The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-04-23

COTloJy was among bnen, ana my nOuso-
keeper, intent on upholding the cuisine of
Virginia against all France, ontdid herself.
The truffie-sauce was as delicate as FOUL
let's own, the Perigord-pardon me--but
am fond of good eating. What wise man
since Solomon is not?
Just as the Clicquot was beginning to
fire the eyes and mellow the laughs about
the table, Pine, who had been playing
major-domo in the servants hall, came be-
hind my chair and slipped a note under my
plate. "Pierse's Jake fetched it. From
his young mistress
1 saw Bob Johns, who was sitting lit
tie way down the table, prick up his ears
at this. The clatter of voices and glasses
was loud enough for Pine to continue his
whisper, unheard, as furtively glanced at
the note. "Jake says the old mans bent
on maxim his will, right off. Fur de
Lords sake go, Mars John. It's de debbil
Of night, though" And he slipped off
to get overcoat and wrappings.
ought to go; that was certain; SO, with
mournful glance at the jolly faces around
the cloth, pushed old Tom Berkley into
my chair, and excused myself for an hour.
When l came down into the hall, few
minutes after, found Bob Johns ready
booted and spurred. 1 laughed inwardly.
"Well Bob, does old Pierse want to con-
suit you about his will P"
He stammered, and grew red 81
thought, sir"
"You thought little Hester might need
consolation, so mean to offer your ghostly
aidP Well, boys will be boys. Help me on
with this shawl here, and get along with
you"
We rode off together A dull, drizzly
night, Bob's thoughts of little Hester may
have kept him warm, but l found it deci-
dedly uncomfortable, and just like old
Pierse to choose such night for his prep
aration for the next world. A word of ex-
PLANTATION, that you may understand the ex-
igences of the case as we'll as Bob and l
did.
Some five years before, this same reputa-
BILE old Pierse had married widow from
Loudon county: certain Mrs. Wray with
one daughter, Hester. The widow was
rich, had been an heiress in her girlhood
when, by-the-way, she had known and
loved this man Pierse, but had been forced
to marry Wray by her father She never
cared for him, nor his daughter; and in less
than year after his death, met and mar
ried her old flame Pierse. She was one
Of these whey-skinned, pale-eyed women,
whose loves and hates go down into the
grave with them. She did love old Pierse
enough to make me doubt her sanity. 1t
was perpetual miracle to me; but there
never was Bottom yet who could not find
a Titania to "stroke his amiable ears"
Well, the woman died at last, and then one
would have hoped there would be amend of
her lunatic coddling. Far from it, She
was a native of Baton Rouge, and her
property doubly insured to her by settle
ment, and the laws of Louisiana, where
women have more "rights" than ever Abby
Kelly claimed. To justify the title of her
sex to an inherent sense of justice, the
woman devised her property entire to her
husband, leaving Hester utterly dependent
on his good WILL I don't say old Pierse
was scoundrcl. only quote Shakespeare,
and say Titania had been enamored of an
an ass" A pompous, fat animal-perpet-
ual high grand Of braggarts-if any seeds
of brain or feeling were in the man original
ly, turtle and brandy had choked them out.
Like all braggarts, the man could be led by
child with fiattery. Now Hester was no
fiatterer. A little girl with low, loving
voice, it is true, but most decisive way OF
putting down her small foot, and hearty
contempt of all humbug. The two were
not colleagues--how could they be? Besides
Pierse knew how thoroughly public indigna
tion had been reused on behalf of the girl
and dNliked her accordingly; submitted hel
TO numberless vexations--not the least o
which was the introduction into the house
Of a mulatto slave as housekeeper,a "a woman
whom the girl had every reason to fear and
shrink from. Some two years back Piers
had made will, leaving the property t.
his brother, then in Cuba. knew of it
and for Hester's sake had brought every in
huence TO bear on the wretch to induce hin
to alter it, but vainly. In the last yea
gout had rendered him helpless. Heste
had nursed him for the memory of he
dead mother; whatever kindly feeling wa
buried in the mass of flesh had kindled in
tolife, and day after day hoped he woul'
do her n late iusfice Yo,f comnrehend nov