The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-04-21

was more placable than he had been the
night before.
you heard him scold about his Coffee"
she whispered to Joel "it's good sign.
always heard say jest as long as a child
cries out hearty it aint going to die, and
Just as long as the old squire can find fault
with his victuals he amt going to do bloody
murder"
Joels horse was at the door. The old
man got into his big top coat. 81 guess
I'll ride up to the village with you, JOEL"
said he; 1T will save tackling my horse,
and then I'll chance it to ketch a ride back
with one of the neighbors."
Hester stood at the window and watched
them drive away up the creek. She knew
how it would end. She knew she should
never falter. Having put her hand to the
plow, it was not Hester's way to turn back.
She was brave and strong, but kind of
mistiness crept up over her dark eyes, as
the wonder rose in her mind why the
course of true love never did run smooth
The village was just one long street for
stores, flanked by the Town-hall and
"First Church." It was full of gardens
and neat cottages and, in Summer time
very shady and pleasant.
"Drive me to the Jedge's office" said
the old man, as they got down on Main
street, and I'd liketo have you step in and
witness to little business I'm going to
transact
They drove up to a small building, dis
playing a conspicuous sign. The Judge
met them at the door. He was tall,
stiff man, well dressed, with heavy watch
SEALS His small eyes were keen and in
quisitive, and the iron-gray hair was scru-
pulously brushed around his temples.
"Good day, Squire" said he. "I'm
sorry haven't had time to make out the
papers in that COW case"
go, faint COW case, Jedge; it's a love
case" responded the old man, with a
species of snort which made Joers heart
sink. "You're a lawyer, Jedge, and if
there is knot-hole in any subject you'll
be sure to take squint through it. /
don't expect to pull the wool over your
eyes. Set right down, Joel want you
to pay partickerler heed to what am 60
ing to say. You see there are several
p'ints to this here love case. In the first
place, Joel is your brother, and you nat
urally want to see him do well. You've
tried to help him forrard, know. Love
is Gurus kind of distemper, specially
when its took the natural way. Joel has
got it pretty bad He's been coming round
my place now for a considerable spell, and
/ don't know but he would go ON court
ing forever if didn't feel called upon to
put in a stay of proceedings. You see
Jedge, Hester, my girl, means to marry
Joel. When she's once got her heart sot
on a thing, there amt no whoa. Hester
is tidy, and snug, and economical, and you
know good wife is sometimes the saving
Of a young man like Joel. Now, come to
sum up, you see how it is Jedge. You
make ten dollars where lido one. I'm an
old man, and what little l have scraped
together must be divided equal among my
children. Yon'ro right in the prime of
life, and hain't got child in the world.
Pll give Hester good setting out, and if
you want to help Joel, You can step right
over there to yonr desk and draw up pa
per to the effect that you'll never see my
girl come to want. Your bond is as good
as gold. Put your name to it, have it all
legal and reg'lar, and you shall never hear
another word of opposition from me-"
Joel sprang to his feet, his face fairly
quivering with Indignation: "Do you
mean to insult me?'' he cried. "I won't
have this wretched bargaining over my
affairs. Hiram, if you draw up that bond
I'll never touch another dollar of yours as
long as live. I'll show you can sup
port wife without anybody's help, even
if / have to Go it by days works.
"That's right, that's the kind of talk /
like to hear" said the old man, chuckling.
"Hope you win stick to that mind. No
body's going to hender; but just draw up
the bond, Jedge. 1t won't do mite of
harm"
eff you draw that bond" broke out
Joel furiously, ~ shall consider every
thing over between us. You have no right
to shame me in such way as that. 1t
sounds as if you thought me an idle, shift
less, good-for-nothing fellow, and as if
Hester was going to throw herself away.
I'll let you know what there is in me. IN
show you that can stand on my own row
without thehelp of anybody"