The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-06-02

relieve him--he deserved half an hour Of
misery. t
Eleanor came to meet us as her father
opened the door, a girl who might have
sat for Tennyson's Isabel;
A"The world hath not another
OF such a finished, chastened purity"
My first feeling, as l stepped across the
threshold where another woman had ruled
before me, was very meek one II that
woman had resembled her daughter, how
could her husband find anything to admire
in me?
"My darling Eleanor" said Mr. Eu-
STAGE, and paused. 1t is amazing how
affectionate people become when in dis
tress.
"My dearest girl, this is"
"Mrs. Eustace, believe" said Eleanor,
holding out her hand to me with faint
sweet smile. "Shall you like to go to your
room first ?''
followed her upstairs, leaving a very
dazed-lookipg husband in the hall below.
In all the appointments of the room l saw
the delcacy of Eleanor's taste. "You
have been too good" l said, taking up
vase of tea-roses to hide my embarrass-
ment
"Not at all. You will be my guest you
know, until you can guide the house for
yourself"
81 will be anything, if you will not look
so terribly resigned. You may scold me
every day for marrying your father, if only
you will like me little at last"
was in quite little flush of emotion,
but the inefTable calmness of her manner,
as if she had reduced everything to its low
est terms and left not q superlative in the
world, steadied me in moment.
81 think shall like you very well," she
remarked as she left me. When Mr.. Eu-
STAGE came upstairs, he was very happy.
"Don't you see, Lizzie" he said, show
much better it was to let the thing come
to pass naturally than for me to have a
scene with Eleanor beforehand She had
probably heard of the marriage from out
side people"
81 suppose So" l said, allowing Mr..
Eustace to plume himself on his delusion
since it amused me and did not hurt him.
Eleanor not only submitted to me, as to
necessary evil, but to the seven other
spirits worse than myself, in the shape OF
my brothers and sisters, who overran the
house like an inundation, carrying all be-
fore it.
1t never entered their honest heads that
they could be otherwise than heartily well
come.
They fraternized at once with Hugh
Eustace, and, by dint Of sheer good nature
and stupidity, they sometimes made a
breach in Eleanor's reserve.
They dragged Haviland in their train
at last, to see the oldest girl in the world,
"You will not like her." 1 said "she is
not all your sort, but will not have you
tease her."
Glow can you tell what is my sort
Because you are lately married, you need
not take it upon you to know all men by
these presents"
Eleanor is very silent. You must moi
expect her to talk to you.'
"Does she never say YesP with an in.
terrogation mark after ftp"
Never"
"Then take me to her quickly, lest be
snatched away before mine eyes have look
ed upon this miracle of women"
Hayiland's manner was as perfectly sub.
jugated by the yoke of. Eleanor's serene
quietness as l could desire.
When we "speeredp at him for his opin.
ion he professed to be disappointed but he
came every day, with an excuse or without
one, and studied her with the eye of al
artist. A faint little flush sometimes rose
to her cheek when she met his gaze. HI
was with us one day when my sister Annie
suddenly laid hands on Eleanor's hair, ant
with a dexterous turn or two, laid 1t il
loose waves about her head. 1t was always
Madonna-wise' before.
"You have no dea," said Annie, "hov
, lovely you look when your hair is loosenec
up this way-more fluffy, you know
| Isn't it so Haviland?"
/ Excuse me-" said Eleanor" drawing
herself gently but completely away from
Annie "It is weakness of mine that
cannot endure to be handled in that wa,
except"
: Except what?" said Annie, bewil
s dered.
: Except by those whom 1 love YER
+ much"