The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-07-29
Gbe Ginres, Mem BLOOMFIELD, 1Da.


upon endeavoreci to obtain clearer in
'igpt into the la dy's character. It was in
'ne pursuance Of this subject that he in
Irouuced tne discussion recorded in our
hrst cnapte r. He was not altogether pleas
eo WIN 40 result of his experiment, leav-
ing, as it did, the lady in a most unfavor-
able III kht The mushroom taint was too
oovio Jus to escape his notice, and his esti-
MAJ ion of the lady was in consequence
gr eatly lowered. He began to wonder at
nc infatuation which had exalted her
above all others of her sex and when a
young man begins to indulge in such re-
fiections on the object Of his passions, be
sure the prog ress of disenchantment is in
rapid progress.
We left our ladies on the way to church,
where they arrived just as the services
commenced. Before they were fairly set
tied in their seats, an unpleasant nudge
from Miss Gates, and the whispered re-
mark, 81 declare if there is not Mr. STAN
leyRin his pew-the idea p brought a
slight flush to her companions cheek.
Whether the nudge OF the discovery had
the most to do with the heightened color,
Miss Dunbar alone could say.
We are sorely afraid that the lady in
question was in any but devotional frame
of mind during the exercises of the even
ing, for she could not but observe how
completely absorbed the gentleman appear
ed during each performance of the new
singer. This, however, should not have
caused the lady uneasiness, for nearly the
entire congregation evinced the same rapt
attention as her liquid sympathetic notes
were heard in the beautiful vesper service.
Sitting where he commanded view of
the choir, Frederic Stanly might well be
pardoned the steadfast a6miring glances
bestowed upon the fair singer Very beau
tiful was Alice at all times, but when in
the act of singing, a divine beauty rested
upon her countenance. Many vocalists
nearly destroy the effect of their music, if
seen, by their facial contortions while
singing. 1t was not so with Alice. Dur
ing her performances each feature was
moulded in perfect grace while her face
was illuminated with an almost an
gelic beauty. Couple with this her match
less voice and execution, and what marvel
was it that Frederic Stanley, keenly sus-
ceptible of the beautiful, and passionate
lover of music, should be SO "carried away
with her." as Miss Gates would express it !?
AT the close of the services passing
shower caused the ladies to hudde in the
yestibule of the church, with dismal antici-
patton of ruined bonnets and dresses. By
good luck Stanley found stray umbrella
in his pew. Securing the prize he hastened
to the crowded porch. Miss Dunbar and
her friend saw him making his way in their
direction, and, confident that the umbrella
was intended for them, they began to gath
er up their skirts to protect them from the
wet. To their great disappointment he
passed within a..short distance of them with
out sign of recognition, and they had the
modification of seeing him go towards
Alice, who at that moment descended from
the choir, and of hearing him say:
Z" 1t is raining, Miss Fortescue will you
not accept the protection of my umbrella?"
The reader will imagine the feelings of
Miss Dunbar, as she watched the couple
thread their way through the crowd and at
last disappear from the doorway. AS for
Miss Gates, in her indignant astonishment
she could only utter, which she did most
emphatically
"The idea p
The reflections Of Miss Dunbar on ar
irving home that night, were, as may be
supposed, far from agreeable. The feel
ings which agitated her were not those of
wounded love; nor was it, in the strictest
sense, jealousy that rankled in her bosom
it was simply modification, with no small
admixture of anger.
Her pride was touched-probed to the
quick She felt that she had been subject
to double slight. In neglecting to make
his usual evening call, and going to church
in stead, for what purpose he best knew,
was Mr.. Stanley's first slight But the leav-
ing her in the church, to find her way home
through the rain as best she could, and
"going off with the sewing -girl"-this was
the crowning offence which awoke her
righteous indignation.
We have said she had no feelings of
wounded love. Miss Dunbar was woman
incapable of strong affection. She was by
nature cold and unimpassioned. Although
che had spared no effort to secure the re-
CARDS of Stanley, it was not love that
prompted her. In looking forward to tbr