The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-12-15

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greeting. Vehicles Of all descriptions were
to be seen vending their way to the
grounds Tables had been spread, booths
had been constructed, Maypole garland
ed with flowers had been erected. There
was to be dinner, poem, songs and dane
ing, and some one was to be crowned
Queen of the May
The farmers for miles around the coun-
try side had come with their wives and
little ones; the parson and the deacon, the
lawyer and the doctor were there there
was Steve, the blacksmith, his face washed
white for the occasion; Briggs, the land
lord of the Golden Swan,' with the pro-
verbal rotundity Tony, the shoemaker,
with his half dozen children out at the
toes as usual Uncle Billy Rodgers who
bad crossed the plains with Col. Carlton in
'46, and. as he said, was raised in the
same town and know'd all the Colonel's
kinsfolk.' Uncle Billy's talk always open
ed or closed with some allusion to his de-
parted friend.
Tom Brown, the stage driver, had taken
a day off to be present. With just the
proper amount of dash on to the grounds,
dressed in characteristic garb-Mexican
sOm'brerO, immaculate shirt, red sash, high
heeled, close fitting boots drawn over his
pantaloons. After slight excess of anx-
iety in the proper disposition of his team,
with the indescribable insoucSdnt air of his
calling, he lounged over to where mine host
of the Golden Swan was standing, gave
scarcely perceptible nod of recognition to
Uncle Billy and Tony, and remarked, pat
ronizingly
81 say, Briggs, what's all this yere talk
about the schoolmarm | don't see that
she's to blame she seems to be kind dis
positioned critter, and has alters done her
work well. AS fur me, I'm burned if l
don't think she's got good blood in her
thin in the nostril, wide between the eyes,
clean-limbed. You bet your life thar's
no mustang in her.
eyes, Tom," said Briggs, "but you
know women are women, and naturally
hate each other. If they catch one of their
own sex out alone, without a protector,
they all go for her-and this girl seems to
be in that fix just now"
"Oh, Tom !" with half defined side
motion of thehead, at the same time point
itg mysteriously at his pocket.
AS Tom would have said, " wink to a
blind man is sufficient" and the three
that is Briggs, Tom and the flask-went
quietly into the shadow of the trees.
Uncle Billy looked querulously after the
departing worthless, and said sadly to Tony,
4" the Colonel wouldn't "a done that"
The servants had erected the Carlton
tent but did not know if their mistress
would return in time to be present at the
festivities.
During the early part of the day, Fanny
sat alone, or wandered about the grounds
meeting cold looks and averted faces from
some; from others that peculiar recog
milton, so fraught with meaning. Again
and again she wished herself far away, anG
only remained, hoping by chance to NEE
Mrs. Carlton.
After the ceremonies had concluded, JUS
as she had determined to leave the grounds
and 60 across the fields to her own home
apparently by accident she happened upor
Tom Brown.
The stage-drive, who had never spoker
to Fanny, touched his hat-a remarkable
exhibition of politeness for him-and said
81 beg pardon, Miss Pm plain man
and can't say what want to, but if yor
should need anybody to speak a word fol
you, OR to take your part, Tom Brown
knows how to do it,"
Fanny comprehended the blunt sincerity
of the man, and, as she thanked him, The
tears which had been all the day in hel
eyes rolled down her checks.
From that moment Tom was her slave
He followed her at q respectful and unob
served distance for her sake he would
have charged and routed the whole camp
Many high-born lady has had less faith
ful and puissant knight.
The incident served to lift the load from
Fanny's heart. She wandered down by
the tiny lake, and for the moment was
happy. Near at hand several children
were at play, their parents and the elder
ones were elsewhere occupied, She heard
a splash, scream, and saw little Benny
struggling in the water. Springing for
ward with rare presence Of mind, she leap
ed upon rock, seized the child as he was
sinking, and brought him to the shore,
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