The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-01-02
THE EMPEROR'S GIFT.

the widest diplomacy and the noisiest ex-
element resulting from it. A rumor of
the presence incognito of the great Gar,
Peter the Great, attraced high representa-
tives from the courts of England, France
and other leading European countries, all
of which conceived it Of the highest impor-
tance to their welfare to secure favorable
treaties with Russia. With nothing but
this report to guide them, Lord Synd-
ham, on the part of England, and Chateau
neuf, on the part Of France, set out with
their suites, all in disguise, for the purpose
of secretly obtaining the advantage of each
other in the matter which was SO impor-
tant to them and their countries.
Meanwhile, the town of Saadam went on
in it's accustomed routine of work and rec
reation, filed with busy carpenters who
varied their work only with drink, song and
the pretty Dutch girls who sold them their
beverages. Among the prettiest of the lat
ter was lass named Mary, who lived with
an old Mrs. Brown, and who won the atten-
tions and presumably the affections of two
Peters, one Peter Ivanhoh, and the other
Peter Michaelow. The former seemed nat
urally to be the possessor of the young
woman's heart, but she was too pretty not
TO be a coquette, and he came near losing
his influence over her by means of an irri-
talng jealousy which he constantly mani
tested at all her actions. The other Peter,
meantime, gained ground by his confidence,
his self-possession and his attentions, un-
hampered by the chickering's of jealous
| disposition. .........
| One day the whole community was start
ed by order from the mayor to suspend
work for an hour that he might carry on
an examination which he pretended to be
of the greatest Importance. This Mayor
named Van Bett, was pompous individ-
ual, who prided himself upon his shrewd-
ness of perception and boldness of action,
estimating his position TO be a much more
| important and responsible one than that of
the king under which he served. "Dom-
neering, engineering, persevering, can
noneering electioneering, and scrutineer-
ing" was his favorite description of him
in spite of which he was as ignorant
fellow as Holland could well have pro
duced. When, however, he received COM
mission TO ferret out one Peter, whose dis
covery was alleged to ~ one of the greatest
Importance, he felt not the slightest doubt
of his complete success, and set about the
work at once. He was to deliver this per-
son to Lord Syndham, though he was not
aware of the latter's name or position, any
more than that of the man he was looking
for, or. any other of the drdmatiS per.
sOnR.
Van Bett caused all the ship-carpentert
to assemble before him, and then pompous.
ly demanded fellow named Peter.
"My name is Peter" answered one.
"And mine y land mine;' "and mine, y
rang through the whole line of workmen
In fact, they all laid claim To this vener,
bic and patriarchal Phenomenon. AT last, Ii,
succeeded in reducing the number to two
Peters from abroad, one of them Pete
Michaelow and the other Peter Ivanhoff
With his usual clear perception he chos,
the latter as the one he was in search of
and having dismissed all the others, wa
intending to determine the matter.
Now the fact was that Peter Ivanhof
was deseIter from the Russian army, an,
he trembled in his boots at the idea O
being questioned by any authority. I'm
certain whether TO make clear breast o
of the whole affair or still further to pre-
varicate he was just confused enough T.
render old Van Bett positive that he ha,
, found the right man. The Mayor fixe'
the matter finally by a reference to hi
niece, Mary.
~"You are in love with Mary. You needn'
deny it. ] saw all about it, ! know every
, thing. Now, my young friend if you wi
go along with me, and this affair turns on
all right, you shall have her."
This promise reconciled Peter Ivanho
to the situation, and he went off with til
the mayor considerably comforted, leavin
Peter Mchaelow, his rival, free to couI
. Mary for himself.
While the English ambassador has il
trusted the finding of his man TO the blocl
, head Mayor the French ambassador, Cha
eauneuf, set about the matter. He wei
to work, very like a Fenchman, b
; paying his attentions 10 the pretty airl
and finding out Mss Mary as the pretties
!. soon came in contact with Peter Michaelov
The F,enchman Immediately unmarked IL
contrast between this man and the booris
> companions about him, and resolved to fe'