The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-12-16

| oO NioBAaSC0 hOtooiAs duu tuB udukDboTS, 10
general rule, secretly wished they had
Miss Grainger's chance, for Fred Seymour
was decidedly beau in Myrtlevilie, and
his mother was known to have property
from her late husband that would make
the young man independent, when in the
course of nature, it reverted to him. He
was engaged ON one of the daily evening
papers of the great metropolis, and con-
sidered talented and upright, man who
in time would make a name and position of
honor. His attention to Susy Belknap,
though the fact of their engagement had
not yet been published had been too mark
ed to escape the notice of eyes SO prying as
those possessed by the good people of
Myrtleville, and his Inconsistency was a
matter of marvel, as Susie was maiden
whom any man might have been proud to
win.
When the four o'clock train came in,
Mr.. Granger, little, nervous man, all
excitability, was amazed at the sympa-
thizing faces that greeted him on the plat
foim. A chill like death seized his heart.
For years his wife had been an invalid,
suffering from spine complaint. Had she
died while he was away? White as sheet
he turned to friend standing near, say
ing
"why do you look so at meP What is
the matter at home?"
"My poor friend, have you heard moth
ing P"
GA choking sensation came over the
loving husband, but he struggled against
it, saying:
"Quick, tell me Is it Mary?"
"No. Mrs. Granger is as well as usual
believe but there is very sad story to
break to you regarding your daughter"
Wrath took the place of terror.
"My daughter r' cried the little man
furiously. "Who dares to carry stories
about my daughter P'
"Well-you-see," stammered his friend
"the women folks say she eloped this
morning with Fred Seymour"
Erred Seymour! Why, he's head over
ears in love with Susy Belknap. My Belle !
Why, she has been engaged for two years
to Lieut. Weston of the navy, though we
did not publish the fact for the benefit OF
all the tattlers in Myrtleville :"
&C. am afraid, was the reply, that it was
the fact of these engagements that drove
them to secrecy and elopement."
81 tell you the whole story is false |"
roared the excited father "I'll make
ii
My Belle, indeed I! They must be crazy"
But on his way home. Mr.. Granger
met the report in so many places, heard it
in such plausible versions, that he entered
his wife's room with very grave face,
from which all angry excitement had van
ished.
"Where is Belle, Mary ?" he asked.
"She went to New York this morning to
do some shopping. She will stay at her
Aunt Maria's tonight"
"Did young Seymour 60 up on the same
train?"
"I suppose so. He usually goes at
eight, and that was the train that Belle
took"
Mr.. Granger was on the point Of telling
his wife the whole story, but on second
thought he restrained the impulse. Sure
in his own fatherly confidence in his gen.
tie, modest child, that there was some
mistake admitting of explanation, he said
nothing. After all it was subject of
congratulation that none of the busy-body-
les of Myrtleville had invaded the sick
room, and he easily made some trivial ex-
cuse for going out again. He was deter
mined to sift the gossip thoroughly before
alarming the invalid, and his first visit was
to the telegraph Office at the railway
station.
"Is Belle at your house ?" flashed over
the wires, and was carried to handsome
, house in the city.
"Yes. WIN be down ON the next
train" was the answer; for poor Belle
imagined there was death or frightful ILL
: ness to cause her fathers message, when
visit to her aunt's was such common
occurrence.
Satisfied on this point, Mr.. Granger
quietly waited until the train came in,
walked up Main street with his daughter
on his arm, left her at home, and started
! out to defy all Myrtleville.
l From house to house he travelled with
exemplary patience, and followed the snake
like coils of the story, till he faced Mrs.
! Sawyer, who earnestly assured him:
"Mrs. Seymour and Mrs. Kitely were in
the sitting-room as came in the back way