The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-05

for saw an expression of positive ad-
miration IN her face as he bowed low be-
fore her. " Here" / thought, is the
beginning of romance"
Therefore nobody was more surprised
than to hear Julian, who, alttle later,
had been out to smoke with Tom Re-
we're, get off that speech against matri-
mony which the company received with
such various comments. l was equally
surprised TO see Blanche Chetwoode turn
around with approving eyes as he enter
ed, and to hear her say, In her sweet,
distinct voice =
"Mr. Ferrean, / heartily agree with
you. 1t appears to me that the institu-
ton of marriage, as it exists at present,
is miserable failure"
Julian looked rather taken by surprise
but he bowed with something more than
his usual air of Difference.
81 am flattered to find that Miss Chet-
woode and myself are of the same opin-
ion, )" he said.
81 have long held that opinion" said
Miss Chetwoode, gravely. / think no
woman could have true regard for
man, and yet be willing to impose upon
him the burdens which matrimony, ex-
cept in the most unusual cases, must en-
tail nor could man who possessed
any feeling of chivalry introduce the
woman he professed to love into that
which Mr. Ferrean well calls state of
servitude. L believe there is Platonic
regard which may and should exist be-
tween persons of opposite sex and which
would be far more satisfactory and ele-
waiting than that senseless passion @alled
Lowell"
This speech, certainly remarkable
one for young lady to make, was re-
ceived in silence by all save Rose Fer
rean; she turned up her pretty little
nose, and said, simply but forcibly, "Oh
pshawl"
For which irreverent remark Miss
Rose was rewarded by glance of scath-
ing rebuke from her brother, who had
been regarding Miss Chetwoode's ami
mated face in silent and admiring APP
proval. After little, Belle Bount
spoke, in her decisive fashion,
"You are right, Miss Chetwoode. do
not believe in matrimony, and think
love and love-making about the most
stupid business one could possibly en-
gage in"
Sidney Phillips shot an odd side-look
at the handsome black-eyed Belle and
1, who knew Sidney pretty well, had
never seen that look i'm his sleepy gray
eyes except when he meditated some
| piece of did6lerie. He had told me
once that he meant to marry Belle
Blount; not that he had offered himself
to her, nor, indeed, that he had ever
been especially attentive to her; but /
| believed implicitly from that hour that
Belle would be the future Mrs. Phillips.
| Sydney was accustomed to have his own
way; no one ever knew him to fail in
any undertaking. But now he said, in
his LATEST drawl,-
"Weally, now, Miss Belle, would you
accept that sort of Platonic fwiendship
that Miss ChetwoOde weferred to, aw-
in pwefewence to-aw-matrimony 2"
There were occasions when Sydney s
lisp and drawl were terribly exaspera-
ting; and there were other times when
peculiarities of speech were indescriba-
bly, funny. Harry Blount used to tell
story about him how once at college
l. ..Io ~ 4 =.
able animation, and remarked, in the
most excited tone he had ever been
heard to use,-
"Boys, there's wumpus down
stweet !"
GA whatp" was the astonished in
quiry from several of his chums; tc
which he responded
A wiot !"
What ?'
"a WOW !" shouted Sidney, furiously
and, covered with wrath and confusion
he hastily retreated, followed by the up
roarious laughter of the fellows. w,
all believed this story, because Sidney
invariably 'got mad'' when Harry tolC
it; which he did pretty frequently.
However, Belle Blount did not seen
to see anything amusing in Sydney
affectation just now. Her cheeks were
very red, and her tone was undeniabl.
snappish, so she answered him.
" Most decidedly, yes !"
" Aw-yaas; weally, now, matwimo
, ny is good deal of boah," continue,