The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-05-27
THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMFIELD Pa MAY 27, 1879

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nearly mile from any other residence;
and here, in solitary state, with only
two ancient servltors for his household,
he had lived ever since could remen-
ber. He was morose, ill-tempered
man, and some early cross had made
him adopt a perfectly hermit-like Sc
clusion, though his wealth would have
commanded every advantage society
could offer. II was early in November
that was summoned to attend this odd
genius, professionally. The little note
brought to my ofiiceiby an elderly man
on horseback, was signed A" Lillian
Graham, and urged my immediate at
tention.
1t was long, cold drive, but the man
represented his master as very i'll, so /
prepared to obey the summons. "I had
no idea your master had daughter"
said, referring to my note.
"That's masters niece" was the re-
ply; "a nice, sweet.spoken young lady
as see. She comes down on a visit
sometimes from her fathers place near
Albany. They were burnt out, her
fathers folks, last winter, and the
family all went to Europe while the
new house was a-building, They came
home about fortnight ago, but they
won't go to the new house until spring,
so some of them's boarding in New
York, and some in Albany, and Miss
Lillian she's come to spend the winter
with her uncle. They're all coming
down for Christmas, L expect"
found my new patient very i'll, and
for week my visits were frequent, and
more than once passed whole night
by his bedside. L do not mean this for
love-tale, SO L will not weary my
reader with the why and where fore of
my heart bending in allegiance to Lii
liam Graham's charms. Her beauty,
gentleness and winning grace touched
my heart as no woman had ever before
thrilled it, and before that weary week
of anxiety and watching was over l
loved her.
AS her uncle began to recover, my
visits slid from professional capacity
to social one, and saw that my well
come was a sincere one from both the
old gentleman and the fair girl, whose
devotion to his sick bed had proved her
love. 1 was agreeably surprised to find
the hermit neither SO savage or inac-
cessible as he had been represented to
be. He had painful chronic disorder;
his manner was bursque, and his voice
often harsh, but he could soften, and /
was able to give him relief from pain,
for which he repaid me gracious re-
ception.
Christmas was drawing near, and /
had resolved to lay my heart before Lii
lian, and ask her to be my wife. 1 was
heir to considerable property left by my
father. had a good practice, a pleasant
home, and could offer her to the pure
love of young heart, SO L was not
without hope, especially as L could see
the flush deepen on her cheek, and q
glad light spring to her blue eyes when
ever 1 was announced. She wore
mourning, and often longed to question
her about the loss it implied, but our
| private interviews were very brief, and
but seldom occurred, and she never
spoke of her sorrow. 1, too, had story
to tell. OF course, if she became my
wife, she must hear about Trot.
1t was the day before Christmas, and
the snow was smooth and hard round
Hopedale; SO L ventured to propose a
sleigh-ride, meaning to open my heart
to her as we drove. She accepted my
proposal readily, and we were soon on
our way. Somehow there fell long
silence between us; longing but not
daring to speak, my eyes fixed upon
that lovely face framed in its pretty fur
bound hood, the eyes looking down, the
sweet mouth set with sadder express
sion than L had ever seen 1t wear. Sud-
denly she spoke:
Il expect my parents, brothers, and
sisters here tomorrow"
"For Christmas gayeties Y' 1 ques-
toned.
"No, to escape them. They are COM
ing here to pass the day quietly, far
away from any festivity. 1t is a sad day
for us. Doctor, do you believe in q
broken heart 2"
eyes know they exist"
"And are fatal ?''
"Sometimesl 1 have seen heavy sor.
row drain away life!"
UMv moor sistay- ,; sha said aadlv he,