The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-06-03

1no company was marching round the hall,
she came with her partner close to the side
OF the platform, and stood for a moment
near him. He heard her say that she was
tired, and warm, and didn't think il was SO
very pleasant af ter all. Martin felt so
comforted that great gulp came in his
throat, so loud that the Flute looked up
and asked if that ere offclide wasn't pull
ing him down. r 71st i.a.-t
"shut up, you fool" answered Martin.
cor I'll pitch you headlong into the middle
of the next dance"
Matilda heard this, and she felt better.
too. She admired pluck, and every time
she came near this little fellow he gave her
an instance of it.
The second party young Martin joined
as dancer. Nobody knew where he had
learned to dance at all but no man went
through his PAGES with more grace.
I" He learned on the anvil, and old
Martin made him dance on the hot iron, |
suppose" sneered Edgar Willis 9f
"Down in New London, maybe.r laugh
ed another.
81 wish," said Matilda Northwood to
Edgar Willis, "that Martin Pell heard
your speech but there is no fence for you
here.'
Well, Tilly, if you are going to keep
on Furnishing me must bear it fellow
can't always control his nerves" he an
swered. "Your preserver is close by, l
see going to take him out P"
Matilda was stung. Martin kept aloof,
and she understood that the advance must
come from her. Martin was on the alert,
and at motion from her, he was bowing,
and asking her for the next set. It was an
ordeal for him. Matilda was at the head
of the hall, above the salt which divided
those "who worked for their living" and
those who had money enough to live with
out actual labor. The male and female
ancestors of every person in Tacktown was
laborer or tradesmen OF some sort but
there was not common sence enough for
anybody to blow those airs away, till Ma
tilda and young Martin did that night.
Where shall we take our place ?" asked
Martin, very pale, and his lips shut so
tight, and his eyes SO determined, that
Matilda's heart beat with pleasure. She
knew that he could be tested.
"At the head of the first set.''
There they stood the first couple on the
floor-all eyes upon them. Matilda kept
her face toward him, and smiled resolutely.
Her spirit passed into his. He grep. She
xya Huftaripo ba, 70 =, oo,oIo.sI,,
"Let me fan you," he said, and took it
from her, and no polite dandy could have
fiirted it with more grace than our young
Martin twirled it first before her face, and
then bestowed Whit ON his OWN
"Well, l ~ gasp the lookers-ou.
"Should think his face would bum Just
like Matilda Northwood to amuse herself
so."
But Edgar Willis did not agree to this
and he felt she was in earnest. They were
all aware Matilda and Martin, that they
were the ojects of criticism. AS the sets
slowly formed they ventured to look into
each others eyes. Martins face flushed
and he did not feel quite SO self-possessed.
Matilda went pale, but each knew that the
look exchanged happiness. She wore a
pretty bracelet.
" How would you like to have me forge
you one ?" he asked, and she twisted IL
around her wrist
"I will wear it," she answered
"What if it be of iron, and l could give
you ornaments of no other sort ?''
GAN the same'
"Oh, Matilda, be careful, I can bear but
little"
She took the fan and somehow their
hands touched.
"Not from me, Martin l might ask you
to bear great deal from me.''
The tender accent of her voice was nm
mistakable. She kept her face concealed
from the crowd with her fan and handker-
CHIEF, and Martin stood very near her, al
most face to face in fact, they were as
much alone as if they were in the wilder
ness which blossoms as the rose. The
heart alone knows how to discover that
matchless solitude where love is first re-
vealed. Again he began, and so did the
violins and flutes.
1.-The other day when went over 10
Begham for this suit of party clothes,
made resolution. l put something in
this vest pocket, and determined that if
ever you would dance with me, l would
offer it to you, and that if you refused me,
would never wear the suit, nor dance
again"