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

CNHE WAS little thlng, says tne
- Leadville Herald, with large lu-
minous eyes, that lighting up her fea-
lures, rendered positively attractive a
face that would have otherwise passed
in crowd without second glance, and
wealth ofcoal black hair neatly arrang-
ed, except single heavy lock that had
by its own weight escaped from its fast
enings She seemed half frightened at
her position, and her dark cheeks and
forehead flushed to the roots of her hair
as she stepped into the little room where
the squire sat, dispensing justice. She
seemed not over sixteen, and modesty
was apparent in her very attitude, as
she stood with folded hands awaiting
the commencement of further proceed
ings
Her companion was an awkward,
grizzled looking man, apparently fifty
years of age, with an ugly scar stretch
ing from the inner point of his left eye,
across his cheek to nearly the point of
his chin, describing an arc, which had
left wide track bare of an otherwise
luxuriant growth of gray whiskers.-
Hair matted, and growing low down on
his forehead, together with the distor-
tion of an eye, occasioned by the scar,
gave his countenance sinister look pos
itively repulsive.
The ill-assorted pair stood for mo-
ment, while his honor disposed of some
papers before him, the man fumbling a
worn-out felt hat, while the girl nervous
| ly twisted her fingers. AS the justice
turned toward them expectantly, the
man stepped to the desk and leaning to-
ward his honor, said in confidential
husky whisper:
esquire, you marry people, L sup
pose.n The official nodded.
"Well, l reckon can give you little
job this morning"
(" Who are the parties p'
"This little gal here an me-"
His honor pushed back his chair,
| put on his spectacles, and deliberately
| surveyed the man from head to foot
His inspection finished, ,he turned to the
girl, whose bushes under his earnest,
inquiring gaze, chased each other over
her neck, cheeks, and forehead until she
was one glow of burning color.
"See here, my man." said the squire
"come into my private room, for mo-
ment. Take seat, miss"
Leading the way to the inner room,
his honor closed the door, and turned
fiercely upon his companion. "Ain' t
you ashamed of yourself,you old scound-
rel, to come here, expecting me to mar
ry you to child like that Y''
"Now don't get hot, squire. know
that amt much to look at I've been
told that ever since was a kid, and
this beauty spot" touching the scar,
Saint an improvement. An its all
along o. this scar, that this 'ere circum-
stance has come about This was the
way of it: You see, what with being
so ugly, and awkward, and all of that, j
amt been the best man in the world. ]
never harmed anybody, but 1 generally
kept pretty full, and if got ahead any
why it all went in few days for liquor;
and so travelled round, and was never
anything but vagabond. Well, last
spring struck the camp, an saw men
making money, an after big drunk
found myself without red cent.
This amt no place for a man when
he's dead broke, and tumbled to my,
self, and chopped short. 1 worked Q
month on the Little Pittsburg, and new.
er got drunk once, an then took my
money an laid in two months grul
stake, and went up to South Evans an
took up claim. There's where 1 frs
met Kitty out there. Her father haC