The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-09-17

marry him."
Who is Lawton ?"
"A young doctor in the city,"
"Why does the old lady object g''
Because he won Kate without her
consent.'
Characteristic"
Exactly"
The next morning drew rein at the
Gilbert gate, A great wolf-dog approach
ed, and after examining me carefully es-
corted me up the drive. A touch of the
hand-bell made the bell peal loudly
through the house. In a moment
heard light footsteps approaching and
the great door was unbolted from
within, and swung back. A young
girl, with golden curls about her neck,
and very sweet blue eyes, awaited my
wishes. 1 asked for Miss Gilbert, and
presented my card.
"Oh, yes" she said sweetiy. "Aunt
Agatha will be ready to see you in
moment. She never keeps people wait
ing long," she added as she ushered me
into large room wainscoted in ma
hogany, with horrible old portraits on
the walls, and fire upon the hearth be-
hind fender.
The April air was chill, and L stood
before the blaze, getting the stiffness out
of my legs, when the door opened quick
ly,and little, withered woman in black
entered. She was evidently near-sighted
and came peering across the room at
me, without speaking word. bowed
she repeated my name and begged me to
be seated.
The interview was ordinary enough.
During the time I sat there tried with
difficulty to realize that the tiny morsel
of humanity before me was as important
a parsonage as she really was. But fig
ures proved her immense wealth and
her power in the community. L was
anxious for a sight of Kate Staniels l
imagined I had already seen Bessie. L
searched the spare brown face, trying to
discover some hope for these dependent
girls: but Miss Gilbert, disdaining the
back of chair at sixty, seemed as far
removed from physical enfeeblement as
the Hebe Kate herself and as little in
need of sympathy and aid as bronze
woman. The interview was for legal
purposes, as expected, and at last L
took my leave--possibly a little elated by
the patronage of such client.
AS drove slowly down the road, I
met gentleman on horseback-a hand
some fellow, with curly blonde beard,
and with pair Of blue eyes keen as
Damascus blade. They met mine with
a flash that L considered quite uncalled
for, until 1 saw him enter the Gilbert
gate, whence L had just emerged. He
was Kate Staniels's lover. 1 snapped
my fingers at the discovery. Though 1
might have been favored with brunette
Kate's utmost graciousness, Rick Law
ton need not have been jealous, for the
little soft-voiced blonde girl was much
more to my taste. The moment met
her lovely blue eyes, was under the
conviction that would snap her up
quickly enough if 1 had but the chance.
Wondering what kind of reception
Rick Lawton would get from Miss Gill
bert, drove on. 1t was a bright April
day, the thin shadows of the halfleafed
elms Pickering in the grass, and the
roads heavy with late spring rains.
Suddenly my horses pricked up their
ears. An unusual object attracted their
attention. 1t was heavy coach minus
wheel, deeply sunk in the mud = a
breakdown of the mail and passenger
stage from the railroad station.
came up and drew rein. 1t was the
trip from the early train, and there was
only one passenger. The driver was
getting the horses out of their harness
The passenger was standing on the steps
of the coach and looking about in the
gloomiest distress.
He was weak-eyed young man, deli
cately attired, with dressing case in his
hand, and hair so strongly red that it
seemed to have drawn all energy and
vigor from the rest of his body. He
looked helplessly from the driver to the
mud, and from the mud to the sky, as if
he had sent for a chariot from the heav-
perhaps Apollo's = and momen-
tarily expected his arrival. d
Can do anything for you, Jem Yo
/ asked the man who was embarrassing
the horses. 7a9 fo2 eAi
"No, thank you, Mr.. Ronaldson. The
malls to go up, and / can take that up