The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-11-14
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A MYSTERY IN THE FAMILY.


NXTHILE enjoying myself one Septem-
w Der at the Springs, was surprised
by telegram from my niece, saying, " If
you love us, come to Hawthorn Villa at
once"
/ felt certain that something serious must
have caused the summons and determined
to obey it at once. The two friends who
were with me on this trip has gone few
miles up the lake on fishing excursion,
and not wishing to leave without telling
them about my intended departure, l
mounted my horse and started for the place
where / expected to find them. But luck
was decidedly against me, for sudden shy
ing of the animal threw me OFF, and as
lighted among the stones, l remained in
sensible until some persons passing found
me, and took me back to the hotel.
My friends carefully attended me, and
when after two weeks confinement, !
thought best to attempt the journey, one
of them, Charlie Hartz, insisted on accom-
panying me, to see that | stood the fatigues
OF travel.
bore the journey better than I expect
cd, and after supper at the hotel, hasten
cd out to Hawthorn Villa, which was the
residence of my two nieces, Edith and Isla
Cathard. 1t was n relief to see that outside,
everything looked as usual A servant let
the drawing-room. She came in presently,
tall lithsome girl, with superb face. She
had grown paler since | saw her last, and
her eyes looked unnaturally large. They
were so beautiful, however, that there
could scarcely be too much of them.
Ihave come, Edith" said, "but not
so soon as l meant to-"
"You have been sick, Uncle Lemuel," "
she observed, swiftly noting toning down
in my physique.
eyes, or should have been here fort
night ago"
Her hands, which were fast locked to
gether, seemed to clutch each other little
more closely but she answered with per-
feet composure
81 am sorry to have troubled you. You
had probably started before my second tel
egram was sent, or you would have known
that the matter had been arranged, and
that you were no longer needed"
So this is what i had come for. Yet ]
could not quite declare to myself that it
was just as 1 expected. There certainly
was visible change in Edith. Some
thing of her old buoyancy missed, which
Bohemian as | was, and intolerant of girl
ish triyialities, would gladly have seen
restored.
Where is Isla p" / asked.
"In town, spending the evening with
Grace Harleigh. You do not know, sup
pose, that Isla is engaged? You will re-
remember Aston IIarleigh, probably.
ayes, an excellent match, l should say
if he is the other party"
"He is and, as you say, it viii be an ex.
cellent match. The Harleighs are proud
family, but they are all pleased with Isla
They are always sending for her, though
Aston is away now for few weeks. o.
il you please, uncle, do not mention to Isls
that sent for you to come"
The request was earelessly made, but
noticed that Edith's small hands agar
frightened their grasp upon each other al
this casual reference to that matter" thai
had been arranged without my assistance
| hate mystery of all things, next to {
missD Yet began to fear that we were
going to have one in the family.
A mystery it might be or a mere senti
mental misery. Whether the one or thu
other, it was evident that Edith had no in
tention of making me acquainted with it
/, nor had any authority to demand an ex
planation. Nominally had been guardian
to these girls, though ] had mainly shirket
the responsibilities Of that position upor