The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-01-16

you W
/ thought he would never finish shaking
my hands, or bidding my welcome home.
God bless him might have known he
would be true.
We talked for half an hour without
stopping-of our parting, of old times and
old friends then Johns kindly eyes resting
OH my travelling suit, he said, $50 the
world has not prospered with you, Paul"
smiled but did not undeceive him, feel
ing, for the first time, proud and happy
that was a millionaire, resolving to keep
my secret for day or two, then surprise
him with it.
At that very moment the library opened,
and tall stately lady entered the room.
ooh, beg PARDON" she said, coldly; 81
did not know you were engaged. Perhaps
with house full of visitors, you can spare
time for more than one ~
"To be sure, my dear" he said, meekly
-"to be sure am very remiss, Lady
Clara. Let me introduce my old friend
Paul Hylton to you"
The lady favored me with a very naughty
bow.
"He-he has just returned from India"
said John, with trembling hesitation, "and
has come to spend Christmas with u.s."
Then she looked at me slowly and stead
lily, from head to foot. / felt conscious that
l might have visited London tailor. My
clothes felt shabby, my boots dirty, under
the calm search of those proud eyes.
"What room will suit Mr.. Hylton best P"
asked John. "He will want good fires;
England is very cold after India"
81 understood that our list of friends
was quite complete" said Lady Clara,
haughtily. "You had better send for the
housekeeper; there are no rooms to spare. !"
So saying, with decided frown, she
swept from the room.
saw it all John was fearfully hen
pecked He stood feebly trying to smile,
rubbing his hands, and looking ruefully at
me.
"Lady Clara isis tired tonight" he
said; "we have so many visitors"
"John," l said, "be quite frank with
me. am an unlimited guest; if l have
come at an inopportune moment, I will
go away again."
He flushed crimson.
Nothing of the kind" he said; chow
can you speak so, Paul. You arc my
friend-my guest-welcome always, as are
flowers in May. Lady Clara is rather pc
culiar; she has always been amongst grand
people, you know. think it would. per-
haps, be as well not to say that you have
been unfortunate before her; she would
not understand you, see."
He looked so miserably conscious SC
rueful, so fond of me, and SO frightened al
his wife, could not forbear smiling.
The housekeeper came and a room found
for me--more thanks to old Mrs. Green's
remembrance of me as "young Hylton O.
Hylton," than from any interest on tn,
part of Lady Clara.
The first dinner bell rang, and wen
down to the drawing-room where all thu
guests were assembled. There / was in
troduced to Miss Ada Rose-Lady Clara
daughter (the youngest sister was married
that same year) and to Johns two children
q charming boy and girl.
Miss Ada Rose measured me accuratel,
with her eyes. They expressed nothing
but contemptuous indifference until the,
lighted suddenly upon a valuable diamon'
ring wore upon one iinger-a ring tina
II. saE e .al. .ts.A
Then she gave me puzzeled look, asking
plainly as eyes could do, what poor unin
vited guest did with such a jewel as that ?
She was a brilliant rather than beauti
face, and tall figure, something like he
mother, Johns two children resembles
| him.
Just rs we were going to dinner, youn
girl stole noiselessly into the roOm--a gin
who riveted my attention at once. She ha
a sweet sunny face, fresh and fair wit
clear, true eyes, and the most beautift
mouth ever beheld. No one appeared I
take any notice of her; no one spoke to hei
She was plainly dressed, without any jew
els or ornaments but in my eyes she wa
peerless as graceful young queen.
had just time to ask John who sh
was
"The dearest and best girl in III
world" he said hurriedly; "my poor si
ter Nellie's child. She is dead, you know
and Kate is living with me, will introduC
her to you Paul"
0 He did so; and asked Miss Kate Chall
II might take her down to dinner. Poo
n child read such q story in her swee
downcaat face