The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-12-08

N0~-~~N
under Mrs. Goodwin's porch You had prom
ised this visit Oh goodness, what CO.
quette you must believe me to be.v
His hands fell away from hers suddenly,
and his voice was husky, as he answered ;
81 congratulate you. Good night"
Out in the silent and dull village street
he ground his teeth, and used some very
intricate and harsh words against himself !;
the worst of which perhaps was that he
might be considered can ass" He went
directly to his Office, and DR.. Peters
noticed the change in his manner, and
kindly inquired what was the matter
"Any bad news, my boy" he asked io-
cosely. "You look as though you had
been having a case of double conniptions,
and did not know what to do with them"
"pm an unmitigated fool, that's ALL
I've gone and engaged myself"
"To be married? Not that, heyP'
A" Yes, just that old fellow" and he
sank into the chair with a most disgusted
air.
DR.. Peters looked at him for a moment,
and then burst into an uncomfortable fit
of laughter.
"Why, the deuce take it, " said he, as
soon as he could get his breath, "one
would think you were doomed to be hung.
l give you my word that if had gone as
far as you say you have, should try and
look more cheerful"
"Good heavens, how can 1? Listen for
a few moments. As / said before, am
engaged to be married, but l swear to you
don't know to whom %
The old physician sat up, his face sud
denly elongated, and he stared at his part
ner in pills with one-eyed astonishment.-
Presently he said, as to himself:
"The boy is mad as March hare.'
"No, am not-wish to thunder l was. ="
He related minutely everything that had
occurred under the porch and screening
vines at Mrs. Goodwin's, and continued /:
Whoever mistook for Mary Norris ev-
IDENTIFY believes in and loves me. She soil
emnly yielded herself to my carresses as
my betrothed wife, thinking that wor-
shipped her and her only" DR.. Collins
groaned and run his fingers through his
hair until each particular fibre stood on
end. His partner vainly attempted to con-
troll his risibles. One glance at the dis
consulate visage of his friend was too
much, and he let off roar that shook the
very foundations of Brownsville, and it
was good quarter hour before he could
sufficiently control himself to give his
friend the comfort and advice he needed.
"No doubt" was the reply, cit is a
laughing matter, and its ridiculous side
exceedingly funny. And now, as gen.
tleman and man of honor, what am to
do?"
Doctor Peters wiped his eyes, settled
himself to considering for time before re-
plying, and then said
"If l were in your place, should first
find out to whom 1 was engaged, and if
she proved agreeable or desirable, should
marry her, unless my heart was firmly set
on Mary Norris"
Fortunately that spell is broken.
see that was merely infatuated. Besides,
find that she is already engaged. But
thai does not matter now. Suppose that
l find the young lady the reverse of my
expectations and hopes, what shall do
then ?''
"Make yourself SO devilish disagreeable
and exacting that you drive her to the ex-
tremity Of jilting you"
"That advice is very sound, no doubt
but how in the name of common sense am
to find the girl?'
"You'd mako poor detective. Evil
IDENTIFY her name is Mary. If / understand
you correctly, you called her that alone,
with few pet epithets thrown in"
A" had not thought OF that"
Well, think over all the girls in town
by the name Of Mary, and the one most
likely to be she. Then visit her at once
There is Mary Carter"
1t wasn't she," interrupted DIR. Col
lings, with gesture of disgust.
allow do you knowP Remember, you
proposed In the dark"
"Don't you think / should know If l
was hugging saw-logP Didn't tell you
her form was slight, and delicately mould
edP'
40, if you had ocular demonstration of
the fact, / yield. Might it have been Mary
Lewis ?''
"No. She Is too tall" 4.nl
"Then clearly, it Is as Isuspected-- Mary
Frazier-aDd / congratulate you, my dear
boy, for having so stumbled upon happy