The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-07-15

geUcaliy, " 10 De sure suppose sne lS
soured by what she has gone through. 1t
must be wearing to be disappointed always
in what you set your mind on getting, and
it isn't every one has the gift to drink vim
egar and keep sweet" 9 3-n
"There is such thing as making the
vinegar ourselves and imbibing it instead
of something sweeter," we suggested
"The bitter in every cup may be trans
muted.'' aalaif
" Certainly" said Mrs. Blatchford.--
"But then some has unfortunate disposi-
tions from the cradle, you know"
op"Surely, if Reuben ellison has lived in
the house with her he must know her too
well to be influenced by her, if he really
loved Della Bligh," we said.
"Hum ~ said our hostess skeptically.
ado you know binder bats than. men are
in some things? don't. He sees nothing
artful in the way she picks up Delia's ac-
tions and twists to look queer. He thinks
she is fond of Della, and tries to make the
best of light-mindod flirting creature for
his sake Bats you may say"
"Then he is very weak to be deceived
by that mischievous old maid" scornfully
proclaimed little Mabel.
"Bless your heart child" said Mrs.
Blatchford with her comfortable laugh,
"nothing is SO helpless as single-mind-
ed man in the hands of calculating wo-
man-for time;" with significant empha-
sis on the last clause. Besides, Jose
phine Frye's isn't the only tongue in the
world, either. It's my opinion nothing but
talk has parted Reuben and Della; that and
their foolish young pride. Maybe it'll
come right, maybe it won't Either way
folks tongues have enough to answer for"
If the coming right meant the reuniting
of the sundered lovers, it certainly did not
seem probable as the days went on. Pretty
Della sang in the choir on Sundays, and
Reuben Gilson's eyes rested on the apple
blossom face as if it had never been dear to
him, and the sweet voice floating through
the old meeting house had never touched
his heart. And more than once broad
shouldered young farmer drove up from
Cranberry Corners and tarried at the cot
tage of Calvin Bligh. .a.l4
We became acquainted with both the
young people, and Della was speedily a
great favorite with the doctor and the
children, though the feminine spirits OF
our party could have little patience at her
exchanging lover like Reuben ellison for
the Cranberry Corners rustic. We admired
the sterling sense and keen intelligence OF
the young man, but there seemed to rest
on him grave reserve, almost gloom
that prevented any approach to familiar.
ity.
Presently a rumor was afioat--how Il
originated no one knew. Who ever car
tell how "They say' begins But gath
ering additions daily, increasing, spreading
in the mysterious ways that only rumol
grows, whisper that all was not well will
Reuben Gilson's integrity; that his unu
sually long vacation was enforced, not vol
untary; that he had left his Grafton EN-
ployer with stain upon his name and hon
or. Strange tales were limited of how hi
employers son had suddenly gone no one
knew whittier, and how his flight implica
ted Reuben ellison as a comrade in dishon
esty; there were not wanting declaration
that even now trial and exposure wert
threatening the latter. Did people believ,
this? Did they accept without question
this blighting of the good name of one they
had known from boyhood, and whose RECORD
had been. hitherto blameless?
Cherrywood was not whit behind othe
towns in swallowing SANDER, and whoever
does not know the gourd-like growth Of
scandal, has had buta limited sphere of OBJ
servation. A few clung to their faith il
Reuben Gibson; our hostess was one, bu
she showed the trouble and disquiet sh'
staunchly denied. Singularly enough nc
breath of what was on all lips seemed :,
reach the victim himself all this time. III
kept on the grave tenor of his way, alb
stracted, absorbed; and you may be sur
gossip did not fail to comment on this in
difference and seeming unconsciousness
What Della Bligh thought nobody knew
until one morning she appeared in Widow
Blatohford's kitchen, on the plausible er
rand Of obtaining a recipe for "spic
cakes" Some other thought lurlsed behin'
the troubled blue eyes, and the fact wa
speedily patent TO the dear old woman
whose spectacles were leyeled at her favor
ite,
"Now tell me the rest" said she, pres
entity Are you going to set up kitch
on and oven Of your own soon ?"