The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-02-05


Bob Just touched his bald head and re-
piled:
"I heard the ladies up"
John pitched the revolver on the sofa
and stood pensive. Finally he said with
q sardonic smile
Mr.. Withers, how do you propose to
get out of thisY Shall | call in the
ladies and let you explainY They will
presently be wanting to know what we
have done with the burglar"
Bob made no reply. Already bitterly
Inundated, he saw no way of avoiding
indefinite and yet bitter humiliations.
John thought few minutes longer,
and then he said
"Take seat, Mr.. Withers l have
proposition to make"
They sat down. h3et
Z" You are aware" continued John, in
the calmest, most imperturable tone,
" that don't like your match with my
sister, and i have done my best to break
it off. But she is an obstinate girl, and
had pretty much given up hope. These
peculiar circumstances have most unex-
pectedly put you in my power and l
propose to make the most of my advan-
tage. If were to call in Angie now
and introduce you, l feel tolerably well
assured that it would he the end of your
matrimonial expectations in that quar-
ter. Still, you shall have a chance for
yourlife l will call her if you say so? 2"
And John rose.
/" For Gods sake don't let her come
in here!' groaned Bob, in abject
panic.
John grinned stepped toward the door,
and then turned back irresolutely, NUT
tering:
"Wonder if it wouldn't be the shortest
way out to call her down." Then with
a saving reflection upon the uncertainty
of a woman's course under any given set
of circumstances, he came back, and re-
seating himself opposite Bob, said, with
a sardonic smile: so you don't like
my suggestion of giving you one more
chance with Angie? On the whole,
think you are wise. The other alternative
is to leave her at once, and relinquish
your engagement and never see her
again. Make your choice, and asquickly
as convenient, for I'm getting sleepy"
and he yawned lazily.
Bob sat in an attitude of utter dejec-
tion, staring at the ashes of the fire,
which an hour ago had blazed as bright
iy as his own love-lit fancies. He was
completely demoralized and almost in
capable of thought or resolution. There
was something so ptiable in Bob's odd
looking, dismantled figure, halfdressed,
with that queer, white, bulbous head,
dimmed, black eyes, and expression of
crushing shame and defeat, that it would
have moved almost any one to COM
passion. 1t did stir compunctions in
George, but there was no mercy in
Johns still, blue eyes. Two or three
minutes passed in silence so complete
that even the almost noiseless move
ment of the French clock on the mantel
was directly audible.
"You are taking altogether too long
to make up your mind, Mr.. Withers.
Itwill make shorter work to call Angie"
finally said John, sharply, his patience
quite at an end He rose and stepped to
the door as he spoke.
" 1t won't be necessary, John-here /
am - said clear voice, with sharp
ring in it that the family had learned to
know meant decisive work, and Angie
stepped into the room, her blue eyes
flashing with indignation and her lips
trembling with scorn, beautiful as a
goddess.
Bob started up from his abject atti-
of man waiting his doom from the
firing-squad. AS he stood there, drawn
up to his full height, with just touch
of appeal softening the defiance of his
expression, it was a manly face and
figure in spite of all. But her brothers
received Angles first attention.
g You mean, cowardly fellows ~ she
said, in tones of concentrated contempt.
9 would not have believed that men
were so mean And / am almost as
much ashamed of you, Mr.. Withers,"
she added, turning to Bob, with softer
but yet angry voice. 6 Did you think,
sir, that 1 took you for your beauty? /
don't care if you wear forty wigs, or
none. You are absurdly vain, SIR" She
was smiling now. "You should know
that when woman loves a man it is of
grace and not of works. Anyhow,