The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-05-06

the pretty little phaeton.
Bess's head was turned homeward, great
ly to her delight; but as thoy whirled round
the corner Of the station, tall figure, with
broad lanl1 shoulders, leaned forward and
watched them-watched them till they were
mere speck in the far-away hazy dis
tance.
Well, John, what is it now? Must Bess
go too?" Edith asked, abruptly; so abrupt
ly, indeed, that poor John was, tospcak
figuratively, cast upon his beam ends.
Bess, Miss EdithP" said the poor fell
low, floundering, and trying desperately to
right himself before she suspected his pitt
able mistake 81 didn't say-I mean, II
didn't think-I-T'
"John Irwin p she interrupted, sharply,
sudden fire leaping to her splendid eyes.
"Well, yes, then, if you will know" he
blurted out, desperately. al don't know
what he'll say, I'm sure. didn't mean to
let it out" And his face grew so ludic-
rously sorry, considering that it was a
manifestly jolly face, and never intended
by nature for melancholy or high tragedy
looks, that Edith smiled despite herself.
"Don't feel so badly on my account,
john" she said, kindly. "You know
am used to this sort of thing" here a
tinge of bitterness crept into her tone
"and ought not to be surprised at any
thing. Who is going to have her, John ?"
cold vancouver-I mean Mr.. Van
couver"
"That sounds BETTER" she said, gravely.
"I suppose it is the old story" an unmis-
taxable look of pain shadowing the proud
brilliant face.
"If you please, MISS" John said, hesi-
tingly, "I don't think it is. Old-Mr.
Vancouver and him has had considerable
business first and last, and since you've
been gone he's been over to the farm two
or three times. Last Monday Mr. Grantley
told me that Bess had to go; that Van
couver would give three hundred dollars
for her, and it was the only thing he could
do Them was his exact words, miss, and
he was very sober, and his face was white
as the dead"
"That will do, john" she said, quietly.
"How is mother? Better, isn't she ?''
eyes, she was when / came away" he
answered, naively.
Edith felt half angry and half amused at
this apt commentary on her mothers
health. Mrs. Grantley was subject to va
pors--in other words, inclined tohypochon-
dria.. Not that she was habitually melan-
choly, only in that peculiarly variable
condition in which feathers weight
turned the balance. When everything
went right, when nothing crossed her
wishes or her temper, she was overfowing
with health and spirits. She was gay light,
airy never, perhaps, brilliant, but very
charming and companionable. But there
was no surety of this pleasant state of
things from one moment to another. The
slightest jar of the social or domestic ma
chinery, the faintest breath of an 'east
wind, T" the slightest crossing of her will Oh
wishes, and 10 the fair heavens were hung
in darkness, and rain of tears descended.
tribute these frequent illnesses to temper;
but how could that be when Mrs. Grantley
never got angry? One may certainly curl
their passions, but who can help it if he is
taken suddenly and overwhelmingly i'll
Plainly, then, Mrs. Grantley was not tC
blame if she waS frequently overtaken by
sudden and unaccountable paroxysms Of
illness, at time, too, when she particular
ly needed strength and spirits. What il
she did almost invariably triumph through
Weakness" and carry her point through
tearsp Is it any disparagement to wo
man to do these things Pa woman wht
should, to be the ideal woman, be Away
sweet, and soft, and weak, and dependent
who may, if she wants anything, ask YER!
! sweetly for it, and cry for it If she does moi
get it without. Possibly it may look child
: ish and contemplate, presented theoreti
cally, but practically it is very popular
very, with male writer's.
/ The slight shadow that had rested Oh
} Edith Grantley's face lifted as they cam
in sight of Meadow Farm. The May sun
! shine lay in slantwise lines across the broa'
: velvety lawn, where the dropping branche
: of the elms bent down caressingly to th
scented sward. The great square substan
1 tial house, It's ends of brick painted pal
5 green, looked the very picture of quie
t substantial comfort Back from the hous
Q swept acre upon acre of level meadow-land
a broad bright sea Of emerald breakin
0 against the sombre line Of forest beyond