The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-01


it is better now," and, humming an air
lightly, she left the room, and proceeded
to her chamber. Her face had grown
deadly pale. A marble smoothness and
polish rested on the brow, and the eyes
were CLASSY. The rigid outlines of the lip
and chin told of some resolute determine
tion, fraught with evil. She passed on to
her toilet table, took therefrom a small
vial, gasped as she gazed, and whispering,
" Better this than utter ruin, closed her
eyes, and dreined its contents.
The day of the trial dawned without
cloud Mrs. Johns and myself went early
to the Jail, in the hope of imparting some
degree of strength and comfort to the
gentle Alice. We found her standing
dreamily, with clasped hands, and lips
from which every vestige of color had fled.
She turned away as we entered, and lifted
both hands to her forehead.
81 shall certainly die before the trial
begins" she said, looking wanly at my
friend. "You cannot think how strange
ly l feel"
Courage, my dear girl don't give up
yet-I-" The words failed, the voice
broke down, and there was silent weeping
and breaking heart in that gloomy Jail
room. l was leaning on the window-sill,
full of anguish, when l heard the voice of
prayer l turned; Mrs. Johns was on her
knees, lifting her folded hands and stream
ing eyes to heaven. "Oh thou God of
the orphan" she supplicated--"T Thou who
hast promised to be a father to the father
less, bend down thine ear to our cry. Look
on this afflicted one, thou mighty Cod
strengthen her to bear the great trial now
before her or if it be thy will, interpose
thy mighty arm to save her from this ter
rible sorrow"
There was a noise without, confusion Of
voices My friend arose from her posture
of prayer, and placed her arm about the
slight figure of the sinking girl. A key
turned in the lock, the door flew open, and
De Witt Dalston, with one bound, caught
his betrothed to his bosom, shouting,
"Saved saved My precious bride-oh
thank God thank God Good heavens
have killed herr he cried, in the same
breath, for she had tainted in his arms.
"Let me attend to hcr-she is overcome
with joy was looking for this deliver
ance !" murmured my friend, applying re-
storatives to the passive form. GAS soon
as she revives we will take her over to my
house, and you shall tell us how it has
happened"
AS Belle Westerly lay senseless on the
floor, two of her fashionable friends called.
Her waiting-maid, receiving their cards,
hurried up to call her mistress. The door
was ajar--the form of Belle was just dis
cernible from without. "Has she fallen
asleep ~ thought the girl. Entering, she
went toward her her face was pallid, her
hair dishevelled, her arms flung over her
head. The fearful shrek rang out on the
air" Miss Belle is dead ~ Medical aid
was summoned, and, after few hours of
fearful suspense, animation was restored.
Fever and delirium ensued, and then
season of prostration that threatened her
life. AS soon as she could command her
reason, the guilty girl prayed to make
restitution, but her mother, more naughty
and heartless even than herself, mock
ed at her entreaties, and commanded her
to keep silence.
Night and morning was she watched that
she might not bring disgrace on the fami-
ly. But one day, as she appeared to sleep,
she overheard a soft voice asking the doc
tor if he thought she would recover, and,
in low, but decided tone, he answered,
"No."
"Doctor-doctor-o help me to do
one good thing before I die" she cried.
"The hollow, unearthly voice brought
the wondering physician to her bedside
it is too late to prevent her now. She saw
the full horror of her coming doom if she
died as she was, and, clinging to his grasp,
she exclaimed, hurriedly:
"My cousin Alice is innocent 1t was /
who put the jewels in her trunk, and the
money too. God be merciful to me ~
Let me draw veil over the touching in
terviews that followed--the burning tears
of remorse and penitence = the purely
worldly agony of the mother that the truth
must be made public the forgiveness of
De Witt DalstOn, the fearful meeting of
Bell and her oousin--the one stricken to
the tomb through the wantonness of her
own sin, the other blanched and trembling,
agonizing in her innocent heart for the
suffering and the dying, yet thanking God
that He had appeared for her deliveTanee,
Not many days after, coffin stood in the