherwise than little
jealous of him could, and having saluted
May Dunham, we all went into the house
together. AT lunch 1 sat opposite my new
acquaintance and was able to observe him
more closely. Despite his pleasant face
and sly and merry twinkle in his eyes,
there was a look which came at times
across his features, that gave me an un-
comfortable feeling of distrust. 3,
"Do you know" | said to Charley,
when we were alone that afternoon, "there
is something in Hatfelds mind which he
wouldn't care to talk about to either of
us ."
"Thnk so?" asked Charley. " He ap-
pears to me to have some trouble weighing
upon him, but never have thought much
about it."
Something the matter" / said.
Doesn't May know what it is %
"Can't say" said Charley, looking at me
very much as if he thought was manifest
ing considerable solicitude about other
peoples affairs. 81 can't say, I'm sure"
took Charleys implied hint and did
not revert to the subject again. We COM
menced our work of destruction in Mapper-
ly Wood early the following morning. and
a week afterwards the table at Mapperley
House groaned beneath the weight of
partridges and quails which we provided
for it. Hatfield accompanied us very fire.
quently, but he was a poor shot, and did
not seem to manifest any particular inter
est in the sport. Two hours in the morn
ing were usually enough for him, and then
he would shoulder hisgun and march home
to read Tennyson or Longfellow to May
and leave Charley and me to carry on the
war alone. think one reason of his in
difference to cunning lay in his antipathy
to Charley's huge mastiff Crusoe, who, al
though worthless in hunting, always ac-
coinpani ed us, keeping a respectable dis
tance in the rear, in full consciousness that
he never was made for game dog and
that Leopard and Spot, Charley's setters
understood the busines in hand great
deal better than he did. He was a magnif-
cent fellow, however, and lord of all the
manor grounds, and in consideration of his
faithful services as sentinel during the
night, Charley never refused to take him
with us on our excursions by day. The
feeling between himself and Hatfield was
quite mutual, for the latter never ventured
near the dog but Crusoe would show his
teeth and growl at him most suspiciously.
One morning Charley and unbushed a
flock of partridges, and when they settled
again the dogs were unable to find them,
In our endeaVors to discover the lost birds
we became widely separated, and at last
towards twelve o'clock, tired with the
mornings work, resolved to return to the
house. AS approached the grounds of
the mansion heard voices in the shrub
berry, one of which recognized as Hatfields $
and so stopped to listen whether the other
were not Charley's. The persons of the
speakers were hidden from mo by the
thick growth of evergreen beyond the walk,
but l could hear every word of their con-
versation quite distinctly. b..
81 tell you," said Hatfield, "that must
have more money"
"And say, returned the other, whom
instantly perceived was not Charley, but
stranger "that have advanced all II am
going to on this cursed nonsense. don't
see any likelihood of getting a return for
my Investment"
"Pve done all that agreed to do" said
Hatfield.
"You promised to marry the girl" said