The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-12-18

her word and will let me do as pro-
posep"
A moment after Henry Oakley had
left him, Ralph Marsden arose to his
feet. Looking after the young man lie
shook his fist and muttered bitter curses;
but he was too cowardly to follow him
and risk the chances of another blow
from that muscular arm.
courses on them both !" he exclaim-
ed aloud, " I'd sell my soul to be reveng-
ed on that fellow and to possess that
girl ;"
"You shall be gratified in both
wishes" said n voice behind him, and
turning sharply around he beheld a
dark, heavily-bearded man at his side.
"Who are you 20 Marsden exclaimed
much startled.
zone who will assist you in accom-
plishing what you wish, and at less ex-
pense than the surrender of your soul.
Don't be afraid, l am not the 'old gen.
tleman in black for whom you have
perhaps mistaken me-"
"Who are you, then, 1 again ask"
Merely mortal like yourself who
has motives of private revenge to graft
fy, and who is glad to find so willing a
coadjutor as yourself. We will work to-
gether."
How do / know that l can trust
you ?" asked the young man, sus-
piciously.
You can do as you please" the
stranger answered, coldly.
"Say no more" exclaimed Marsden,
impetuously. 81 will agree to what
ever you may propose, if by SO doing /
can gain my purpose"
Enough" the stranger said, your
hand on it,"
The two men shook hands, and then
the stranger continued:
"Give me your address, and when
my plans are matured l will notify
you"
Ralph Marsden handed him delicate
ly traced card.
DO not be inpatient" the stranger
said, eff you do not hear from me for
weeks, though perhaps L may be able to
send you some word in q few days. Rest
assured that whenever the proper time
has come you will be notified"
" will follow your directions implic-
itly," replied Marsden, "and now will
you give me your own name 2"
In reply, the stranger handed him
card upon which he read:
MAJOR GEORGE HEITH, US. A.
Two weeks passed and Rodney Heith
was obliged to confess that he had not
made such progress in his suit with
Edith Bentley as he had expected. His
destinations had won many woman's
heart, and he had become perfectly con-
fident of his power; but despite his
every effort, Edith Rentley was no
nearer to him than when they first met.
He had expected to supplant Walter Ell
more with but little trouble, but he
found that although Edith was very
kind and friendly to himself, her heart
was still true to the young author. He
was aware that she often met Walter on
the street, and at balls and parties and
to these meetings he principally ascribed
his want of success.
If we could put this fellow out of
the way" he said to the major, one Sat
urday morning while they were strolling
together down Broadway, &C could win
her. But while they see each other so
often 1 have no chance. depend con-
sideraby upon my power of mesmerism
to gain her love; but while can, in a
measure, attract her to me, know that
Elmore's influence exercises so powerful
a counter-attraction, that until he is re-
moved l can do nothing"
" expected you to cut him out at
once" said the major, with short
laugh; "yet here, after a fortnight you
are just where you commenced. Ha-
ha! have some difficulty in recogniz-
ing in you the famous lady-killer of
London"
=" am as much surprised as you can
be at my poor success" replied the
young man, somewhat angrily; but
Edith Bentley is not an ordinary girl,
and ordinary means cannot win her.
But of one thing 1 am certain, until Ell
more is removed, have no chance of
success"
"And are you so willing to give up
our scheme as to let this trifling obsta-
Gle discourage you?" asked the major
fixing piercing, suspicious glance upon
the vOunQ mans fnce