The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-07-09

happy when she was with him. But 1t was
only when alone with him that Annie mani
tested the least tenderness but then--ah
well might he persist in saying; she kneW
sister Annie loved him.
Lilly, the youngest child, was four years
old, Eva just bursting into womanhood,
and Edith Hartley few months older than
| Annie.
Both Edith and Eva were radiantly beau
tiful, strongly resembling their mother in
features as well as in mind. The former
was vain, selfish, and unfeeling but she
seemed so amiable and artless, and was so
brilliant, and could render herself so agreea-
BILE, it was difficult at first to read her true
character. Eva was less artful and was
kind and pleasant enough when her wishes
were not thwarted, but ill-tempered and
unreasonable otherwise. 1t may well be
believed, that with their mothers example
and training, they did not assist in max
ing Annie's home pleasanter to her.
Annie's position was scarcely altered by
her fathers death, three years before our
| oIOlJ OpCho' 1lO Woo an OooJi uhouoPlSAOuS
man, and his wife had long swayed him
completely by her superior art and stronger
will. He trusted her completely and be-
fore his death, made no separate provision
for his children but, by his will, both they
and his considerable property, were left to
her sole guardianship.
Now as before, Annie was treated as one
apart from the family. In the frequent
suited. All their arrangements were made
without the slightest reference to her wish
es or convenience. She was in every way
made to feel her isolation. Now, as before
there was silent contest going on between
her step-mother and herself--she strug-
Cling bravely though quietly for her rights;
the former, to withhold them. The contest
was unequal but, if Annie was sometimes
apparently subdued, she was never con-
quered.
There was an additional reason why An
ME was unwilling to return home this par
ticular day. She expected to find there
Mrs. Lothrop, an old and valued friend of
her fathers, who had written three weeks
before, that she was coming to make them
a long visit and that, on her return, she
would invite one of the young ladies to
make her an indefinitely long visit.
The widest hopes had been raised in
Mrs. Rathburn's bosom by the reception of
this letter for Mrs. Lothrop was possessed
of an enormous fortune, without single
relative in the world-save great-nephew
who was also heir to large property, as
much as any reasonable man need wish to
have. Her grandson and destined heir had
died three years before. What so proba-
BILE, then, as that she was about to choose
an beiress to her wealth, and had thought
AS it was proper she should think-of the
children of her most valued friend She
certainly must have some particular object
in proposing this visit at this time, when
she had never visited them before, though
often urged to do so. Mrs. Rathburn had
never seen her.
Thus Mrs. Rathburn reasoned and she
determined that either Edith or Eva should
be the future heiress.
Great were the preparations made for
the expected guests-for Mrs. Lothrop's
nephew, Mr. Kirkwood was to accompany
he, and many hints given to Edith and Eva
concerning their bearing to both-for Mrs.
Rathburn had her designs ON both aunt
and nephew.
From childhood Annie had heard of Mrs.
Lothrop. She had been charmed with the
various stories told of her great-heartedness
and eccentricity, and cherished the most
exalted opinion of her character but much
as she would have liked to see and know
her under other circumstances, the knowl-
edge of her step mothers designs made her
apprehend that the visit would be product
i've of too much unhappiness and mortia-
cation of herself, in her step-mother's fear
that she might find favor in the eyes of her
fathers friend, to desire it,
Slowly, therefore, she assembled the steps.
The trunks yet in the hall, the unusual
hustle that prevailed, and confused mur-
muring of voices admonished her that the
expected guest had arrived. afa.
When she entered the parlor, short
time after, Mrs. Rathburn said: This is
Annie,' in tone that at once told her that
she had been the subject of previous con-
versation--and she knew full we'll that
whatever her step-mother might have "a
say about her, could not have been to her
advantage.