The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-03-09

concealing her own.
And so matters stood when one pleas
ant afternoon in summer Lizzie sat sew
ing with her mother, as she always
called Mrs. Ezra. There was an un-
usual shade of pensiveness on the young
girls face, and her mother watched her
narrowly. At length the latter said:
You seem very sober, to-day, for
you, Lizzie. Has anything happened to
make you So?
A blush and some low, inaudible
words were the only reply. Mrs. Jocelyn
went on:
"Are you thinking of anything that
brother Robert said to you last night as
you walked in the orchard together?"
Why, mother, did you know ?"
asked Lizzie, looking up in surprise.
"Yes, dear. your father and 1 have
known all along that Robert was fond
of you. What did you say to him 2''
What could say" replied Lizzie
in O broken voice, "but that such a
thing is impossible ?"
81 don't see, dear, why it should be
impossible. You are surprised because
you have not thought about it; but
when you come to reflect l hope your
answer will be different If your father
and / have wish in the world it is that
you should marry Robert"
ooh, mother, how can ?" exclaimed
Lizzie, looking up in astonishment.
"Why not prayY am sure it is not
every girl has such an opportunity-a
man of character and position, and SO
good and kind as he is. Then you know
he is well off; you would have every
thing that money could buy. And L
always thought you were fond of Rob
ert."
eyes, mother, but not that way. He
is my uncle"
81 know you have called him SO, but
you knew all the time he was only your
second cousin. There is no reason why
you should love him in that way as
you say, unless you like somebody else.
Is that it
"No-indeed, no." poor Lizzie faltered
hastily, turning away her face, now
burning with bushes. The eyes of
Mark Boynton rose up before her with
a glance of reproach at this denial !;
but how could she confess a love for one
who perhaps did not care for her.
clam glad to hear it," Mrs. Ezra
went on, "for am sure you will in
oI II
you dearly and you have it in your
| power to make up to him in part for
| what he suffered through your moth
er."
Lizzie looked up with startled eyes.
"What do you mean, mother ?" she
asked in astonishment.
Then Mrs. Ezra told all the story of
Roberts love and blighted hopes, of his
delicate kindness to poor Phoebe during
the sad years of her married life, and
| how in her last distress he had succored
her and her child. She reminded the
| young girl of his generous and watchful
care over her childhood and growing
youth. And then, though the good
woman had no idea of taking mean
advantage, she was yet so anxious to
win Lizzie's consent to the match she
thought best for her, that she did work
upon the girls gratitude to herself and
husband, though, ordinarily it would
not have occurred to her to think
whether or not she had conferred favors
on one who was almost like her own
daughter.
Their talk was long, protracted and
often renewed, and Robert added his
pleadings. He told of the years during
which he had watched her growing
beauty, loving her first for her mothers
sake, but as she bloomed into woman
hood so like that mother, he found him.
self renewing the dreams of his youth,
daring to hope that happiness might yet
be his. The strongest, the best fortified
woman's heart must ever be more or
less moved by the evidence of deep
and earnest affection; and poor Lizzie
had the yielding, plant nature of her
mother, and Mark Boynton was away
she had not seen him for weeks and
not knowing that he was occupied al
the county town with the final trial
OF. his case, she felt herself neglected by
him.
Why, If he really loved her, was he
not here to say so, and to stand by hei
in this time of trial? Soft came about
that, hopeless in the hands of affection