The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-10-21

without showing his face at 1t, re-
piled:
"What is 1t, Hepzibah am going
to my study
"Not first, dear. Please come and see
me for moment. am all alone"
Without, replying, the major obeyed,
and passing into the handsome shadowy
room, stood beside the bed, where lay
woman whose fair and delicate face bore
the patient, almost angelic, look of one
who had suffered very long and very
cruelty, but whose pains, meekly borne,
are consciously drawing to a final close.
She was Major Catheart's wife, and the
only being the cold proud man had ever
loved, and she was dying.
He stopped and kissed her tenderly,
asking:
"How have you been this morning,
dear ?''
| " AS well as usual. But you, Reg
inald how has it been with you?
knew by your step upon the stair that
you were suffering, and your face tells
the story. Oh, my darling husband,
they have insulted you, as we feared
Is it not so p''
"Yes, Hepzibah, they have insulted
me, and SO cruelty that will no longer
live among them. l have resolved that
we will go to the northern provinces. We
have good friends at Halifax, good and
loyal to the king whom these anarchists
/ q ro rornpa rinU tO defxy -
"Even the parson and the doctor,
reasonable and law-abiding men as they
are, say that the colony should be free,"
said the invalid, timidly, and stealing
her thin hand into her husbands. But
he frowned impatiently.
"This is not talk for wo men or chill
dren,'' said he, coldly. "And you are
of those who conversation should be on
heaven. 1t would better become Parson
Holbrook to tell you SO, instead of dis
turbing your mind with matters so un-
fit for it at any time"
The wife remained meekly silent for q
moment, and then, softly pressing her
husbands finger, said:
MY love, you will wait until / am
gone, will you not, before you leave Pill
grim Vale :"
"Gone, Hepzibah l-gone where ?"
The wife looked up with fearful eyes,
but her reply was prevented by the sud-
den entrance of young girl, her cheeks
flushed and her eyes bright with anger
and excitement.
Father, John Belknap has been in,
and told me of the insult they have offer
ed you," exclaimed she. "It isa shame,
burning shame, and hope you will
show them"
"Dolly, am not very strong to-day,
dear, and you are speaking loudly and
unadvisedly."
1t was the mothers gentle voice, and
Dolly, who would have joyfully taken
the part of Joan of Arc, or even
Boadicea, fell upon her knees directly
beside her mothers pillow, soothing the
invalid, and accusing herself of all man.
ner of evil in forgetting even for mo-
ment the consideration and tenderness
owing to her.
Major Catheart stood looking at the
two for few moments, then quietly left
the room, and little later dispatched
servant with note requesting the inn
mediate attendance of DIR. Holcom. The
worthy physician was one of those who
had left the church so pointedly few
hours earlier, and the proud man, thus
insulted, by no means forgot or forgave
the insult, but the feelings of the hus-
band were stronger than all others at
that moment,and Hepzibah's words had
startled him with new and terrible
| idea.
The doctor came, was closeted for
half an hour with the major, made
short call upon his patient, and left the
house. A little later Major Catheart
summoned his daughter to his private
room, and addressed her, briefly and al
most sternly:
dolly, DR.. Holcom does not disguise
from me the cruel truth known for some
time to him and TO your mother. She is
dying, surely and swiftly. Did you
know 1t Y'' nl 3tl
The girl hid her pale face between her
hands.
80 Mamma has said it, but hoped"
Her voice died away, and her fathers
filled the space.
"Hope no longer. He says two or
three months are as much as we may
look for. and even that brief respite de-