The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-23

him soon. There was one other who
looked forward to the boys visits with
pleasure, the 'Squire's only child, little
Hope She had gone strawberrying and
hazelnutting with him before he had
won her fathers favor. All the Antoine
boys had strongly marked French
features, with startled black eyes and
hair to match, forming a strong con-
trast to Hopes blonde beauty. Mrs.
May had been Mortified on their first ar
rival to find her little daughter seated
beside stump, on which her toy dishes
were displayed, entertaining troop of
ragged boys. The entertainment con-
sisted of doughnut broken in minute
bits, and, most astounding sight for a
New England mother, the youthful
Antoines had brought as their contribu-
ton to the feast a cup half filled with
New Orleans molasses, some scraps of
dried orange peel, and q bottle, in which
there still remained few spoonfuls of
whiskey, with which ingredients and
little water Gus was compounding
drink and filling the tiny pewter cups
with all the expertness of u California
bartender
While Gus was away "jollygizing"
with her father, Hope went every day to
recite French lessons to Mrs. Antoine,
and to learn to make the marvellous en-
broidery, whose great eyelets were filled
in with cobweb-like wheels in lace
stitches of pointe d'Alencon. So the
summer passed, but with the fall came
the elections. Squire May returned from
his brief vacation to learn with sur
prise that the " free State" party had
nominated him as their candidate for
the district judge-ship, and that his OPP
ponent on the Democratic ticket was
Colonel Antoine, The election was close
ly contested but ended in the usual way,
Colonel Antoine's friends coming over
from Missouri, voting for him and rem
dering the Democrats triumphant.
Squire May was heard to protest loudly
against the illegality of this proceeding,
and as he drove toward home it was OBJ
served that his usual calm temper was
much disturbed.
The day following the election was an
eventful one to Mrs. Antoine and Hope
| as they sat over their embroidery on q
bench under the broad-leaved catalpas
in front of the Antoine mansion. A
| grotesque shadow was thrown upon the
path, and Hope grasped Mrs. Antoine's
arm in alarm, wondering what strange
animal would follow. 1t was only a
pedlar, and both she and Mrs. Antoine
were soon deep in the contents of the
pack, which consisted of several cases of
cheap jewelry, few pieces of flimsy
dress goods, and some coarse Hamburg
embroideries. Mrs. Antoine looked
over these interestedly, but with smile
on her lips. I" / can embroider better
than that myself and SO can this little
girl"
"Let me see whatyou do" said the ped
lar, and Hope displayed long strip of
the mingled embroidery and lace work,
the pattern in each eyelet being one of
Gus Antoine's design-an anchor-it
meant hope, he said
'I give you fifty cents for dat" said
the stranger.
"Oh will you p'' exclaimed Hope de-
lighted, while Mrs. Antoine rose, has
tened into the house, and returned with
the entire collection, which she had
worked since she left the convent. The
pedlar was an evil-looking man, and
| of 10 ha off oIa
him, but Colonel Antoine sauntered in
at the gate as his wife entered the house.
For wonder, he was sober, and Hope
felt her courage revive. He regarded
the pedlar gruffly, and began to scold
Mrs. Antoine when she returned though
his i'll humor vanished when he saw she
was selling not buying. The stranger
selected a number of bands, and paid for
them from chamois-skin purse filled
with gold pieces, which he took from
his bosom. The Colonel's eye glittered
as it fell upon it, and his manner chang
ed percepdbly.
4" Are you going on to Conflict ?" he
asked, as the pedlar returned the emptied
gourd, which Mrs. Antoine had offered
him filled with water, and stopped to
take up his pack. ''Yes ? Well, so am
l and I'll walk along with you. You
look tired; just sling your pack across
Sarsaparilla. / don't mind tramp with
pleasant companion"
Mrs. Antoine looked frightened. Such
condescension on the part of the Colo