The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-06-03
Gbe Gimes, Nep Bloomfelo, 1pa.


as the village was called, she felt o metro
politan excitement; there was zest in
church-going and singing school; and a
stray lecture, or dance, was lust absolute
satisfaction. Young Martin had always
known her, or thought so, till she burst in
upon all his awakened senses one night at
the singing.school; bnt he had never ad-
dressed word to her. She knew him
quite as well, and had never bestowed a
thought upon him,-but many laugh,
and alas did he but know, she was now
laughing at him. Edgar Willis was with
her, and he was making himself witty at
young Martins expense. The house stood
in the angle of two streets; there was
yard in front, with picket fence round it.
The side street was dark, crooked road,
with houses scattered along it, and ending
in broad field which had that very after
noon been the scenes of the performance of
a travelling circus, attended by Matilda.
The wagons were now loading, and from
time to time one of them thundered by,
and turning the sharp corner by old Mar
tins house, passed through the main street
fronting the harbor, and so out of the vii
lage. There had been some fighting among
the men, and much savage swearing over
the heavy loading of the wagons, till the
proprietor, who happened to be partially
intoxicated, lost patience. He struck with
his whip at one of the drivers, who instant
ly jumped into his seat, and swearing he
would take no more on, lashed his horses
into gallop along the road The pro-
prietor sprang into his buggy; and dashed
after him, with the intention of stopping
his wagon. Martin heard the noise, opened
his window, and ran down stairs. As
short as the distance was between the door
and the gate of the little yard, he never
forgot the scene. The harbor below the
street lay white in moonlight, it's silver
sheet unruffied by a single breeze. A wag-
on lurched round the corner, and rolled by /.
He heard scream, and saw figure flying
over the fence,-safe nside,-Edgar Will
lis,-then he saw buggy swaying toward
him, and toward Matilda; he cried out in
terror, seized her in his arms and almost
threw her over the fence toward Edgar.
Then he picked up the proprietor who was
thrown out, but not nearly 80 much injured
as his carriage aud horse were. Amy came
to the door in perturbation, and begged
everybody to come right in, while old Mar
tin, hardly awake to the state of things,
murmured that he guessed New London
would have something to answer for arter
this. Edgar Willis declined muttered
something about attending to the proprie-
tor, and, glad to be intimate with cele-
brated man, offered him his services. Ma
tilda, wondering whether young Martin
had observed his cowardice, could not help
altering proverb for his benefit. "I
have heard" she said, "about people
laughing on the wrong side of their mouth,
and now / am going to laugh on the right
SIDE Of the fence"
:" thought the wagon fellow did not see
us, and sprang over without knowing it
hardly Matilda. / could have helped you;
but, good gracious, you never could have
expected me to lift your weight over the
fence. / am not a blacksmith"
That speech killed all the riches and
family position of the Willis family forever
with Matilda. She turned to Amy, young
Martin still standing beside her in silence,
and, as Edgar WILLS walked slowly down
the street, said, 81 will go in, Mrs. Pell,
for few minutes. l think your son must
be used up, trying to put me over the
fence. You did it like lightning" turning
her face toward him.
you see, my son strikes when the iron
is hot" said old Martin. "He did SO
when he was in New London" Young
Martin put his hand on his fathers shoul-
der the gesture was enough,-old Martin
was mum from that moment.
Mother" asked young Martin, can't
you give Miss Northwood some refresh
ment?p
"oh, am SO put by What will you
have-a cup of tea?"
Nothing in the world, thank you. Do
you suppose that my brother William will
hear anything from Mr.. Willis, and bring
the wagon for me? l expected to meet
him at Mrs. Miller's about this time.
Martin might go around with you,''
said Amy / am afraid your folks way
down on the Neck will worry if you are
late. l should worry, ifI had such darter
out all alone" The sharp old woman
looked at young Martin, and he knew that
then and there she had OWNED his hopeless
secret Matilda, also, intercepted these