The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-02-03
THE CoRNELIAN CROSS.


little wife were situated in suburban Paris.
One early twilight in the month of Novem-
ber of a certain year, as he entered his
home, his wife ran unto him, twined her
plump arms around his neck, bestowing a
full-bown kiss upon his responsive lips,
and Immediately exclaimed, ooh, dear
Henri / had such surprise, such an odd
visitor, this afternoon--a man with such an
inexplicable fancy that have been waiting
these two hours for your arrival, and (be-
slowing playful cut thereupon) your
ears"
" And now the ears have arrived, Irene,
my pet, suppose your merry tongue will
rattle away as merrily as newly wound
up music-box; and, once started, shall
not have an opportunity to put word in
edgewise until you have run down COM
pletely. But for this odd man, with the
'inexplicable fancy Did he, utterly re-
gardess of the divine set of his trousers,
go down upon bis knees and beseech of
you to fly with him to some intensely rural
retreat there to subsist upon moonshine
and his adorable moustache and was it
his inexplicable fancy that you should be
accompanied by such little articles Of avail
able value as this poor hovel might afford ?
Or, was he a wandering gypsy lord, who
predicted that you were to be the queen of
all proud France, instead of one humble
French heartp And did he, just as he was
about to surround your august brow with
the imperial crown, suddenly suspend it
and take an inexplicable fancy to have his
dirty palm first crossed with crown of
silver? Or"
"There, there do cease your badnage," :"
said the pouting little woman, stamping
her small foot impatiently. "You will
never become wise listening to your own
wisdom"
"Nor weary listening to yours, my
charming sage" laughed the voluble Hen
ri, caressing her soft brown hair fondly A.;
proceed-from this on am all ears"
"Well, let all ears listen. At about
three O'Clock this afternoon, as was sit
ting intent upon taking the finest possible
stitches in the border of your finest cam
brio, there came a sharp rap at the door.
l fastened, opened it, and found myself
face to face with man of middle age, who
bowed politely and inquired if he were on
the Rue de Chalons. On being informed
that he was, he thanked me very affably,
and was turning to depart, when his glance
-. F,l p, 10 1to,
which then, as now, was lying on my bos-
ON. He stopped short, gaZed fixedly at it,
as though it possessed some terrible fasci-
nation, turned first deadly pale, then lvid
purple, and in hoarse whisper articulated,
Madame, you will pardon me, for it is no
ordinary curiosity that prompts the ques-
tion, but might venture to ask how that
trinket, pointing trembling finger at the
cross, 'came into your ossession-under
what circumstances ?''
SWELL" queried Henri in low, in
terested tone, "what was my little wife's
reply?"
"Your little wife told him, sir, that it
was a present from her husband, and that
IL udu pceh III uSl PoSsSSoiOh "DOuO iOui
years. How or where you came by it she
could not inform him."
"Then he departed satisfed?"
"No, indeed"
"Then he inquired your name, age, and
profession?"
81 Did he? do not know whether
ought TO feel complimented or insulted.
Did you tell him9
81 hesitated, and told him."
81 wish you had not hesitated, and then
nottold him. Some thing of moment may
grow out of this curiosity. But it will not
matter. Then he departed9"
"No he stood absorbed in troubled
thought few minutes, as though weigh
ing deep problem, and then said he had
taken a very strong and eccentric fancy foi
the trinket, and asked il would for con-
sideration part with it."
"What was your reply to that very bus
ness-like proposition?' ?'
THAT, being your gift should much
dislike to let it GO"
"Of conrse, that must have terminated
the conversationP"
"of course, but it did not though. II
became more pointed than ever"
"Well, well am eager to learn the
denouement," said Henri. eff am moi
at fault in my surmises, something will
shortly grow out Of this affair that will in
terest very wide circle. Give me the ex
act particulars. What followedP"