The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-11-03

my boy had tainted. Horror-strucl, be-
lieving him dead, summoned the attend
ants. He was soon restored to life but not
to consciousness, nor for one moment after
did his delirium cease. He often murmur-
ed the names of Edith and Merton, but
said nothing distinctly, so that could
learn nothing of the family of his wife, nor
obtain the least clue to her station or resi-
dence. I will not tell you how wretched
my life has been since, how remorse and
shame have haunted me, nor why have
resolved to bequeath my fortune las a sort
Of atonement, poor one own, to the
memory of my boy,) to the woman he low
ed, if she can be found You will for our
old friendships sake seek her diligently,
and at the end of the five years specified
in my will, if you hear nothing of her, will
deliver the property to my nephew, whom
hate though he is my only brothers. son,
but who ought in justice to inherit por-
tion of the fortune the germs of which, at
least, l received from his grandfather"
After reading the letter, Mr.. Courtney
gave Mr.. Weston the little information he
could afford, ard was surprised to learn
from that gentleman that Mr.. James Hard
ing had already been to inquire if any
claimant for the fortune had appeared
He is," added Mr.. Weston, "a grasp
ing, avaricious man, whom detest almost
as heartily as did his uncle, but unless you
can furnish me with ample and unquestion-
able proofs of your sister-in-law Miss Or
mond's being the lady who was married to
Richard in Merton Church in June, 1871
shall be obliged to hand over the deeds of
property to him at the end of the five years
specified in the will but presume you
will have no difficulty. There is, of course,
certificate, and the marriage is recorded
in the parish register, and there were un-
doubtedly witnesses of the ceremony who
| must be found and requested to give their
evidence. Be assured will do all in my
power to place Miss Ormond, or rather Mrs.
Harding, in possession"
Mr.. Courtney anticipated no difficulty in
obtaining the desired proofs, and with a
light, hopeful heart he returned to his fam
| lily. Great was his astonishment to learn
from Edith that so far from being able to
produce any proof of the marriage, she had
nothing but her wedding ring, containing
their initials and the date that there were
no witnesses except her sister, and that she
did not even know the officiating clergy
mans name. She knew only that the rite
was solemnized in Merton Church, and to
Merton Aunt Ormond insisted on going,
accompanied by Edith, Immediately. A
new life seemed given to the old lady.
Now that she had recovered from her anger
and astonishment at the clandostine mar
riage, she entered with all her youthful
energy upon the task Of proving it, insisted
on having Edith called "Mrs. Harding -
much to her annoyance, and talked Of their
golden expectations to all their acquaint-
ance. Poor Edith I since reading that i'm
portant advertisement she was changed
being. Sad and pale, she shrank from
society, even that Of her most intimate
friends, and her aunt could have scarcely
imposed upon her a more painful task than
the visit to Merton. 1t was made, how
ever, and was unsatisfactory. The sudden
death of the good old rector had prevented
the recording of the marriage; the sexton,
not liking the new rector, or the new laws
he made, had "handed in his keys'' and
"moved off to the West" The rectors
nephew was reading law in the Office Of
Messrs. Parchment & Smoothwit, of Mich
igan, and old Mrs. Stanton's failing men,
ory only enabled her to say, "Robert was a
good boy and she hoped no harm would
come to him, for he went right away when
his grandpa died, and nobody had heard
of him since" What was to be done ?
Several letters were addressed to Robert
Elliot without eliciting reply, and Mr..
Weston, unable to encourage his client,
could only bid her wait patiently, and re-
mind her that five years was not long to
wait for such fortune.
Mr.. Courtney was soon ordered to Flori-
da, and spite of the urgent entreaties OF
his wife, Miss ormond, feeling herself toe
old to bear the transplanting, positively re-
fused to accompany them and Edith
would not leave her even to go with that
darling sister from whom she had never
been separated day. Soon after the
Courtneys were gone Aunt Ormond was
seized with paralysis which deprived her
Of the use of one side, and so affected her
mind that she was incapable Of managing
her little household affairs, and in many re-
spects so childish as to draw largely on