The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-04-08

and George flew about and made hasty
toilet. Left alone, Cecil sat weeping for
some moments, and then the passion spent
itself, but left an aching pain behind. She
tried to busy herself with book, but her
thoughts wandered so much that at last,
with an impatient gesture she laid it aside.
AS she did so, the book struck something
that fell to the ground with rattling
noise. With an exclamation of dismay
Cecil stopped to pick up the locket, set in
diamonds, which George generally wore,
and, as she took it in her hand, looking to
see lift were injured, she saw that it had
flown open; and involuntarily, without
thinking what she did, she glanced at the
picture. Fatal curiosity for, smiling up
at her, with the frank loving eyes of old,
was the face of Percie Lennox Cecil did
not faint or scream, but she closed the
spring, laid down the locket, and walked
out of the room as if she had been half
stunned.
After this incident Il strange change
came over Cecil. George and she were
much together; she could not but love the
friend whose keen wit and ready tongue
often stood between her and much un-
pleasantness. But Cecil grew paler as the
days went on, and began to have hacking
cough that troubled George, and made her
glad that tho school holidays were APP
preaching
Coming along the hall one evening,
George encountered Cecil, and stopped
her by throwing her arm around her waist.
"Where do you think I've been to-day"
said she, in whisper, for the girls were
constantly passing, and she did not want
them to hear. "At the Maxwells, and
there l met your mother. Cecil don't
dare begin with 'no,' but have lovely
plan, to which your mother consents; to
take you back with me to Boston for the
holidays"
go, how kind Dear George, I should
love to go, but" A sly catlike football
checked the words on CeciPs lips as Miss
Hatherton passed them.
" Whispering in the halls, as you cannot
be in each others rooms Breaking my
rules, Miss Evelyn" The voice was even
more insolent than the words.
'"This is too much," said George, angri-
ly, "but it's my battle, Cecil, SO don't
trouble yourself about it." And having
stayed long enough to get a faint assent to
her invitation, George walked straight
down to that lady's room.
Miss Hathcrton," said she calmly,
" L came down to ask you what you meant
by your very extraordinary remark just
now"
"My rules are that there shall be no
talking in the halls, and my duty towards
my houseful of children obliges me to as
sert that they shall be obeyed," snapped
out the answer.
"What martyr you are to duty, Miss
Hatherton It's really quite study with
you, is it not? But, allow me to remind
you that l am in no way under your rules,
having nothing to do with your school,
your scholars, or even your duty towards
them regret to have any unpleasant
words with you, but l really cannot permit
you to call me to account in this way"
"And Miss Dare, your charming toady.'
Miss Dare is lady," said George, be
trayed into a naughty emphasis of the
word, "and do not intend to bring hei
name into this matter. beg your pardon
for interrupting you, Miss Hatherton, bu
having always been accustomed to exercise
my own judgment in my choice of friends
decline any interference in this instance.
A moments pause, during which Mis-
Hatherton eyed her with concentrated
venum then smile broke over Georgia
face. "We will not quarrel" she said
: calmly. "You perceive that you made
mistake, and Of course shall thinks nj
more about It. And if you come to Boston
t as you say you think of doing before NeV
: Years, am sure that you are too kind
hearted not to be glad to see Miss Dare Ell
, joying himself with me in Beacon Street.
Artful little George Enraged or moi
b what soas the poor baffied griffin to do ex
cept swallow the unwelcome intelligenc
: with semblance Of amiability, if sh
+ hoped forany future attention from til
house of Evelyn?
d Two weeks after, when George las sh
!, gleefully expressed it) had ."shaken th
+. dust Of the Hatherton mansion" off III
o little feet, Cecil and she arrived in Bostor
v late one afternoon.
r Mamma returned, Holmes" ?" asked sh