The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-10-20

emplified in the person Of our young he
roine. Therefore he had no unwillingness
to second the advances of Mrs. Cripps, and
he did it with tact that gratifled Clara,
by assuring her that he placed her attrac-
tions quite apart from the old lady's ma
n@uverings. Then, when, afterward, he
found, by reading the most expressive of
fair faces, that he was understood and APP
preciated, and when his delicate humor
was rewarded by the sweetest laugh that
had ever RUG in his ears, he began to ap-
prehend that it was all over with him.
And Clara, 1t was strangely unaccountable
to her how she had missed discovering at
the very first, how handsome he was, and
she often, by way of extenuation, repeated
to herself that she had done justice to his
eyes. As to his conversation, she could not
pretend to do it justice she regretted he
did not talk more, but what he did say she
considered all the more striking for being
so condensed, and the manner Of it-that
was irresistible; she wondered whether
Ella, the paragon on her imagination hith-
erto, could have been at all comparable in
play of fancy, in droll humor, in quiet,
simple, natural witness, to the charming
Mr.. Page. But she kept all this to her
self.
Aunt Cripps soon grew impatient, and
began to talk about going home, especially
in the presence of Mr. Page, and to Clara
she became more and more urgent in her
charge to "hurry, hurry, and make good
use of her time" which charge was now
heard with bushes instead Of smiles.-
Though Clara had always insisted upon
her matronly supervision over her rambles
with Mr.. Page, the old lady showed an in
creasing proneness to lettering behind,
hurrying ahead, and diverging to opposite
directions, and one day near the termina-
tion of the period to which she had actually
limited her sojourn, after inveigling them
to shaded bench between two sycamores,
with tall screen of young locusts separa-
ting them from all other loungers, she en-
tirely disappeared. The twoI had ventured
upon the perilous undertaking of analyzing
each others characters, and Clara wound
up an eloquent disquisition by remarking
laughingly that there were times when she
had observed her companion to assume an
air and an expression of countenance,
which made him look as if he possessed
not an ounce either of sense or spirit. 81
have more than once suspected that the
manner was put on voluntarily" added
she, "and would think so still, if could
see any possible reason for your doing it."
Mr.. Page merely smiled, and then, ap-
preaching her more closely, he said, color
ing and stammering, "I learn from your
aunt that you will leave this in day or
two, and have been anxiously waiting for
an opportunity like the present to express
myself on a subject nearly connected with
my happiness. Yet now that have it, I
cannot summon words for my purpose. l
believe am a fool in reality p' and then he
stopped until Clara had tied six Or seven
knots in her bonnet strings.
"Never mind that, Mr.. Page % inter-
posed Aunt Cripps, appearing from the
further side of the thicket, where she had
stopped, unable to resist her desire to
listen to the result of her stratagem
"Clara and won't think any the less of
you for being little foolish. If you wish
to pop the question, just go on, and don't
mind me-pm used to such things"
"Oh, aunt !" faltered Clara, growing
pale, and leaning her face in her hands.
"Miss Burney," said Mr.. Page, earnest
lH 81 have given you the entire devotion
of my heart-will you allow me to offel my
hand also?"
"Clara, say yes" whispered Mrs. Cnpps,
peremptorily "don't be ashamed who'd
have thought you such baby !-if you
don't say yes, I'll take Mr.. Page myself
and frowning with severity she had never
before shown to Clara in her life, she
flounced away. Clara had not seen the
frown, but she had heard the threat,
which appeared to her so supremely lu-
dicrous, even beyond the usual devices of
her aunt's. imagination, that in spite Of |
her modification, she burst into an ire
pressible fitof laughter.
Z" am glad to see you laugh, dear Miss
Burney-that is, if you are not laughing at |
me"--said Mr.. Page cit seems to be an
assurance that you will listeH to me, with
good humOr, at leastn
"That you may begin fairly" returned
Clara, 81 give you permission to withdraw
your proposal"
"Do you wish me to do SO ?" asked Mr..