The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-11-16
THE SECRET MARRIAGE.

THE county of Kent has many objects
of interest to one who will take the
trouble to look for them, and nowhere in
England can person pass more agree
able time than in this fine old maritime
place. If were asked the reason why
l preferred to loiter in Kent, 1 should
find it difficult to answer, for there were
so many attractions there. The land
owners throughout the country are an
independent race of people, more so
than L found anywhere else in England.
Perhaps the fact that the lands are
generally held by the tenure of goUeItind
may have something to do with the
character of the Kentish people.
In the southern part of the county
there is fiat woody tract of fertile land,
called the Weald. 1t abounds in fine
cherries, madder and an inexhaustible
supply of birch, which is manufactured
into brooms.
In passing through this strip of
country ones attention would have
been attracted by quaint old brick
house with many gables rising above
the trees which surrounded it.
Squire Everleigh lived here, and so
had his ancestors for many generations.
Some of them had been saints and some
sinners. The saints had built churches,
endowed hospitals and aided the worthy
poor; the sinners had ridden at hard
pace the broad road that leads to -,
well, you know where. Many sturdy
yeomen had their hopes wrecked
when they looked upon the comely
lasses whom these wicked Everleigh's
of Everleigh Grange had wrought i'll.
The present occupant of the mansion
was Miles Everleigh. 1t will be suffl-
cient to say that he followed not after
the evil ways of his immediate prede-
cessors, but he did that which was right
in the sight of all men. Therefore his
days had been heightened (when 1 met
him) to three score and ten, and at that
time he could hold his own with the
best of them when the hounds were in
full cry.
But if Miles Everleigh was to be
found in his pew regularly each succeed
ing Sunday, his handsome son Boyce
was as true scion of the sinners as his
father was of the saints. If he OCCASION
ally showed his face at the parish
church, it was more to keep up feeble
attempt at respectability than aught
else.
Miles Everleigh passed many anxious
days contemplating the characteristics
of his eldest hope To be sure there was
some good qualities about him he was
brave, generous and not at all vindic-
tive. He even at time declared himself
repentant for his bad works, and there
were some who thought the day OF
regeneration had not passed away from
him altogether
A couple of miles in a southeasterly
direction from Everleigh Grange, in
q snugly built cottage dwelt David
Strachan, broom-maker. A daughter
of eighteen years, uncommonly pretty
his wife and himself composed his
household. David was a Methodist Of
the austere type, and his co-religionists
made his cottage very frequently the
place to hold prayer and compare theil
spiritual experiences.
Bessie Strachan did not give hel
father the satisfaction he desired In
regard to her religious duties. With
great difficulty she could be induced tC
attend the edifying exhortations at hel
fathers cot, and many were the domes
tic broils which followed therefrom
Whether an adverse influence had beer
exerted over her mind by Boyce Ever
leigh, whom she met at the last MayinG
party, or whether it was her own per
verse and obstinate will that rendered