The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-08-11
Testing her Lovers.

0cEbuuo. Ouo was olBhJc5u years VI aye,
and was gay, frank and good natured, al
ways smiling and happy, and full Of life
and activity. She was the daughter of
Charles, wealthy proprietor of the little
town, and generally designated as Stock,
Jr., to distinguish him from his father and
grandfather who were yet living. "They
last long in that family" was local ex-
preston.
Gertrude had many admirers, but none
of them appeared to make an impression
on her heart This, together with her fas-
cinating manners, gave her the name of the
"Coquette of Arlon." Do not take this
appellation in its hardest sense, for her
father and mother allowed her to do as she
pleased, having the utmost confidence in
her. And it was well-placed. Among the
many who sought her hand in marriage
were four young men of the town who de-
served special mention. Their names Sig
ismond de Vletter, GILES Collins, Wences-
las Trootbant and Lambert Won Mol.
The first named was so calm and unde-
monsrative that the other three did not
give themselves any uneasiness about him.
They, on the contrary, were so pressing
that the neigbors all expected that she
would certainly marry one of them.
The four suitors pressed their claims,
each in his own way urging her to decide
in his favor. So one day in September,
1743, she devised stratagem by which to
test their courage and affection. Her
parents once more allowed her to have her
own way, for as she never undertook any
thing without first consulting them, we
may suppose that they were not the stern
and tyrannical parents that usually fall to
the lot of the unfortunate heroines of
modern romances. About quarter of a
league from Arlon, in field belonging to
her father, Gertrude had often noticed an
old Roman tomb, which no one dared ap-
proach on account of its ghostly reputation.
All sorts Of strange and mysterious stories
were told about it. This tomb has disap-
peared-I cannot say how. Gertrude re-
solved to make it the centre of her bat
teries.
GILES Collin came as usual and uttered
more ardent and passionate protestations
of love than ever declaring that he would
willingly walk over burning Goals to please
her. .f.H
II am not so unreasonable as to require
that of you" said she 'all things consid-
cred, do not refuse to marry you, but
wish to have proof of your devotion, and
at the same time of your courage"
every WE'LL" answered Giles, "I will
give you any proof of that you can de-
mand only say what it shall be-"
"You know" replied she, the ancient
tomb which is situated on a knoll quar-
ter of a league from town."
eyes" replied the puzzled GILES, 81
have seen it from distance there is moth
ing remarkable about it."
"Well, this evening at nine o'clock
want you to go, without saying word
to any one about it, and lie down in the old
tomb"
"In the witches den? What ca
price p
"And you must remain perfectly mo-
tionless until midnight"
"But, Gertrude, what are you thinking
Of? What isy your project?"
"You are a coward, you are trembling
already. Perhaps it is caprice, but
have my project, and wish to try you. II
you do as wish, shall know that l can
trust you, and providing you remain there
from nine o'clock until midnight, my heart
is yours. If you refuse, / shall marry
some one else"
Struck by the decided tone Of the young
girl, GILES dared not offer further objeo.
tion, but he thought of the freezing reci-
tails to which he ha6 listened of appara-
tions from another world that were seen
gliding around the tomb, and of the witch
es who held their nocturnal meetings and
made il place of deposit for their un-
guents ard diabolical compounds. In truth,
fires had sometimes been burning near
there through the night and surrounded by
groups of sinister or grotesque looking
faces, but they were undoubtedly gypsies,
with which Luxembourg and Limbourg
were at that period infested. But some
persons professed to have seen supernatural
beings, and thousands of wonderful stories
were related about them. For year, how
ever, nothing had been seen there, and
though GILES was more afraid than be
would have cared to acknowledge, he was
so deeply enamored Of the young girl that
he accepted the condition and promised to
do what was required of him without di-