The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-08-05

dll JueSe years VI ShCrlHCe W uuby3 IS-
malned with her in the little white cot
tage in Bayville.
Hannah Graves had been "Miss Han
nah' to all the village for many year,
and her small, sprightly figure and
charity basket" were well known in
the town, and there were few who did
not give her due praise.
But she had incurred the ill-will of
Gertrude Lorrimer and Nettle Morris by
giving them booth In charity fair
which did not suit them at ALL
They wanted the fower-stall, around
which the young men congregated; but
this Miss Hannah refused them. The
flower.stall had been given to two young
girls who were poorer in this worlds
goods than were Gertrude and Nettie,
and no persuasion could induce Miss
Hannah to make change. The posi-
tion and wealth of Gertrude and Nettie
had no effect on her, and they vowed to
have revenge for the slight they fancied
had been put upon them, and from that
time forth lost no opportunity to ridi-
cule and censure the plain little
spinster.
\ 4
The windows of the breakfast room
were wide open, the fire not made, the
table destitute of dishes or repast, and
1t was nearly half past eight o'clock.
DR.. Ashley was standing on the hearth
rug, with decided frown on his hand
some face.
"This sort of thing has gone on long
enough" he muttered impatiently. Il
ordered breakfast at eight o'clock, and
never get it until nine. My fire is new
er built in the study, aad every one of
my shirts need an overhauling. 1 sup
pose I'll have to change housekeepers
or else get married.
a vigorous pull at the bell-cord caused
the entrance of the cook, whose face
was flushed, and whose manner was
hurried and cross.
"Where is Susan ?" DIR. Ashley asked,
" And why is the dining-room in such
state of disorder? Am to have my
breakfast to-day ?"
"Susan is with Mrs. Beck, sir; and
she hasn't had minute to see to the
room. 1 had to go to the milkman's,
and to tell Miss Sims that Mrs. Beck
wanted her to-day SO my breakfast is
not ready"
"Does Mrs. Beck require Susan's SER
vices every morningY 1t appears to me
that my comfort is of no moment to
any one. Tell Susan to come to me at
once; and let me have my breakfast
without further delay, please.''
Susan, a plump, rosy girl, answered
her masters summons after some delay
She said Mrs. Beck had headache,
and she had been required to bathe it ;
but Miss Sims was to come to nurse the
housekeeper the rest of the day.
Leonard Ashley tried to keep his tenn
per; but, as he ate his hastily prepared
breakfast, he made up his mind to have
change of dynasty.
+" Mrs. Beck has imposed on me long
enough" he thought, "and treats me
as if she thought she were comforting a
favor by remaining here. pay her
twenty dollars month to lie in bed,
and have Susan to wait on her, while
my comfort is of no moment whatever.
There's Singleton he stood house
keepers and boarding as long as he was
able and then married pretty Florrie
Truedale. Now he has pleasant, COM
Portable home, his buttons all sewed on,
a congenial companion is always at
hand, and worry on with Mrs. Beck.
1 have mind to propose to Miss Lor-
rimer. wonder If she would make me
happy. She seems like pleasant, nice
girl; and she is young and handsome
enough to grace the home of any man.
/ am thirty-three years old, and it is
time 1 was settled; to-night-no, to-
night must go to Singleton 's-but to-
morrow night will call on the fair
Gertrude and have my fate decided. If
l am so fortunate as to win her, can
say adieu to Mother Beck, and welcome
comfort, ease, happiness"
The door opened, and the entrance of
a portly woman in snowy wrapper in
terrupted Leonard's train of thought
She sank into a cushioned armchair,
with heavy sigh, and requested Susan
to hand her a cup of coffee.
6 Mrs. Beck, " said Leonard, ga few
plain words occasionally do world of
good. find that my comfort is very
much neglected. This morning the fire