The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-06-05
THE TIMES NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA. JUNE 5, 1877.

Just then a peal of laughter greeted
his ears, and turning In the direction
whence 1t proceeded, he beheld the ''little
school girl' surrounded by four of her
companions, and Mr.. Rivers was OBLIGED
TO acknowledge to himself that he had
never before seen so lovely a picture.
The sunshine had lent an additional
flush to her cheeks, and was playing bo-
peep through the leaves with her soft
brown hair, from which her hat had
partially fallen; her beautiful eyes spark
led with mischief, and merry laugh
parted her rosy lips. In her fingers she
held four blades of grass, with one end
concealed In her dimpled hand. Each
gentleman eagerly drew, and compared
lengths with his neighbor, and then ex-
claimed in a tone of disappointment:
All alikel'
Certainly" replied Rhoda, demure-
ly. How could be the partner of
either of you when 1 am already en-
gagged for the first game of croquet ?"
The gentlemen took her joke good ma
turedly, and went off in quest of other
partners.
That little coquette ~ mentally ejac-
ulated Mr.. Rivers. 81 never noticed
before that she was so much admired,
she seemed such shy little thing"
But this gentleman was doomed to
make several discoveries in the course of
the day, one of which was that he felt
certain unpleasant sensation in the re-
gion of his heart, when Rhoda's smiles
were showered too unfortunately
among her admirers, and that his own
attentions, hitherto carelessly bestowed
had deeper meaning than he was him
self conscious of. He noticed that bis
courtesies now were accepted or declined
with the same saucy indifference which
greeted her other adorers. He wearied
of the day and rejoiced when he found
himself once more seated in his carriage
with Rhoda beside him, their faces turn
ed homeward.
Well" said Rhoda, this is the last
picnic of the season shall be half
sorry to return to the city and settle
down to propriety once more"
"That will not require much exer-
tion," remarked her friend, mischiev-
ously, " if you can return to it as easily
as you left it,"
"What do you mean ?" demanded
Rhoda, half angrily.
Have you forgotten that you at
tempted to pick my pocket on the
journeyp"
"Oh ~ laughed Rhoda. at was
you who were trying to rob me, only by
some legerdemain you managed to get
both hands into your own pocket before
you emerged into the light"
''But you really did steal something
from me, Rhoda. was unconscious of
it at the time, but 1 have discovered my
loss since. Give me an equivalent for it
and will promise not to make the theft
public" Then he added, more seriously,
You cannot want two hearts"
A saucy reply rose to Rhoda's lips, but
something in that earnest gaze put it to
flight.
81 don't think you have been any
more honest than l" she faltered "I
have missed"
But the rest of the sentence was lost,
as her lips was smothered with kisses.
"Then you do love me, Rhoda, after
all thought you were Indifferent"
"And thought that, after you had
stolen my heart, you had merely played
with it for awhile, and then thrown it
away"
When did you begin to care for me,
darling?"
81 believe it was when found my
hand in your pocket, although wished
then that might never see you again."
A few days more ended Rhoda's visit
to Belleville; but she did not return
home alone. Mr.. Rivers declared it
would be necessary for him to accompany
her, to prevent her from making arrests
on the cars. He said that she had taken
him prisoner at their first meeting, and
had held him in chains ever since.
A E-Il