The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-05-12

it not; / have looked upon you, but was not
! perceived and have even dared to love
| you-yes, love you--passionately, madly,
| without your knowledge or consent. I
heard your praises on every tongue all
lauded the beauty, virtues and accomplish
ments Of Miss Shirley. Could / stand by
unconcerned-was my heart adamant2 No,
| it yielded You camel saw-you con-
quered When and where / met you, it is
not necessary at this time to state. But
do not yet know your name or station
you will remark. 1t is true, and will ex-
plain. | am gentleman of rank and for
tune. My figure and features are not con-
sidered bad by good judges. My age is
twenty-five. i am now at the Winthrop
House, and pass under an assumed name
| to avoid the unmeaning ciyilities and cease
less attentions of the citizens. But will
inform you who really am l will throw
myself upon your generosity, trusting you
will not betray my secret. am Lord
Illsley, near relative of the ilustrious
Lord Elgin, who visited your beautiful
city the past season.
"Do not regard these only as the words
of flattery, for it is the language of sim
cere and devoted admirer, To prove my
sincerity, l solemnly tender you my hand,
heart and fortune. Do not, l entreat, turn
upon that beautiful conference.-the not
drive me to despair. Grant me but line
but n single word, even, and l remain,
Forever yours
"a FREDERIC GREENwooD."
every pathetic r' exclaimed the owner
of the name subscribed. "One would i'm
agine you were versed in the business of
love-writing."
"Perhaps so," rejoined Malcolm, with
smile. "You will please make me out
two copies of this, one of which l shall
send to Isabella Shirley, and the other,
with the change in names, of course, to
Flora West. shall wait with some i'm
patience to know how they will be receiv-
ed," he added, as the two friends stepped
into the street.
The sun arose in unclouded splendor on
the morning of the fourteenth of February.
Sleigh bells jingled merrily, and numerous
pretty women, protected from the severity
of the weather by thick cloaks and furs,
tripped lightly along the busy Streets
The penny-postman made numberless call,
and among the favored ones was Isabella
Shirley.
She caught the precious missive and ex-
amined the superscription attentively.-
The handwriting was unknown, and break
ing the seal, she opened it. The paper was
of the incest kind, and the chirography in
disputably beautiful. Surprise and pleas
ure were visible upon her countenance as
she continued to read. When she had
twice perused it, she arose, and with a
quick step entered the next room, where
Mrs. Shirley was seated.
"What do you think l have received,
mother?' she asked in pleased voice.
ga valentine, I suppose, "quietly replied
the lady.
Yes, but such valentine as but few
young ladies in this city will receive to-day |!
The writer is in earnest, verify believe.
Where can he have seen me-" she added
thoughtfully.
"But you forget, Isabella, that am
ignorant of its contents" observed the
mother, "and cannot therefore sympathize
in your pleasure"
"Very true, you shall hear )" and Isa-
bella repeated the words of the letter to the
astonished parent, who had never heard so
much nonsense combined in her life.
"And do you believe it, BellP" she ask
ed. Il thought people never wrote any
thing serious in Valentines"
"Sometimes they do but this does not
appear like falsehood If it should mean
anything, what triumph / would have
over the Mertons and the sharps, who put
on so many airs. And it wouldn't sur
prise NE much if my DR.. Malcolm took a
walking ticket" added Miss Isabella,
somewhat proudly.
"Nonsense p exclaimed Mrs. Shirley
"Don't be precipitAte. "A bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush.'"
can idea has just occurred to me will
send Edward TO the Winthrop House to ex-
anime the books. That will be proof pos
tive" And she hastened away to find a
younger brother and despatch him ON the
important errand. Isabella was all impa-
tience to know the result. She had writ
ten the name upon slip of paper lest he
should forget it. Perceiving him APP
preaching at a snail's pace, she flew to the
door to ascertain his success.
f'It is there he has found it p she ex-
claimed, triumphantly, {" and this is not