The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-01-20
0be Cintes, Mem BLOOMFIELD, pa,

umns Of an evening paper. He was alone--
yet he was not alone, for within the hang
irgs Of one Of the alcove windows were
ensconsed Edward and Lizzy Florence, hid
den from view, and happy as angels. The
old man was just turning over the paper,
when one of the servants announced Mr..
Timothy Barbour, and in moment more
the young gentleman entered the room.
Edward and Lizzie would have left their |
place of unintentional concealment, but an
instictive dislike to be seen by the visitor
prevented.
:" Mr.. Simpson," said Mr.. Timothy in
somewhat tremulous manner, after the
civilities of the evening had been passed,
81 have called upon you on rather a pc
culiar and, l my say, delicate business"
"Ah, )" uttered the old man, raising his
spectacles and his eye brows at the same
time, but uttering no further remark.
"Yes, sir" resumed Timothy. "The
fact is, our marriage relation has been SO
short that feel little delicacy iu ap-
preaching the matter to my wife at pres
ent but at the present time am sadly in
want of small sum of money to help me
over business pinch"
"D'ye want to borrow some of me-"
bluntly asked Simpson.
90, no, I-I-ahem-merely wish you
to break the ice for me-"
Break the ice?"
"I mean that you should broach the
matter to my wife," said Timothy, breath
ing more freely, now that the "cat was
out"
"Why, really, my dear sir" returned
the old man, Il have nothing in the world
to do with your wife's property"
But yoa might hint the subject to her,
my dear captain. A few thousands would
answer me, say six thousand"
"Six thousand what ?"
why, sir, six Thousand dollars, to DO
sure" answered Timothy.
"What, from your wife ?"
"Why not ?"
"Why not? Why, simply because
don't believe she owns six thousand dol
lars ~
"Capt. Simpson, 1 beg you will not
trine with me- sir" uttered Timothy, trem-
bling and turning pale at the fearful sus-
picion that flashed upon him.
"By no MEANS SIR" returned the old
man, in tone that carried conviction with
it. mean what say when l tell you
that your wife is not worth, of her own
estate, over four thousand dollars p
"Death and fury !" exclaimed the as
founded bridegroom, leaping from his
chair and cliching his hands. "Then
have been most basely deceived p'
"Deceived, Mr.. Barbour? How, what,
who has deceived you ?'
You sir! Everybody, sir ~ uttered the
excited man. 81 was lea to believe that
my wife was worth half million of dol
lars ~
Really, sir, don't see how you could
have entertained such an idea," said Capt.
Simpson, without betraying any anger at
his visitors manner.
81 will tell you how, sir. The world
was given to understand that your niece
was wealthy, and you have suffered them
to think so. You knew that was the i'm
preston, and yet you did not contradict
it,"
"W-h-e-w p came from the old mans
lips in prolonged whistle. "Now I begin
to see through it, Oh, oh that's it Ha,
ha, ha Why, Timothy, you've caught the
wrong fish It's my other niece that's
salted down with half million dollars p
"Your other niece?" gasped Timothy,
catching at a chair for support, and gra d.
ually sinking into it.
"Yes, sir, my other niece. That little
witch of Lizzie Florence is the golden
niece"
"Your sewing girl ?" family articulated
Timothy.
"Sewing-girl p responded the old man,
with an energetic expression. "she tried
to sew herself out of the company of those
who would want nothing but her money,
and think she has succeeded Timothy,
had you asked me, Or had you even asked
Arabella concerning her fortune, you would
have learnrd the truth but it seems that
you have been steering on the wrong
course. You are something like a mariner
who, in setting out upon his voyage, imag-
ines to himself luminous beacon some
where ahead, and, without chart or com
pass, steers recklessly for it. He finds out
too late that his supposed beacon is moth