The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-05
THE TIMES, NEW BLooMF1ELD, PA, MARCH 5, 1878

ed as impressive as three hours of elo-
quence could have done.
"And am with you there, Miss Chet-
woodel' cried Belle Blount, as, with
glowing cheeks, she impulsively held
out her hand to Blanche.
That young lady clasped 1t for mo-
ment with firm, steady hand that
seemed little mesmeric in its touch
for Bellies face took on the exact express
sion of her own as she said,-
Then we are allied, Miss Blount ?"
Will you admit third party to your
compactp You have heard me an
nounce myself bachelor sworn" And
Julian Ferrean stood before Miss Chet-
woode with outstretched hand.
"Aw-me too, Miss Chetwoode Y''
That was Sidney Phillips, and he also
was offering his hand.
"I'm weady to take the oath" said
he.
declare ~ cried Rose Ferrean with
wide-open, astonished eyes. You're
actually resolving yourselves into an
anti-matrimOnial clubl"
"Vewy good ideah, Miss Wose," lisp
ed Sidney. L pwopose we do just that,
and Miss Chetwoode shall administer
the obligation. She is the originator of
this upwising."
You mistake" laughed Annie Grier-
son. 1t was Mr.. Ferrean.'
"Well," said Belle Blount, with en-
thusiasm, sis it not grand idea, who
ever originated it? Let us all unite and
pledge ourselves never to enter into the
miserable bondage of married life and
let us all help each other to keep that
resolution Shall it be so p"
Sidney and Julian simultaneously
bowed and Miss Chetwoode gave them
a smile of such bewildering splendor
that Tom Revere, ambitious of winning
the like for himself, started up, and
avowed himself convert to Miss Chet-
woode's theory.
Then came Edna Reese and Eustace
Hardy, Harry Blount and Annie Grier-
son. / firmly believe to this hour
that Blanche Chetwoode had the
power of fascination and could bend 9TH
ers to her will, like the sirens of the old
legend. 1t struck me as almost an un-
canny thing to see them all crowding up
| to clasp her hand, as if she were the
| priestess of new religion, and they her
converts, offering their vows upon that
soft, white palm.
/ know not what instinct of evil made
me turn to look at Nora Chetwoode :;
and l saw her bending little forward
over the table at which she stood, her
lips balfparted, and deep flush upon
either cheek; while her eyes were delib-
erately fixed upon her Cousins face.
My heart gave sudden bound as 1
thought, "Good heaven is little Nora
going to rush into this folly along with
the other lunatics 7 She shall not do it !
I'll put stop to it,
/ made one step forward, but 1 was
too late. Blanche Chetwoode looked up
and caught Morals eye just then, and
before could speak, she said smiling,-
Well, Nora, how is it with you,
petite ?"
And the next minute Nora was at her
side, and Nora's hand was clasped with
hers. With an inward groan, follow
ed. eff Nora never marries, L never
shall, that is CERTAIN" was my melan-
choly thought, as 1 succumbed to the
inevitable, and meekly gave in my allie
glance.
Like a lamb to the sacwifice, eh,
Bwaddon ?" said Sidney Phillips. Con.
found the fellow he always appeared to
see right into ones brain, and read ones
thoughts like an open book.
$50 we're all swoahn celibates except
Miss Wose," continued the mockine
wretch. "Come, Miss Wose, amt you
weady to wenounce the slavewy of wed
lock ?n
should hope notl ~ retorted Rose
Ferrean with asperity. "I never saw
such set of lunatics in all my life
must say had better opinion of you
Dick Brandon" Here cast pitifu
look at Nora, and Rose seemed softened
She proceeded, "As for you, Nora, dc
believe you'd go into nunnery, or turr
dervish and go spinning on your heaC
if your cousin asked you tol"
"Your Illustrations may be a little
shaky, but your spiwit is wefwCshing
Miss Wose," drawled Sidney.
"My name is not Wosel and if
WASH t an idiot 1 wouldn't drag out m!