The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-12-10
NO. so.
8LOONF1EIo PA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10,

to-nightp ?"
I" 1t can't be any visitor" Miss Fair
field replied, listening attentively.-
Everybody knows that the family
have been gone these three months"
Their cogitations were interrupted by
a loud peal of the bell, and by impatient
voices outside. The two women looked
each other in the face for moment at
the sound of those voices then the
housekeeper rushed out of the room and
downstairs.
Miss Fairfield seldom walked, but
spent the greater part of her time on q
sofa but she managed to get up and fol-
low Mrs. Conners to the head of the
stairs.
reached the balusters, and the first words
she heard were in Mrs. Burkhardt's
rich but sharp voice.
For mercy's sake, were we not ex-
pected, Mrs. Conners 2"
Miss Fairfield shivered as If she had
just received cold douche, and, stealing
noiselessly back to her own. room silent
ly shut the door.
Her hour of freedom was over. She
was lady of the manor no longer; and,
what was worse, the real lady had re-
turned in ill temper. She seated her.
self, and considered in what manner she
could possibly be responsible for the mis-
take which evidently existed.
She had hardly begun to puzzle over
the subject, when the door of the sit
ting was flung unceremoniously
open, and lady came fiouncing in.
How do you do, Cousin Margaret ?
1 must beg permission to sit herea while
since not another room in the house is
habitable. Why in the world our dis
patch was not received is more than L
can understand. We came to New
York yesterday, and staid there q day
on purpose to give you time to prepare
for us. 1t is certainly very annoy
ing"
81 am astonished," said Miss Fair
field very sincerely. I'VE haven't heard
word. was looking for a letter by
this steamer, thinking it possible you
might come so on and only few min
utes ago was remarking to the house
keeper that it very strange that you had
not written. Won't Mr.. Burkhardt and
Clarence come in here ?''
81 suppose not" said the lady of
the house rather ungraciously. "They
are trying to get into their rooms"
Mrs. Burkhardt, though in very ILL
temper at present, was rather hand
some and very stylish-looking lady
She might have been forty years of age,
was tall, broad-shouldered, had a mar
ble-white complexion, with black hair
and eyes, and large, regular features.
She had an intellectual head, the fore
head rather too high for generally ac-
cepted female beauty, and face express
sive of pride and talent.
"What is the news 2" she asked pres
emily, after having sat few minutes
tapping the carpet with the toe of her
shoe.
"Nothing of importance" Miss Fair
field replied, trying to recollect what
had happened. doctor Thayer and
Anne Wilson were married last week"
$50 he really married herl" the lady
exclaimed. He is a fool With his
name and talents and prospects, he
should have done better. If he must
marry a red-cheeked simpleton, why
hadn't he taken one who had money
/ have no patience with him. If he had
married Jane Seldom, as / told him
plainly 1 wanted him to, would have
employed him. Doctor Marston is real
ly getting too old. But, as 1t Is, will
not have him and, what is more,I will
get another doctor here"
"Anne is a very sweet girl" Miss
Fairfield ventured to say.
"Sweet !" exclaimed her companion
contemptuously, and then relasped into
silence again. Presently she recollected
her wrappings, and began impatiently
to pull her gloves of, toss her shawl
back, and unite the strings of her bon
net. 81 might just as well have staid
at home!" she said, in as low tone as
her anger would permit. T" We took
our journey for nothing"
"Won't he sell 2" asked the cousin
eagerly.
"No; and he is as stubborn and ag-
gravating as ever. He promises, though,
that he will not sell the place to any one
else. 1t Is my opinion that he only does