The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-29

lucky enough to find Miss Elsie at home
For an hour they talked on commonplace
subjects. At length the man reached the
subject next his heart.
"I love you, Miss Elsie" he said.-
"Will you be my wife ?" Elsie was silent.
He took her hand, and his eyes met hers.
In an instant her answer trembled on her
lips. Then woman-like idea entered her
brain.
"I will not be too easily won," she
thought.
"Mr. Montague, will give you your an
swer in few days" she said aloud.
And he was too much of a gentleman to
insist on having it sooner than it. pleased
her to give il,
1t was the next morning that she called
her papa into the parlor. Mr.. Bruce was
strict church member, little too strict in
his doctrines, perhaps, but high-toned
honorable man.
Papa" said Elsie, "I have two offers
of marriage"
Humph p said Mr.. Bruce. "WellP"
"Mr. Weldon, and Mr.. Montague. Papa
l want your advice"
Ny dear, Mr.. Weldon is my mypreferencc.
He has wealth, and can provide for you as
luxuriously as you have been accustomed
to live. Montague has no great amount of
this worlds goods, some / admit, but
still Mr.. Weldon far exceeds him in that
respect"
"But, papa p
"Well, my dear"
"There are some arguments in favor of
Mr.. Montague. He has profession, and
though young man now, he has talent
and will rise in the law. And papa p
We'll, my DEAR
He is a church member and you know
consistent one."
Elsie had made mistake, from this fact.
She should have allowed her father to ex-
press no preference for Mr.. Weldon before
stating her arguments. In that case they
would probably have been conclusive and
convincing, especially the last. But if Mr..
Bruce possessed one popularity above an
other it was that he was very stubborn
When once he had taken a "set," it was
pretty hard to move him from it. So now
| he said
Elsie, ] do not think can give my
consent to your marrying Mr.. Montague"
And so the matter stood.
4
Mr.. Richard Weldon was walking slowly
along the street upon which his home
was. Perhaps he was thinking of Elsie,
perhaps of something else. Suddenly his
thoughts were interrupted by the shouts of
a flock of men and boys behind him, who
came running toward him. He turned
around. Evidently the crowd were chasing
something. But what? Weldon could
not see at first. Presently his gaze, how
ever, rested on bird flying slowly over
head It.was parrot.
On flew the parrot, Mr.. Weldon with
others, following along after it. Shortly it
lighted upon tho sill of an open window
Now that open window was Mr.. Weldon's
own, and doubtless the fates guided that
bird there. The crowd yelled and the par
rot hopped inside. The window was in the
second story Of the building, and as the
bird did not appear, a ladder was obtained
and placed upon the window sill. Then
Mr.. Weldon ascended and closed the win
dow. The parrot was a captive. The
crowd was satisfied, and dispersed.
A couple of days passed. The end of Mr.
Weldon's week was approaching. But as
he had not beheld Miss Elsie since making
his proposal, he felt that he could not en-
dure to remain away from her any longer
1t could do no harm to call upon her, es-
pecially as he had no intentions of troub-
ling her with the old subject yet
Acting upon his resolution, he walked
up Pike Street. just as he entered the
gate, some one came out at the hall door,
1t was Chester Montague.
"singular that always meet that man
here, lately" muttered Mr.. Weldon, flown-
ing. However, he cleared the frown flom
his brow, and greeted Mr.. Montague cour-
teously enough as he passed. 1t may as
well be stated here that Mr.. Montague had
not yet received his answer.
During his call, Mr.. Weldon adhered to
his resolution, and said. nothing about The
momentous question. 1t is only necessary
to refer to one portion of the conversation
between him and Miss Elsie.
~ have had misfortune" said Elsie,
nj one time fr
"Whg, what9p asked Mr.. Weldon.