The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-02-26

luler lOunu us Sehleu Ill my TOOll WIFI u
little RUNNER claret negus between us
an excellent lubricator for dusty day.
"Well, now, are you prospering,
Somers ?" replied, wishing to penetrate,
if possible, the mystery that enshrouded
him, deeming that 1t might be some
business difficulty in which he was in
volved
"Doing capitally," he replied;
"haven't lost dollar since L came here.
People have nick-named me Lucky
Tom How wrongly people judge in
measuring men.n
What do you mean by that ?" said
I, as l saw the cloud creep over his face,
as you have, while standing on the
mountains, seen shadow fitting across
the meadow.
g mean, said he, =" that in measuring
us they take but one feature into the
account, and upon that base a hypothesis
of happiness, or luck, as the case may
be-
" Are you not happy ?" asked, in a
tone calculated to win his confidence.
" am far from it, he replied Sin
deed, more miserable man is not to be
found in these parts.
" In what regard Y'
"My wife is dumb, he almost sobbed,
in answer to my question.
"Dumb? ?'' repeated, and thinking
to rally him, said in iocular manner,
"Well, that is very singular thing
to be sad for; L know many husbands
who would be too happy to have such a
calamity happen to them. Burn says:
AN auld wife's tongues a freckles
matter and there's no contention in
house where perpetual silence is the
bond of unity!"
l saw that he was hurt, and fastened
to remedy the evil had done. Taking
him by the hand, 1 said
Tim, l assure you l would not
wound your feelings willingly. lam no
less your friend than 1 ever was, and no
less worthy your confidence. Now L
wish you to tell me the cause of your
trouble, that L may share it with you,
or possibly alleviate it,"
He hesitated few moments, and then
said, with considerable emotion
"Well, Burner, old friendship is
stirring within me, and shall do at its
prompting that which L thought nothing
could wiring for me. You remember
how happy was. There was not a
man in the world who had more friends,
true friends, than had. My home was
happy one-my wife pleasant, my
children handsome and intelligent. You
never say my wife, Burner?"
My name, in the connection, sounded
like an imprecation upon his wife, and
the Burner wrathful expletive-" burn
her," Somers continued
"When we moved up here things
went on in pretty much the same pleas.
ant way until there came to the village
lady whom had formerly known and
about whom and me there had been a
little gossip in old days. Our acquaint-
ance was renewed, and / visited her
several times made no concealment of
my intimacy with her, and invited Ny
wife to accompany me, but she declined.
She wished to make no new acquaint-
ances, she said. There was frequent
visitor to my house-a relative of my
wife's - who poisoned her ears with
suspicious that it was not right between
May Brennon and myself. She repeated
the old gossip, with additions, spoke of
my visits to Miss BrennOn, and limited
at criminality, as that nasty-minded
class always will, who, having small
virtues of their own; and depraved
fancies, conjure up impure conceits re-
garding their neighbors, imputing
lasciviousness and wrong where the
strictest purity might not see occasion
to blush. / was returning home one
summer evening. on foot, having spent
the day in business at a town few
miles from this, when, by strange
chance, short distance from town, L
met Miss Brennon. 1t was pure acci-
dent that brought us together, and she
turned back with me, taking my arm.
We walked slowly, as the weather was
warm, and stopped moment on the
rustic bridge yonder to look down into
the stream and say few pleasant words
about old times. 1 saw some one pass
by us as we stood there, but was indiffer-
ent as 10 whom it might be, and bidding
my companion goodbye, went home,