The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-01
Gbe Qiares, Netu BluOnlfeIO, l1a,

us, gazing earnestly at picture. He turn
ed-a dark, handsome face, bearing the
marks of severe agitation, met my view
He pressed his lips firmly together but
said nothing as he silently took the proffer-
ed hand of my friend--then after moment
of violent selfcontrol, he exclaimed, "This
is terrible news terrible news to meet me
when expected so much happiness"
"We have just come from Alice, - said
Mrs. Johns.
cit is base lie ~ he thundered, pas
sionately, with quivering lips, as if he had
not listened--a base lie to accuse that
sweet girl of theta conspiracy and I'll
sift it to the bottom, no matter who is inn
plicated, so help me heavenp and he brought
his hands together with clap that startled
me.
"I went first to Mr.. Westerly's," he
said, speaking slowly, after his excitement
had in manner worn off. "Bele met me
well, hardly know how there was such
fawning, such flatterly. ! asked after
Alice she seemed embarrassed, but finally
told me the story-and 1 wonder heaven
did not strike her dead know how they
have treated Alice l'' he EXCLAIMED, rising
again and walking hurriedly back and
forth 81 saw it long ago-the dear, meek
angel I knew what was in Belle Wes-
to say that she has tried her best to entrap
me, and this was her last resort-great
heaven the ruin of a helpless orphan
great heaven the crushing of another
less, fatherless dependent. can't bear it,
Mrs. Johns-it unmans me y and he sat
down again with his hands clasped about
his forehead-perhaps to hide the tears.
"What will you doP'' ventured Mrs.
Johns, extremely alarmed at this strong
excitement
"Do move heaven and earth but what
1 punish the person who has dared to i'm
plicate my betrothed wife in a theft of this
base character" his voice sank "and
told Belle Westerly SO. Oh you should
have seen her cheek blanch as spoke
said /, Belle, somebody has done this
foul thing to serve their own hellish pur-
sose : you see my soul was fired could
not use tame language--and then / added,
Belle Westerly, if you had known or even
thought her guilty, for your own honor
and that of your family, the whole thing
would have been kept in eternal silence (;
but-to send your own cousin to the COM
mon Jail l-among thieves and pick-pock-
cts, and harlots and gallows. birds-a poor,
| f,o.I rr, II &c
child, yet whom you feel in your own
heart is as pure as heaven-I want no
other evidence of her innocence The girl
trembled-gasped, grew like sheet in her
paleuess. don't know how looked, but
on her forehead l read-guilt Alice steal |!
Alice steal !---good God the imputation
drives me almost mad"
$50 much for living opposite the JAIL"
muttered Gen. Johns, who met me as left
the room, unable to bear the sight of a
strong man in anguish had these
scenes before"
"Why don't you move into some other
part of the city?" l ventured.
"Move ~ he cried, striking the banister
with his cane, "I'd see them all rot first /;
do you know they want to make this the
warden's house these rooms where my
fathers feet have trod - I'd see them
all"
He broke off abruptly, without the oath
his passion prompted, and, with a flush on
his face, hurried along the passage. "Turk
as you are, in your obstinacy," thought l,
"you have conquered yourself"
Let me finish the story in another way.
When De Witt Dalston left the home of
the Westerlys, Belle sank, white, notion
less, and with staring eyes, upon the
lounge. For long while she sat thus,
overwhelmed with the anguish of guilty
conscience, and terrified by the accusations
which the young man had hurled upon her
head. Excited as she was, it seemed to
her that he knew all that he had seen her
going, with stealthy tread, and face full of
horror, to the chamber where her cousin
slept the sleep of love and innocence that
he had seen her in her undress, with her bare
feet and dishevelled locks, her hand shad-
ing the flame of the lamp, her eyes glaring
with the blank stare Of guilt over at the
bed-now creeping-now standing still
now lifting the little key from the pocket
of the humble travelling dress, fitting it to
the lock, turning it-starting and shivering
at the sound, and holding her breath lest
another heard-opening the cOyer-rip-
ping the lining, forcing a package down,
re-arranging few neat garments SO as to
hide the spOt--locking the lid again with