The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-01-13

n peru cieIk ulUeu up us neau ana stared.
was an ordinary traveller to them-that
was evident.
1T was late in the evening. The place
wore an air of repose. Laughter and
faint chink of glasses in an inner apart
ment told of some conviviality. One old
man read his newspaper before the fire.
Nothing else was astir.
81 asked for room The clerk nod
ded.
Do you care what hoorp" he asked.
81 shook my head.
=" Number twenty-nine, is empty he
said, and tossed key to the waiter, whom
l followed at once.
"We reached the room by two flights
Of stairs. AT the door the waiter paused.
"'Thought he said twenty-nine,' he
muttered THE key is twenty-one'
"'Then open twenty-one with it,
said. 81 don't care for the number of
the room"
Ono sir-to be sure, SIR" said the
waiter, and passed along few steps
further.
"Twenty-one," he said, and, unlocking
a door, pushed it open.
"Shal bring you anything, srP" he
said
" 1 answered No., and he left me, hav-
ing put the candle on my bureau.
"The hour had come. AS shut the
door, heavy sigh escaped me. Alas that
life had become so woeful thing to me
that l should desire to be rid of it.
"ln the dim light of my one candle,
paced the floor, and thought bitterly of the
girl loved so dearly.
at was in the days of curtained beds.
The bed in this room was hung with dark
chintz so were the windows. Over the
bureau was looking-glass, with por-
trait of lady in puffed sleeves and high
comb, at the top, by way of ornament
There were four stuffed chairs, and brass
shovel and tongs stood guard beside the
CRATE. fancied myself lying dead on the
bed amidst all these belongings, and felt
sorry for myself Then took my pistols
from my portmanteau, and leaving the
door unlocked, for why should put the
landlord to the trouble of breaking it open,
lay down on the bed, drew the curtains,
took pistol in each hand, and, as true as
now speak to you, had the muzzle of
each to temple, when some one opened
the door, and-'There now, JESSIE" said
voice, 1 told you you didn't lock it,"
81 did," said another voice, "and sent
the key to the Office by the chamber
maid"
" laid the pistols down and peeped
through the curtains. There were two
ladies in the room. One an old lady in
brown front of false curls, the other my
cruel lady-loye, Jessie Grey. For mo-
ment fancied must be dreaming.
"'Sure it's the right number P' asked
Jessie.
"'Twenty-one-yes," said the other.
" And here's my band-box. Oh, dear I'm
sleepy"
81 am not" said Jessie, 81 wish 1
was, aunt"
"You didn't sleep wink last night"
said the aunt. Nor you haven't eaten
your meals to-day. You'll go into de-
cline if you go on that way. I'll see DR..
Black about you tomorrow"
81 don't want DR.. Black to be called,p
sighed Jessie. I'd rather die" 10 400
"Whats the matter ?" cried the old
lady. "You arc not yourself You don't
eat OF sleep, and cry perpetually. What
ails you?" u aH
"pm miserable" said Jessie. ta.,
"Whys" cried her aunt.
"Oh, aunt said Jessie, Sits all your
fault. You told me over and over again
that a girl must never jump at an offer
that man must be refused at least once,
or he'd not value girl. And liked him
sol And, oh; he liked me And when
he asked me felt 30 glad But remem-
bered what you said, and oh, how could
do it'll said, 'Oh, dear, no p and he left
me without word. And I'm SO sorry -
oh, so sorry l-because loved him, aunt"
"You little goose p cried the old lady.
As for me, you can fancy how felt.
had no thought Of suicide now. My desire
was to live and ask that question of mine
over again. Ipocketed my pistols and
crept down on the other side of the bed
stepped toward the bureau and blew out
the candle. The faint red light of the fire
was still in the room. AS dashed out at
the door, heard two female screams, but
escaped in safety.
81 met the waiter ON the stairs.
"Found out the mistake, SIR" he said.
tf J,1sk ocrnipa, M roct;fv a. -