The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-04-03


too; and Mr.. Herbert, who remarked
the fact, judged that it would he but
right to give Henry Ashton hint. Two
days later, as Alice's father was just
about to go out, the young guardsman
himself was ushered into his library and
the banker prepared to give his hint,
and give it plainly, too. He was saved
the trouble, however-for Ashton's first
speech was, " / have come to bid fare
well, Mr.. Herbert. We are ordered to
Canada to put down the evil spirit there.
L set out in an hour to take leave of my
mother, in Staffordshire, and then en-
bark with all speed.'
Mr.. Herbert economical his hint, and
wished his young friend all success.
By the way" he added, Mrs. Her.
bert may like to write few lines by you
to her brother in Montreal. You know
he is her only brother; he made sad
business of it, what with building and
planting, and farming and such things.
So got him an appointment in Canada
just that he might retrieve. She would
like to write, L know. You will find
her up stairs. L must go out now my
self. Good fortune attend you"
Good fortune did attend him, for he
found Alice Herbert alone in the very
fist room he entered. There was table
before her, and she was leaning over it,
as if very busy, but when Henry Ashton
approached her, he found that she had
been carelessly drawing wild leaves on
scrap of paper, while her thoughts were
far away. She colored when she saw
him, and was evidently agitated; but
she was still more so when he repeated
what he had told her father. She turn
ed red, and she turned pale, and she sat
still and she said nothing. Henry Ash
ton became agitated himself. sit is all
in vain, he said to himself. eft is all
in vain. / know her father too we'll -
and he rose, asking her where he should
find her mother.
Alice answered in faint voice, "in
the little room beyond the back drawing
ROOM"
Henry paused moment longer; the
temptation was too great to be resisted;
he took the sweet girls hand; he press
ed it to his lips, and said, Farewell,
Miss Herbert, farewell know l shall
never see any one like you again; but,at
least, it is a blessing to have known
you-though it be but to regret that for
tune has not favored me still farther
FAREWELL farewell!"
Henry Ashton sailed for Canada, and
saw some service there. He distinguish
ed himself as an officer, and his name
of the old chivalrous spirit made him
often think when he was attacking
fortified village, or charging body, of
insurgents, "Alice Herbert will hear of
this !" but often, too, he would ask
himself, {" wonder if she be married
yet ?" and his companions used to jest
with him upon always looking first at
the women's part of the newspaper; the
births, deaths and marriages.
His fears, if we can venture to call
them such, were vain. Alice did not
marry, although about year after
Henry Ashton had quilted England, her
father descended little from his high
ambition, and limited thatif she thought
fit, she might listen to the young Earl
Or. Alice was not inclined to-
listen, and gave the earl plainly to un-
derstand that she was not inclined to
become his countess. The earl, however
persevered, and Mr.. Herbert now began
to add his influence, but Alice was OBJ
durate, and reminded her father of q
promise he had made, never to press her
marriage with any one. Mr.. Herbert
seemed more annoyed than Alice ex-
pected, walked up and down the room,
in silence, and on hearing it, shut him
self up with Mrs. Herbert for nearly
two hours. What took place Alice did
not know, but Mrs. Herbert from that
moment looked grave and anxious Mr..
Herbert insisted that the earl should be
received at the house as friend, though
he urged his daughter no more, and balls
and parties succeeded each other so rap
idly, that the observation-disclosures of Port
land Place, wished the banker and his
family were where Alice herself wished to
be, in Canada. Meantime, Alice became
alarmed for her mother, whose health
was evidently suffering from some cause;
but Mrs. Herbert would consult no ply
sician, and her husband seemed never to
/ perceive the state Of weakness and de-