The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-03-03

all summer, Y said Lucy.
son, l hope not, indeed p exclaimed
Belinda. sits too bad for even to-day,
for they need us on that new anthem"
Everybody but us is out to-day, and
they all seem to be going to our church,
too"
"There's Mr.. May, and see, he's got on
anew suit.'
For that gentleman, hearing the rumors,
and knowing well enough how they start
ed, took no pains to contradict them, but
rather helped them along by buying new
suit of clothes on Saturday. Black dress
coat, lilac vest and gloves, drab pants and
hat. He passed the slow paced Freeman
family at the church steps, and entering
the fast filing room, took a seat near the
door, apparently unconscious of the scru-
tiny that rested upon him. Many curious
glances went to Belinda's usual seat in the
gallery, but the general opinion was that
she would appear just in time for the cere-
mony.
The entrance of the Freeman's put an
end to all doubts in any minds, as well as
to sobriety in most. Little children gig
gled outright, the older ones Uttered, and
even the most sober minded found it hard
to repress smile. The church filed up
rapidly, pews all full and crowded, and
still they came. The somewhat prosy par
son looked at the gathering multitude in
quiet surprise, not having heard the flying
rumors, and not knowing what pow
er of his had brought the people. Truth
compels me to state that he hardly receiv-
ed his share of attention from the audience
however, Mr.. May and grandma Freeman
dividing it about equal. l grieve to add
that at the other church the minister al
most literally preached, that morning, to
bare walls and empty pews, only few
of the staid fathers and mothers of Israel
appearing in their places. But the minis
ter with the small audience was the favor
ed one, after all, for the large audience
fdgeted uneasiy all through the services,
especially when prayer followed sermon,
hymn followed prayer, benediction follow
ed hymn, and still no hint came of the
wedding ceremony. Slowly the audience
filed out, looking extremely blank and
puzzled.
What does this mean, May P' asked
one young man of our hero, as he stood
coldly on the steps.
Sold ~ replied May, briefly, leisurely
taking his way homeward.
The words flew from lip to lip "We're
all sold," and one after another looked, and
probably felt cheap; perhaps made the
wise resolution, then and there, never
again to put faith in flying rumors.
Grandma Freeman looked around in
dazed sort of way, as the people scat
tered.
"Wheres the weddin'P' she squealed
to her son. He looked blank.
"Where's the weddin' ?" she repeated
in higher key. "Belinda and Mr.. May
was going to be married, you know" He
shook his head in surprise, and all at once
it seemed to burst ON her that she had been
deceived.
He lied to me, he did, the miserable
| lyin' critter ~ she burst forth in a flutter
of excitement. In vain they tried to still
her, for the vials of her wrath were un-
way homo.
"The good people Of this town have
learned one lesson to-day, besides what
they have heard in the sermons if I'm not
mistaken" remarked Mr.. May to Belinda,
as he walked home with her that night,
after the evening service.
"Why, yes" she replied, "I think they
may have learned one if they will only
profit by it. 1t isn't safe to believe all We
hear"
:" 1t has made good deal of sport to
see how easily people have been sold in
this matter. l have been wicked enough
to enjoy it, but suppose your grandmoth-
er will never forgive me.
"I fear not. She persists in thinking
you meant to deceive her.
"That would have been cruel indeed.
AS the matter stands, know Of no better
way to atone for my crime than to make
my supposed story true, and marry Belin-
da, after ALL"
AS saith Sam Lawson" Gals never Gu
tell these particulars just as you'd like to
hear 'em,p SO cannot tell what Belinda
said, but when fall came, and Mr. May had
been admitted to the bar, there was
wedding at Mrs. Freemans house instead
of the church, and Bellnda's dress, was