The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-11-17

al declare, doctor, the more l think OF
it, the more amusing It seems. 1t is very
wicked, no doubt, but then the case is a
hard one"
"And demands heroic remedies" 81.
Precisely. Now the next step is to get
up good lover. shall not expect much.
Any straw man that's convenient will an
swer. Do you know of one, doctor--a
good one ? He must be nice, and all that,
or couldn't endure It,"
"Well-no--I cannot think of one just
now. There are none living near that are
available"
"Doctor, have an idea"
"How startling Bring it forth that !
may admire it."
!" You be the lover"
Gan right, I'm willing"
"Then we're engaged"
Yes--for the present." f
"In fun, you know"
"oh, of course. Till Sam gets married,
or you wish to break it.p e
"Where's the ringP"
/
suppose that will answer to cover our
little arrangement"
How splendid of you, doctor" 80
"Now you must go. Old Mrs. Davis is
coming with her neuralgia. Shall I tell
her?p
"Tell her whatP
"Of the engagement"
"Yes. Just hint it, and before night
the town will know it," u
And they did. How they snatched up
the stray morsel of gossip and stirred it
into their tea and their sugar. Fortunate
circumstances 1t soured on their stom-
achs--the news, not the tea. Even the
sugar and good Bohea did not save them
from expressing with beautiful freedom
just what they thought about it.
"Such an old goose to be taken in by
that designing Sally Depford The mink
The little contriving, artful-"
Such language. 1t is not pretty. His
tory like this cannot stoop to report all that
was said concerning the last new engage
ment. As for Sam Barrett, he faded beau
tifully away, and actually disappeared
He suddenly found tip-top chance for
business, you know in New York. Ought
to go right on and fix it up. y.,ts sil.
His parting with Sally was not particu-
larly affecting. She wouldn't allow it,
That curious, antique, diamond ring Hash
ed in his astonished eyes, and his affection
melted softly away into nothing, like the
cloud Of white steam under which he es-
capped in the 3:40 p. IN. express. The whis-
tie echoed among the Wauchusetta bills,
and the gentle Sally heard it without a
sigh. fodlii yt.y .yasqlao5 sdl 800 81.
Some of the other girls could hardly for
give her for driving away the only availa-
Bile young man in the place, but they sooth-
ed their larcerated feelings with the sweet
hope, that as the summer vacation was
near at hand, new importation of city
visitors from Boston, and New York might
make it gay again, and spread wide once
more the matrimonial horizon. u ..sie
The suddenness and complete success Of
the victory rather surprised the victor.---
She had succeeded beyond expectations.
Now that it was all over she would return
the ring, and-4-well, no, perhaps she might
keep it one more nightaa Cousin Mary
Depford was coming to spend the night,
and il would be rather amusing to wear
the ring a little longer, and let her into the
secret. She would return the ring in the
morning. al palt yfe3 g1l b
Pleased with this unspoken plan, she
set the ring firmer on her finger, and pre-
pared to receive her company. sog
Cousin Mary Depford was charmed with
the ring, and was profuse in her congratu.
lations. tie3s3l ~ n58oI5 F 40
i &" It'sall joke, you know, DEAR" ~
IA jokeg % ia1 la54d a'
iTfKes, dear, a little-well-game, II ]
Cousin Mary was properly shocked. In
the retirement of their own room, she ex-
pressed her mind fully, and declared she
would not wear the ring another moment.
1t was pretence and shame TO do such
thing. tes aoi XXI.
Sally was startled, and plead the dread
ful necessity Of the case, 8sa. .so-
"He was such a bore, you know, and
really---what could do? ltwRs all in fun.
There's nothing serious. I mean TO re-
turn the ring to-morrow." f.sr. !.
81 wouldn't wear it another minute, IL
were you, Sally ,Depford." ta. VI. s,.s.
sally laughed and still retained the ring.
She would retarn 1t Tomorrow. She wonld