The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-04-06

lue Deil rang lOt supper CiohOVo
passed her cousin In the hall, exclaim-
ing, with gay laugh, Just in time"
Grandfather was vexed about your
being with Mr.. Stanhope. He asked for
you sometime ago"
"I bore every body when am in
doors, and If 1 stir out L am needed"
she said, with swelling and indignant
heart.
Edith was her usual graceful self at
table, but Frances felt constrained and
chafed inwardly. Afterward she was
summoned to the library, and Mr..
Vaughan, now really angry, peremptor-
lily forbade her receiving Mr.. Stanhope
or walking with him, and laid down
some rules for her future conduct. She
might have borne this If he had paused
here, for in a certain way she did both
respect and love him. But when he
touched upon Mr.. Harold's regard for
her, and held him up as the kind of man
he desired her to marry, her endurance
reached its utmost bound. Usually her
temper flashed up in blaze, but now
there was white line about her mouth
and fierce determination in her eyes.
&C. have always intended that you
should have share in Woodlea, but If
you displease me in this matter of mar
riage,you need never expect one farthing
from me-"
Frances bowed haughtily, ard walked
across the hall to the drawing-room as
she had been commanded. Mr. Harold
had already taken up his post. To think
of spending all the glad young years of
her life with such man, listening to
his stereotyped compliments and thread
bare attempts at wit Well, tonight
she would be obedient, and tomorrow,
perhaps, choose another destiny. She
had it in her power.
Mr.. Vaughan looked in upon them
presently with satisfaction. Frances
was making herself really charming.
Edith's clearer eyes discerned the some
thing hidden beneath the mask. Coun-
sci, she told herself, would he of no
avail.
When Frances Vaughan laid her head
upon the pillow that night, relieving the
fiery throbbing pulses with bitter tears,
a crushing sense of loneliness over
whelmed her. Away from this formal
rule, this cold, loveless home, life looked
bright and full of enjoyment. Who
cared for her here ? She had always
been thorn in Edith's path. If there
had been no Edith, it seemed as if she
and her grandfather might have touched
some shore of real affection. And then
! she checked herself I" am selfish and
! wicked to think thus of her." she said,
between her sobs, "but we can never
| love one another. And as I am an
interloper here, who would care if I
went9 They are sufficient for each
others comfort and pleasure"
She was quiet and preoccupied the
next morning, and plead an engagement
with friend for the day, promising to
be back early. Edith saw her depart
with very curious feeling. 1t seemed
as if she had only to stretch out her
hand to save her cousin from some
impending evil. But her eyes kept their
cold, calm look, her voice had no strand
of tenderness in it.
When Frances returned no one knew.
Going to her room late in the afternoon
for some embroidery patterns she had
taken, Edith found her asleep. There
were traces of tears still visible upon the
long lashes shadowing her cheek, and
the flush of recent excitement fingered
over her brow. Another token caught
the quick eye of Edith, the glitter of a
plain gold ring on her third finger. She
had fancied that Frances might be
tempted to some daring step and leave
Woodlea, but to marry Ross Stanhope
and brave it out here, astonished her
beyond measure. She stole noiselessly
out of the room, leaving Frances alone
with her secret.
A woman less strong and reticent
must have evinced some curiosity, but
Edith acted quite as usual for the next
few days, although she could see
that her cousin was nervous and ill
at ease. The ring disappeared, and
some friend announced in the course of
a morning call that Mr.. Stanhope had
left the village. Mr.. Vaughan was de.
lighted at this.
He will be shocked at her duplicity
when he knows the TRUTH" Edith
thought, and she waited anxiously for
some announcement, but the weeks
passed away marked by no event save
the rejection of Mr.. Harold, and a GER