The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-06-19

full as the open air and the green grass
and the swift riding of that Paradise of
q climate.
But Satan entered into this Paradise
also. Tom Raflles was the son of a
neighboring planter. Seeing what came
of it in the end, do not know how it
could have been helped. The growing
of the grass, the frislSing of the calves,
the wild careering of the colts with flying
names and tails in the eXhilirating sun
and wind, was not more an inenviable,
process of Nature. Having to care for
his stock, very often obliged to separate
his from hers when their brands got
mixed up on the open prairies, it was
impossible that Tom and Kate should
not often meet, and meeting it was i'm
possible they should not have loved.
The brilliant atmosphere madeit wholly
impossible that their spirits should not
have foamed and sparkled in it like
champagne; being SO happy together,
very often Looping side by side in search
of strayed cattle too, it was utterly i'm
possible, 1 insist, that what followed
should not have followed. Kate herself
told me all about it. "How could Tom
help our men marrying among his wo-
men ?' she said to me. " Mother got
mad, because she hated to have our hands
going off to their wives houses on his
place; but 1 wonder if their men were
not coming to their wives houses on our
place? Mother told Tom he must stop
it, but how could he? She has got so
used to telling the people on our planta-
ton what they must and must not do,
and being minded, that she thinks she
very stars must do as she says"
And that was the way Kate happened
to spend those three winter months with
us. We lived in a town days journey
distant from the plantation, and had
spent many delightful day under Mrs.
Ryle's hospitable roof; and without
word to us she sent Kate to be our
guest, SO as to get her away from Tom.
1t is amazing to me that so sensible a
woman should have been so stupid.
True, Tom never entered the house, but
then got letters for her all the time out
of the office; and why Kate was so fond
of long walks almost every afternoon 1
never knew, beyond her telling me that
she was accustomed to exercise in the
open air that if she did not go out she
would die. have an impression that
the mother thought that my being a
minister was remedy for her daugh-
ter's malady-that there was q serious
ness in the very atmosphere of my
house which would stifle all vain desires
on the part of her wayward offspring.
When the sagacious mother supposed
Kate's affection for her Objectionable
suitor was cured by such separation, she
wrote for her to return, and to me, tell
ing me how heartily she was obliged for
the hospitality on my part which had
broken off her daughters love for g that
abominable Tom Raffles."
Kate left US on Monday. Saturday
evening she was back at our house-on
horseback this time-and Tom with her.
They fastened their horses down at the
front gate, but L saw them, and made
up my mind, as they walked up between
the rows of cactus plants to our door, L
would not do it,
"This is Mr.. Tom Raf1ies, Kate said
introducing him, rough, honest-faced
fellow enough, in his Sunday clothes,
which always deform men of his bronz-
ed and muscular sort.
=" see he is" said promptly "but
Kate. cannot do it. Your mother trust
ed me, and will not do it. Lam sorry
to dlsappoint you, but l will not"
Who wanted you to 2" she said as
promptly; and added, Oh, t ON but
wasn'tit funny ?" and as she coolly took
off her things she laughed as people new
er laughed who never lived in the open
air." thought should have died, y
she explained, for Tom was evidently to
be the secondary person of this curious
couple. at was all could do to sit on
my horse. There she is now-,run and
help her out, Tom"
AS she spoke there was the roll of
wheels at our gate, and before Tom who
was in no hurry about it, could go, Mrs.
Ryle the mother ran into thereon, pant
ing and out of breath ,exclaiming, "Hold
onl stop! don't you do it, sir They've
run away. I'll never consent; she isn't
of age"
have just assured them that will
not,'' 1 hastened to say as Mrs. Ryle laid