The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-01-09
slythOrpe's Little Game.

IN u darkened chamber, dark with the
L awful shadow still more than with the
lack of material light, four personsgath.
cred round a bed, on which lay a man
bearing on his face the nnmlstalShble
signs of the summons which none can
refuse to answer A weeping girl knelt
by the bedside, her face bent over the
nerveless hand which lay upon the COW
erlet, and which she held as though by
that convulsive clasp she could hold her
father still to life The doctor and nurse
stood quietly aside, as having done their
part and waiting for the inevitable end.
A shaded lamp cast ring of bright,
white light amid its surrounding gloom,
and within its cleaning circle, at a table
covered with papers and writing mate
rails, sat the dying mans solicitor en-
gagged in the preparation of his will The
instructions were short and simple
Bernard Hope had but one near relative,
his daughter Mary, now kneeling by his
bedside and to her, as was natural, he
desired to leave his few possessions.
After an interval of silence, broken
only by the suppressed sobs of the weep
ing girl and the monotonous scratching
of the attorneys pen upon the paper, he
paused, and inquired, in harsh, un-
pleasant voice.
What names shall l insert as trusteesY
You should have two at least"
The dying man paused ere he replied
with an effort
"Godfrey Howard, Major l11th, now
in India. | have no other friend"
In that case may venture to offer
my humble services, subject to the usual
proviso should be delighted to be use
fhf to Miss Hope, and if your friend is
abroad there may be difficulties
True, Slythorpe, thank you. Make
yourself trustee, then, with Major How
ard, Legacy--two hundred pounds for
your trouble. F"
Nay, my dear sir, quiteunnecessary.
really"
But again thr ready pen travelled over
the paper, and quarter of an hour later
Mr.. Slythorpe announced that the doc
liment was ready for execution, and in
low, mechanical monotone read over its
provisions The sick man seemed more
than once to lose consciousness during
the reading, but at the close he appear
ed to nerve himself for supreme
effort.
Yes that will do. Give me the pen, f."
he said, and with shaking hand affixed
his signature, ard with eager eyes watch
ed the doctor and nurse as they added
their own as witnesses, after which he
sank back exhausted on his pillow.
= Thank God, that's safe!' he gasped.
( Mary, my child, you and Godfrey
you and Geoffrey What was saying
God bless you, my darling God bless"
These were the last words Bernard
Hope ever spoke.
A year had passed away since Bernard
Hopes death, and Mary still remained
an inmate of the house of Mrs. Murga-
troyd, the good woman whom we have
seen in attendance at her fathers last
illness, and WHO, to her occasional occu-
patton as nurse, added the more perma-
nent one of letting lodgings. Mary's
sweet face and gentle manner had quite
won the heart of her good natured land
lady, who was unceasing in her endeav-
ors to soothe her grief and minister to
her comforts. Mary still showed in her
face and figure the tokens of the fiery
trial through which she had passed.
Her slight form looked slighter still in
her soft black drapery, and the shadow
of an unforgotten sorrow still rested on
her delicate features. Mary Hope had
been her fathers constant companion,
and she sorely missed the happy hours
in which his powerful intellect and va
ried experience had been unfolded for
her benefit. But she had, too, another
trouble-none the less hard to bear that
il was one in which she could have few
confidants. Major Howard, of whom
mention has already been made was not
only her fathers most valued friend, but
had insensibly grown very dear to her
self; and when six months before Ber-
nard Hopes death, he was summoned
with his regiment to India, he left Mary
his promised bride, Twice he had writ
ten within the first few weeks of his
departure, since which time there had
been terrible silence; and in the same
week which had left Mary fatherless,
second blow fell upon her. The l11th
had been engaged in smart skirmish,