The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-05-26
CHAPTER IL.


The reader will now accompany me to
another house and we will enter lofty
apartment, fitted up for a library with q
severe simplicity, which betokened it the
retirement of student or professional
man. Massive bookcases lined the walls,
and upon the tables. and desks were ar
ranged with scrupulous care heaps of pa
pers and pamphlets.
The wind and rain beat against the closed
shutters, but the loosened curtains and
cheerful fire gave an air of comfort to the
room, which the sound of the storm with
out only heightened.
At a table in the centre of the room was
seated man engaged in writing. His pen
moved swiftly across the paper, but in spite
of his haste every character was formed
with the utmost precision, and rare deli
cacy almost equal to copper-plate. He
seemed hardly to have reached middle age,
and his face was of that type which scarce
ly changed for long years-indeed those
calm, cold features might have been a
mask, they betrayed so little of what pass
ed within his nature. A lofty, command
ing forehead, with heavy brows shading
the piercing eyes, which had great power
in their unwavering glance, and mouth
which revealed by the compressed lips the
indomitable will and resolution of his char
acter
He was man difficult to describe, more
difficult to understand, but as he is to take
quite prominent place in this story, 1
have tried to give the reader good idea of
his appearance. Whatever his past had
been there was no revealing in those fea-
lures
1t was late when he paused in his occu-
patton and laid down his pen. He sat for
time with his eyes fixed upon the closely
written pages, but his thoughts had evil
IDENTIFY wandered to some other theme. At
length he took up the papers, and folding
them carefully placed them in drawer Of
the table. AS he raised his eyes, they fell
upon small box of some ign-loolSing
wood curiously wrought in an antique
pattern, and with half smile, which gave
his face an almost sinister expression, he
drew it toward him. lie pressed his finger
upon secret spring, and the lid flew open
with q quick sound, giving to view several
packages of old letters and pile of manu-
script, written in hurried, impetuous
hand very unlike the writing which he
had just put away With the same un-
pleasant smile he turned over the pages
for moment, then restored them to their
place.
can very WE'LL" he said, in an under
tone.
He closed the lid, took up the box and
crossed the room to an old cabinet in
which he placed the casket.
cit is better there" he added, locking
the cabinet and taking out the key, "we
have no use for it now-lie quiet, little
fellow p
AS he turned away there was knock at
the door, and before he could speak it
opened suddenlyand a young man entered,
exclaiming,
g beg your pardon-the servant told me
he thought you were not in, and had bet
ter wait for you here"
81 am very happy to see you at all
times" he replied, taking the youths ex-
tended hand.
"But rather surprised to see me just
now, Mr.. James"
" You know am never surprised at any
thing, but it certainly is an unexpected
pleasure"
81 was not well, aad obtained permission
to leave college for week or so-naturally
my first visit was to you"
"Your indisposition is nothing serious,
hope"
"oh, no, am tired, that's ALA little
rest will set me up again"
Mr.. James courteously motioned him to
seat by the fire, and resumed the chair
he had left just before the entrance of his
visitor. The boy-for be seemed little else
threw himself into the seat, brushing his