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

tions and Mrs. Hyde Chester engaged the
most civilized looking of them all to carry
herself and her young companion to Dain-
geriield.
"There," whispered Clara, as she took
her seat beside Mrs. Chester, "did you see
that man glide past on the platform?
told you he was following usr
Mrs. Chester stretched her plump neck
but she could only see the back of the
passer's head.
"After ALL" said she, argumentively,
"a railroad station is free to ALL"
Clara did not answer, but leaned back
in the vehicle.
Mrs. Hyde Chester chatted merrily, as
they rolled along over the uneven county
roads but Clara answered but little-she
was in no mood for conversation.
The November night, chill and starless,
had closed quite dark over the glen of the
autumnal copses, as they began to ascend
the long, wooded hill that lay between
Terriswode and Daingerfeld. Both ladies,
wearied with their long journey, were
quite silent. Mrs, Hyde Chester had fallen
into a doze, when she was suddenly reused
by the vehicle coming to full stop.
"Dear me-" said Mrs. Chester, sitting
upright, "what can be the matter?'
"Pm sorry ma'am," said Jehu, his face
appearing, as it were, in black foam, at
the window of the equipage, "but we'vo
broke down."
Broken down ~
in halves.''
"But can you not mend it?'
"Not unless had the tools, ma am, and
there amt shop this side of Terriswode."
"But what are we to do? We can't
stay here all night. We must walk the
rest of the way to Daingerfeld."
cts six miles, iha'am, and a mortal bad
road"
"But what else canrwe do ?"
"You might stay at Toby Wooden's,
just beyond-dont you see the light twink
| lint"
els it public houSe?"
"Well, no, ma'am, not exactly but they
does take folks in when they can get 'em.
And / could ride one of the horses back to
Terriswode and get another trap, and you
will be at Daingerield in good time in the
morning"
"Oh, DEAR" said Mrs. Chester, despair
ingly, 81 wish now that l had followed
your advice, Clara. shall not reach
Daingerfeld tonight after ALL"
Toby Wooden's proved to be ruinous
old house built on the hillside in the
woods, and distinguished mainly by its
high-peaked roof and dilapidated porch
"Well, I s'pose can take ye in" was
Mrs Wooden's puzzled rejoinder to their
petition for nights shelter. "There's
the upstairs chamber-Simeon can take the
seed corn out. We've got two men here
Already, and"
"Two men ?" interposed Clara, Eagerly.
"What sort of men?"
"One of 'em's Dan Gilbert, the peddler
and t'other's a likely fellow, enough.
don't know what he is, but he squints very
bad with one eye"
Mrs. Hyde Chester could feel Clara's
grasp tighten on her arm, with sort of
nervous energy.
81 knew it-I knew it ~ she whispered,
eagerly. "Oh, Mrs. Chester, do not let us
come here-do not let us tempt our fate.
We had better sit in the carriage all night"
SIN the carriage, indeed What non
sense I" cried Mrs. Chester. "Show us up
stairs at once, Mrs. Wooden, please. am
nearly jolted to death in that horrid con-
cern.''
The apartment from which tall, lean
| jointed youth was at that moment remov-
ing general chaos of 'seed-ears' of corn,
was by no means inviting, A dropsical
feather-bed, piled up ON high bedstead,
and three-legged washstand, together
with one or two e-bottomed chairs, COM
pIeted the furniture of the room-a mourn
ful contrast TO Mrs. Hyde Chester's ele-
giant suite of apartments at home.
But she was very tired, and, withal, de-
termined to be pleased, if only only out of
contradiction TO Clara Champfort
Clara, full of vague fears, kept the light
burning as long as the slender dip Of tai
low would last, and then, by the stormy
moonlight, watched the luckless door in an
agony Of apprehension.
Nor was her apprehension entirely
groundless for just as the gray dawn of
the coming day was blending with the
darkness that is always most dense at that
| H. al. a