The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-06-24

mind about the pony that was to be
brought from Lynton p'
"It's nothing about either" she re-
piled, sadly.
"Then what on earth is 1t =" he con-
tinued.
"Why, you remember that the night
before Mrs. East died she told me was
her daughter, !" said Dora. I" You would
not believe the story, and I have since
almost forgotten 1t; but am beginning
to fear it was true, after ALL"
"What makes you think so ?" he
asked.
" A man came this morning who is,
or who pretended to be the husband of
Mrs. East's sister," was the reply "and
can scarcely imagine, Morley, that he
would have been as confident as he was
had it been entirely false; besides, If
Mrs. East had only been delirious, as you
supposed, how could he have known
anything about it9 There was no one
else in the room but myself, and have
never told any one but you.'
Morley looked annoyed, but he said,
quietly:
"I presume this person did not come
merely from disinterested motives to cor
roborate Mrs. East's story ?"
"No, indeed" replied Dora, her face
flushing with anger and shame, "he
came while you were out, hoping to in
duce me to pay him for keeping the Sc
cret, as he was pleased to call it, from
you. refused to bribe him, and as
sured him that you would do the same;
and he said that if you did, he should
find the other branch of the family and
sell his knowledge to them.'
{" wish L had come home little
sooner, if only for the pleasure of kick
ing him out of the house," said Nor
ley.
&c thought you would consider that
what said was right" said Dora, smil-
ing at his vehemence; "but, oh Nor
ley dear, 1 cannot help feeling that it
will be a hard trial to part with the old
place; and Lynton is named after it,
too"
$50 you leave me out of the question
altogether, Dora ?" said her husband
"Does it not occur to you that L shall
love you less for the loss ?''
"No; was so sure that would make
no difference to you, that never even
thought of it, replied Dora.
"And you were right, my darling
wife," Morley, endorsing his words by
very love-like embrace but there is
not even the risk that should do so, for
unfortunately for the little game your
visitor intended to play, hold all the
winning cards in my own hands,"
What do you mean, Morley ?" she
asked.
"Simply this, DEAR" he replied; Z" the
gentleman who claims the honor of be-
ing your uncle may have some amount
of cleverness in his composition, bat he
has certainly placed himself in an awk-
ward dilemma"
Why, can you prove that his story
is false p" asked Dora, with sudden
gleam of hope.
"No," said Morley; "and I shall not
attempt to do so; because, my little
wife, L know it to be true"
"Oh, Morley, am so sorryl" said
Dora.
"And so am l." said Morley; "but
at the same time, 1 am glad that
hold counterpiece of information that
renders it of no consequence"
"No consequence that the place we
have taken SO much trouble to improve
should go to strangerl" said Dora; enc
consequence that our boy has only {
very doubtful right to his name! oh
Morley!"
Don't look so reproachful, Dora,
said her husband; " the Hall shall b.
yours as much as ever, and I'll prove t.
you that our boy has the most undoubt
ed right to his name ; though even il
all the horrors you have conjured VI
were really to happen, it would not ruiz
us you know"
81 know that" said Dora but still
But still you could not help look
ing upon it somewhat in the light of {
misfortune," said Morley, laughing
"however, there is no chance of it com
ing to that; and now, are you prepares
to do nothing but listen to me for lit
tie while ?"
"Yes, provided you have something
agreeable to tell me-" said Dora.