The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-09-02
SARAH BLAKE'S REVENGE.

- young nor very beautiful, but her
father owned the best and biggest farm
in Horley, and being an only child, she
was accounted an eligible match In
thrifty circles.
Dick Sanders and Ted Brant were
rival suitors for her hand She had but
to say the word which of them she
would have; but 1t was just that that
made her hesitate-there was so little
choice between them.
Such delays are always dangerous.
While Sarah wavered, uncertain which
to hold and which to let go, both at once
: her captives slipped the leash.
They might have pleaded that they
had done no worse than Others. For,
when Jenny Aliens father came with
his beautiful daughter to dwell in Hor-
lev, there was general flocking of the
swains about the shrine of the new idol,
and Ted and Dick only followed.
But SarahjBlake was not the woman
to view lovers defections lightly. Nor
did it weaken her resentment to- divide
it between two. She had quite enough
for both; and 1t being uncertain which
of them she would have chosen, in
meeting out her anger she gave each the
disadvantage of doubt.
Jenny Allen was civil and polite to
all without a preference to any. Dick
Sanders and Ted Brant were foremost
among her admirers. Indeed, the Others
stood good deal in awe of them and
hung back, for they were a pair of
churlish, brawny chaps, little inclined
to brook competition, and whose ill will
few cared to court. Between themselves
the question of which should yield was
fast reaching point where its settle
ment by "wager of battle, seemed in
evitable, when things took turn which
put new face on affairs.
Will Harvey came from town to spend
his summer vacation at an aunt's in
Horley.
One day while sauntering, rod in
hand, along the charming little river
that wound through the valley, Will un-
expectedly came on something that
drove fishing completely out Of his head.
On mossy bank, shaded by over
hanging boughs, sat a young girl deep
in the pages of a book. Her profile,
which was toward him, presented con-
tour so perfect that it would have defied
the sculptor's art to reproduce it. The
shower of glossy ringlets which fell up
on the matchless neck and shoulders
stole a new tinge from every shifting
glimmer of light sifted through the un-
dulating leaves. Her cheek would pale
and flush and her eyes flash and melt by
turns with the varied emotions called up
by what she read.
Will Harvey would have gladly re-
manned silent spectator of a sight so
lovely, but he felt that he had no right
to do so.
Advancing in manner to attract the
girls attention, he raised his hat and
asked some commonplace questions
about certain localities in the neighbor-
hood. These answered in voice so rich
and musical that every tone made his
heart flutter, he found more things to
ask about, till by degrees conversation
sprung up which lasted till the young
lady, suddenly remembering how long
it had continued, with blush caught
up her gypsy hat, bade him pleasant
good day, and tripped away lightly.
Thus began the acquaintance of Will
Harvey and Jenny Allen. But it was
not to end there. For if Will Harvey's
first slolen glimpse of Jenny settled her
title, in his eyes, to be called the loveliest
creature in the world, it is quite as GER
tain that her first impressions of the
handsome stranger were hardly less ex-
alted.
A formal introduction followed, and
in little time Will and Jenny were so
constantly together that the rural gos-
sips began to talk of their engagement
as quite certain.
This was wormwood to Dick Sanders
and Ted Brant. They began to look
askance at Will Harvey, and were only
restrained from picking an open quar-
rel with him by rejecting that he was a
trim built, wiry fellow, who mightn be
so easily handled, to say nothing of the
plucky look that was in his keen, dark
eyes.
One day Dick, at turn of the lane
down which he was strolling, sulking as
usual over his bad fortune, was met by
Sarah Blake.