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

" He only reached America few days
ago, but he says in his note that he owes
his first duty to me, and shall pay It
with pleasure. He has been away just
three years"
Both girls remembered the summer
made 80 pleasant by his frequent visits.
Frances was but child, yet his appre-
citation had stirred her not unlike the
love of her dead father. Every path had
been made smoother by him. 1t seemed
as If she had hardly lived since then.
She thought of him as grave, quiet
man, tender and generous of heart, and
with most unwearying patience.
Would he care for her now as he had
then, for she needed friend sorely.
" Mrs. Parker must put the square
chamber in order" Mr.. Vaughn went
on. :" 1t is long while since we have
had friends to stay, and am really
delighted. l shall enjoy his visit SO
much His foreign experiences have
not led him to forget us, though it is
not in him to neglect an old friend"
" He will be somewhat changed"
Edith responded. "These years of
travel and mingling constantly with
foreign society mustShave made some
impression upon him." And then she
thought, with conscious pride, that
but few could surpass her in elegance or
beauty.
The announcement caused a pleasant
excitement at Woodlea. Edith with a
watchful eye overlooked the prepara-
tions, instructed the housekeeper within
doors and the gardener without. There
must not be anything that would jar on
the most fastidious taste, no small neg
lect, no lack of order.
Mr.. Vaughan thought of something
besides the pleasure of welcoming back
an old friend. Evan Murray of all other
men, would he have chosen for his sue
cessor at Woodlea, had there been no
other heir. And since Edith's husband
would fill this post, he had speculated
would be. Not that she had lacked
suitors, but she had held herself regally
above them thus far. More than once
he had half wished Mr.. Harold's fancy
had taken that direction, for the Har-
old's had come of proud old race. But
since Mr.. Murray had returned heart
whole, unwon by any foreign beauty, a
new hope stirred the old man.
And though Edith betrayed no undue
eagerness to meet him, it must be con-
fessed that vague idea, not unlike her
grandfather's, found place in her mind.
He had liked her three years ago, and
she had lost no charm since then. A
mature, high-bred, beautiful woman of
twenty-three, cultivated and accom-
plished. 1t was not vanity simply
that led her to rate herself thus highly t;
she had seen enough of the world to
know that she could command admira-
ton from the highest sources.
Three years before, Frances, only a
child, to be sure, had been anannoyance
aud a marplot. Mr.. Murray evinced a
strange liking for her, and it was quite
impossible for Edith to Danish her from
all their walks and conversations. And
now what was to be donep Had the
girl really any secret, and would 1t be
wise to wrest 1t from her? Nothing
could compensate, in Mr.. Murray's esti-
nation, for lack of truth and frankness.
All deceit and double dealing was abhor-
rent to him, and she knew that Frances
had wound herself in some net. Since
Ross Stanhope's departure she had
changed perceptibly. Edith had not
given up her first wild thought that a
marriage had taken place between them,
and she well knew that she both wrote
and received letters unknown to hei
grandfather. Edith possessed the cool
wariness of an Indian, and she waited
day after day for some sudden betrayal
knowing that any secret or imprudent
step would forfeit the regard of the
young girls only relative, as well as hel
home. And she bore her waiting the
more patiently because Frances, after
the first day or two, evinced no special
interest in Mr.. Murray's coming.
Indeed, she well knew she had nc
interest. Her desire for friend expired
as suddenly as it had been kindled. She
had shut herself out of the pleasant
things of life, chosen her path, and mus
walk in it, were the end bitter or sweet
Above all, she had an intense desire to
get away from Woodlea, and it seemed
rather as If the fates were conspiring tC
keep her here.
Mr.. Murray made his appearance one
lovely summer afternoon. A polished