The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-08-05

merely that occurred as he left her. Just
as he stepped out of the gate he encounter
ed Miss Dunbar and Miss Gates, to whom
he politely raised his hat. Miss Dunbar
acknowledged the salutation with cold
bow, but her companion scarcely recog-
nized it, as in her astoDishment she ex-
claimed:
"Did you ever, Miss Duubarl the idea ~
About six months after Stanley left,
there came rumors of his meeting with a
beautiful young lady among the mountains
of Tyrol, where he Glanced to be ramb-
ling, and that he was particular attentive
to her. These were followed by another
that he was journeying in company with
her through the Alpine region, and rumor
told the truth, for rarity. He had fallen
in with an old friend and his sister, and
their routes being the same, they had trav-
elled together. All these stories, of course,
reached the ears of Alice, with all the ex-
aggerations that petty spite could invent
for the attention Of Stanley had not been
forgotten, as If it had been crime in her
to receive them, these blessed Christians
adopted this method to punish her for it.
Wolf-like they eagerly turned to rend the
wounded. (.1t}
Presently the report was that Stanley
had arrived at Paris, still in company of
the young lady,to whom he was "postively
engaged" The next report was that he
was Immediately to be married and to re-
turn home with his bride. These multi
piled rumors did not seem to have any
marked effect on Alice, although some con-
jectured that she grew pale and thin, and
exhibited an unwonted air of sadness.
When, however, it was announced that
Stanley would arrive by the next steamer
and be at home on specified day, and
that orders had been received to have the
old family mansion in readiness to receive
him and his new wife, to the surprise of
all, Alice sent in her resignation of the
place she held in the choir, and gave up
her music class, while Mrs. Fortescue of
fered her place for sale, and in a few days
she and her daughter left town.
1t was Immediately surmised that the
return of Stanley with his bride had some
thing to do with this sudden removal, and
many well-meaning souls gravely shook
their heads as they spoke of Alice.
"Poor girl ~ they said, commiserating-
ly. 1t was very wrong for Stanley to show
her such marked attentions, but it was
very weak in her to build any hopes upon
them p
"She is served just right, the pro nd
mink v' said the more ill-natured "and
it is just punishment for her presumption" {"
A week or two after the Fortescues left,
and people had ceased to talk or think of
them, Stanley arrived home with his bride
There was larger gathering than usual
at the station when the train that bore the
newly-married couple came in. Many were
drawn thither, no doubt,to catch a glimpse
of the long-talked-of bride. Their curl
osity was, however, baffled, for the lady
was closely veiled and not feature could
be seen; but her graceful form, we'll set off
by neatly fitting travelling dress, excited
their highest admiration as her husband
handed her to the carriage in waiting.
The new bride was the prominent theme
of conversation among certain set. She
had kept so provokingly retired that no
one as yet had seen her. But it soon be-
came known that on certain evening Mrs.
Stanley would have a reception, and every
body was on the Qai 0iUe for an invitation.
The evening assigned for the party came,
and the Stanley mansion was early the
centre of attraction to gay and expectant
throng. Curiousity overcame even the pque
of Miss Dunbar or she was determined to
show to the world that she had not taken
to heart Stanley's detection, for she and
her inseparable friend, Miss Gates, were
among the earliest callers. s.s.t
When they entered the reception room
the throng was SO great that the bride was
completely hidden from them, and it was
not until almost the very moment of being
presented, that they caught full sight of
her. They could not prevent a start of as
tonishment as they beheld before them,
richly arrayed, with orange blossoms in her
hair, her face radiant with happiness and
beaming smiles of welcome, Mrs. Alice
Stanley, nee Fortescue % lan,
Miss Dunbar quickly recovered from her
embarrassment and went through the
usual formalities with much sang froid
but her companion was so completely as
tonished by g. the idea,Y that she could
not prevent one or two awkward move