The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-09-19

absence. m 3. gaib aaDa .al..l d. I.s..,i,,
D9H Have I the pleasure Of addressing
Miss Goodall 2" asked Mr.. Webster, as
he took the seat she assigned him near
the fire. ...n, ...... ~,
ooh, no." smiled Janet. II am Jan
ct Keelder, Mr.. Goodalls niece. He
is my guardian. But as Miss Goodall
had unavoidably to be absent this evening
l offered to fill her place, and endeavor
to make the time pass as pleasantly as l
could to one whom my uncle seems so to
esteem, till he should return
"There is little doubt Of your easily
succeedingin that endeavor," rejoiued
the gentleman, calamity. {" Besides
those natural capabilities am sure you
possess, | observe here many means to
kill time" he said, as his eyes rested on
the harp, piano and music books; then
added " If it be not rudeness, might
| ask whether it was your voice / heard
singing that old, old English ballad of
DR.. Aims, Rater Parted From the
Sea ?" .t..,..,.. ..r,. ...t......f....;....
sob, it is 'old, old indeed" laugh
ed Janet 4" So very old and out of
date, that ! only treat myself to it when
alone"
"Why SO, may l ask 7 Yet can
guess. The English ballad now days,
is banished from our drawing rooms, its
place usurped by bravuras, endless trills,
and senseless runs But when we come
across it, how sweet, how soothing are
it's soft, simple tones Especially, my
dear Miss Keelder, to those who have
been long absent from home, and accus-
toned to the shrieking (called melody of
young ladies, who, after having been we'll
coached, are drifted to India on matrimo-
NAL speculations. Pardon my disparag-
ing the sex to one who forms SO charm
ing a member; but 1 speak, l hope, of
the exception not the rule. TO me the
English ballad is passion. Dare /,
therefore, ask you to kindly humor my
hobby, Miss Keelder, by imagining your
self still alone, and again singing that
song. l remember it was one Of my
mothers"
Janet never required any of that ab-
surd persuasion to do anything she knew
she could do. So going to the piano, she
tried to do her best and that best was
sweet, harmonious, soul-inspiring melody
at least Edmund Webster thought so.
Ballad after ballad was sung. Then
CHANGING to come across "Flow on,
thou Shining River" and Janet regret
ting she had no second, Edmund Web
ster offered to attempt it, aud speedily
proved himself the possessor of an ex-
cellent baritone, and a voice Of good COM
pass. .Fl-#
To both, the hours passed SO pleasatly
that each started when the clock struck
out ten. ........
"Ten," exclaimed Edmund Webster,
laughing Why, had an appointment
at nine, which 1 certainly ought to have
kept. 1t is too late now, however. 1t is
all owing to your ballads, Miss Keelder /;
therefore, as penance, i must ask you to
put up with my company, little longer,
to see if your uncle comes in"
Janet seemed no way 10th, and the
ballads proceeded, till interrupted by the
arrival of Mr.. Goodall. ,t.t .ss
1t was about two in the morning when
Janet was aroused from her first sleep by
light step in her room. Looking up,
she perceived Nina, just returned, look
ing rather fatigued, her dress limp, and
flowers faded TO-
+" Well dear coz" asked Janet, "how
have you enjoyed the evening ?" a
"Oh, very much; excessively! but
such disappointment da.s 20 f'f 81
HowY Anything about the rich
stranger the Mystery 7" smiled Janet
Z" Was he so dull and senseless as not to
be caught ~ D faH .m
I cannot tell, for he was never put
to the test dear. Really everything has
been provoking this evening. The Mys-
terry, after promising Mrs. Graham for
certain he would look in tonight, never
came" .. ..bau ,.. IN.
4. I" That was vexing, indeed !" remarked
Janet " You see, these millionaires are
so conceited about their wealth, that they
think etiquette has no rules for them"
"It appears SO, indeed. But one
thing / have learned, which is, he, too,
comes from India, like our Nabob. By
the-by, dear, how did you get on with
the old fellow 2 Was he not very yellow,
besides considerable bore /? And did
he not shiver at the mention of every
draft, save that in reference to his bank
er's. Poor coz, what an evening you
must have passed for my sake"
Believe me my darling, | am not q
fit subject for commiseration, as l never
spent such an agreeable evening before