The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-06-24

seem so sociably inclined
He was young man of about the age of
Peabody, and, at a first glance, rather pre-
possessing in his appearance; still, there
was something repellant about him, at
least it so struck Peabody. What it was,
had he been questioned, he could not have
satisfactorily explained yet he had not
been in his company but short time ere
his first unfavorable impressions were de-
cidedly confirmed. His face seemed some
what familiar to him when and where
had he met with himp The fact came
upon him suddenly. This was the young
man who had SO reluctantly aided him in
extricating the gentleman from the ruins
of the cars. The recognition, it may be
presumed, did not tend to raise him in
Peabody's opinion. Very naturally, he
made inquiries about the gentleman's
wounded foot, and was very curtly informed
that the injury proved slight one, and
that but little, if any, i'll effect was expe-
rienced from it.
From what he observed Peabody inferred
that the gentleman acted as an escort to
the ladies, which he subsequently learned
was the case. 1t was very evident from his
marked attentions to the lady who sat op-
posite to Peabody that he was either her
fance, or that he was solcitous to ingrati-
ate himself with her. Henry was not long
in discovering that the pleasant relations
which were being rapidly established be-
tween himself and his fair opposite were
not particularly agreeable to the gentleman
in question.
"Would you not prefer seat by the
window, Miss Weston ?" he asked, half
rising from his seat, interupting an ami
mated conversation just then in progress
between Henry and the lady.
"Do not rise, Mr.. Perham no thank
you. much prefer the one occupy"
she replied. ih Pea
The answer was given pleasantly enough,
yet Peabody thought he detected in the
tone and manner of the speaker something
like GOODNESS, or lack of cordiality, which,
for some reason, was not wholly Disagree
able to him.
TUT my pdit, lCindIhCu ulioo w CobOh
lady companion, whom Peabody had heard
addressed as Miss Leighton, 81 think the
view from car window is very stupid. If
one catches bit of fine scenery, the glance
1 is so transitory that it is more tantalizing
than gratifying" t' 't ~ =
"Then the posts, fences and telegraph
poles all seem to be running such desper-
ate race with the locomotive" added Pea
body, with a smile.
eyes, and in the distance" remarked
Miss Leighton, "the houses, barns and
trees seemed engaged in an endless waltz,
so that ones brains are in complete
whirl while watching them"
The non-acceptance of his proposition
did not seem TO have a very agreeable
effect on Mr.. Perham, judging from the
taciturnity he afterwards maintained, and
which the ladies did not seem disposed to
interrupt. Most assuredly, Peabody felt
no inclination to disturb it,
Henry experienced decidedly growing
interest in his newly-made acquaintance.
They were each endowed with more than
ordinary personal charms. Although Miss
f leighton would generally be considered
the most attractive, from her finely devel-
oped form and beauty of features, as well
as the vivacity of her disposition, still, in
! Peabody's eyes, her less demonstrative
companion was much the more charming.
If she did not talk so much, there was a
, point and piquapcy to what she did say,
that at once enlisted your attention. There
was an expression in her large brown eyes
when she raised them to his and a subtle
q play to her features when addressing him,
' which, in Peabody's view were q thousand
/ fold more captivating.
, There are men who, placed in circum
= stances similar to Peabody's, would have
1 Iourneyed for weeks without manifestinl
0 more than the most formal civility towards
s those with whom chance had thrown hin
; in contact. But Peabody had not been I
l day in the company of his fellow-passen
Q gers ere he had established something alii
. to friendly intimacy with them. Thougl
. not what is styled handsome man, ye
he possessed that manly fascination, tina
magnetic grace Of speech and manners
!, which at once find favor not only with th'
( fairer but the rougher sex as well. rbit
a Peabody was blessed with the sunnies
8 of Compartments. There was an air o
. health about him, mental and moral a
n we'll as physical, which is SO rarely TO b.
found in these effeminate days, and whicl
I has become doubly potent from its yer.