The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-02-12

father, usually a jovial, genial old fell
low, was sad aud haggard, as though
some great trouble was wearing him
out The servants took advantage of
his abstraction, and held high carnival.
He had said nothing about his daugh-
ter's intended return. Her arrival fell
like a bombshell on the festive house
hold. The ehambermaid was caught
pounding vigorously on the piano. She
was entertaining her ''young man.
That individual, great gawky son of
Erin, was stretched out on the sofa, with
his feet, encased in dirty cowhide boots,
resting upon one of the easy-chairs. He
was also smoking u pipe. The cook
and coachman, both in a state of intOXi-
cation, in the kitchen below, were swear
ing eternal fidelity to each other in
maudln tones. The waitress had gone
to Tony Pastors, arrayed in one
of her mistress silk dresses.
10 say the least, Cathie was angry
She frightened the musical lover of the
chamber maid so that he made two
vows; one was, never to have anything
more to do with his deceitfil sweetheart,
the other, to keep well out of the par
lors of wealthy people. She sat up until
the waitress came back, and then gave
her such talking to that the young
woman didn't sleep any that night
When at last her father came in, she
told him of what had been going on,
but, seeing the sad detected look on his
face, fOrebode all reproaches. He, in
his turn, became angry, and for short
time that respectable residence was the
scene of considerable passion Next
morning the whole retinue of servants
were packed off. Cathie had her hands
full. So occupied was she with house
hold duties that Carruthers formed but
small part of her thoughts. Finally
the chaos became settled.
Then Cathie began to think about
her winter outfit. She went to her
father for money to purchase 1t with
He, with a pale face and broken voice,
told her he could not give it to her, for
he was on the verge of ruin.
The news rather startled her, but re-
covering herself she put forth every eff
fort to cheer up her downcast parent.
She partially succeeded, and sent him off
feeling stronger, and better able to cope
with adverse fates than he had felt for
long time. Cathie spent the rest of the
day in looking up, and sorting out, her
dresses and jewels calculating how much
they would bring, finding out what
amount was owing in small floating
debts, and building castles in the air, in
which she, as the simple country maid
en-, dressed in plain calico, recaptivated
the heart of Frank Carruthers. Such
mental excitement was rather enerva-
ting, so that when night came Cathie
felt quite wearied in mind and body
Her low spirits disappeared, however, las
soon as her father returned. He, too,
strange to say, appeared as jovial as ever
and all through dinner kept up a run
ing fire of jokes. She wondered, but
said nothing.
"Why don't you ask what makes me
feel so good humored?'' he queried. 81
have been waiting for that question all
the evening""
." thought you were trying to forget
your trouble, and was afraid that if 1
said anything it would make you un-
happy again"
"No, indeed, not bit Of it. My good
spirits are the real genuine stuff"
"What makes you so happyYn she
asked.
" Listen, it's like fairy story. Once
upon time there was merchant. He
did large business and made q great
deal of money. At last there came a
crisis. Several houses that owed him
large sums of money failed, and could
not meet their payments. One of his
confidential clerks absconded with thou
sands of dollars. Bills began to pour in ,
for money was so tight that everybody
and everything was pinched. Trade
was dull. In fine, ruin stared him in
the face. His daughter wanted to buy
some dresses, and he had to refuse her,
and tell her all about his circumstances.
She bore it like trump. That same
day, while he was sitting in his office,
trying to think of some means to escape
from his dilemma. he heard voice. II
insisted upon seeing him. The clerk,
according to orders, refused to admit
any one. There was scuffle, and q
tall, handsome, well-dressed young fel.
low cnnna intn the rnnnn The CLARK