The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-05-14
UNCLE PAUL'S MYSTERY.

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an open letter in his hand, was tall, fair
haired young man.
"What have you there, mother ?" he
asked, throwing his arm around her in
caiessing way "That smile makes you
positively young, declare"
Losing his father in India, when child,
- small legacy from his good mother had,
with the most severe economy, given George
Roberts u liberal education, while his
mother had her small pension alone to de-
pend upon
Long years had passed, her father was
dead and her only brother, who inherited
the estate, had ever refused any overtures
toward reconciliation. Not even in her
widest day dream had Mrs. Roberts hoped
TO behold her childhood's home again.
No wonder then that her cheek flushed
and her eye frightened over the letter in
her hand, for it contained an invitation for
herself and her son to spend the Christmas
week at Locksley Grange. Though ex-
pressed in cold and formal terms it was
corteous, and the buried years of the past
were not alluded to.
The young man took the letter, which
she handed him without comment and
glancing through to the signature" Paul
Edward Hallowes'-looked up at his moth
Gr.
"Your uncle, my son, l." she said.
A flush of indignant feeling passed over
the pleasant face. Was this cold, naughty
uncle, who had SO long ignored their ex-
istence, to summon them to his presence
by wave of his hand? BY hard study
and perseverance George had won placeat
the bar, and was content to labor, trusting
to time. But It was with an inward strug-
gle, as he looked at the eager expectation
on his mothers face, and thought of her
lonely life, that he controlled his resent
ment.
"You would like to 60 dear mother?'
he said, pleasantly.
Yes, my boy; it seems as if could die
happier if | saw the old place once more"
"Then we shall 60" he said. 81 will
make my arrangements for holiday, and
we will leave town on Wednesday, and
with kiss left her.
The master of Locksley Grange, a tall
erect old man, of most imposing presence,
with snowy hair and whiskers, and brilliant,
piercing black eyes, shaded by shaggy
eyebrows-like fierce fires overhung with
Jagged snow crags-greeted his sister and
her son with stately courtesy, although no
light of love beamed from his eye to the
sentlewoman who had been his chldhood's
playfellow.
One sharp glance he shot at his nephew
as he made some comment on the journey,
and then bade servant usher them TO
their apartments.
When the dinner-bell rang, George con-
Quoted his m0ther-looking so fair and
gentle in her soft gray silk, still with the
delicate flush on her cheek-into the state
drawingroom, where they were duly pre-
sented to the rector of Locksley and his
curate. Still they waited, and in few
moments young girl entered the room, of
such unusual beauty, that George Roberts
stopped short in the middle of sentence
addressed TO the curate, and never comple.-
ed it.
She might have been about seventeen,
with slight form, graceful as deer, with
hair Of pale gold, which deepened into shad-
ows OF tawny sheen under the mellow wax
lights, and soft brown eyes, shaded by
curling golden lashes A dark silk dress,
without ornament, displayed and heighten-
ed the delicately tinted skin and perfect
figure. She approached the group timidly,
and George, glancing at his uncle, saw, to
his astonishment, scowl sweep over his
face as his eyes rested on the fair vision.
:" Miss Kedar he said carelessly, pre-
senting the young girl to his sister, with
wave Of his ieweled hand, ga penniless
orphan whom ! kept out of charity, as her
mother was an old friend of mine. She
made love match, " he added with sneer.
"You can take her in TO dinner, he said to
his nephew, with another. wave of the white
hand, as he turned to his sister with formal
politeness.
OeoTSo iei1 Mo ihulBhauoh sliI' ds ITO
saw the deep flush rise on the young girls
faceand then fade to marble paleness; but
she did not raise her eyes to see the SYM
pathy expressed in his.
The dinner passed of pleasantly. The
rector was fluent and graceful conver-
sationalist, and the host excited young
Roberts to bring forward his knowledge of
men and things in his manly, earnest way,
l. 49, d;solav Of his own varsatiia ,,oN.garo