The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-06-28

hope you have brought a smart
dress, young lady, and all your dia-
monds, for there is to be a perfect in
vasion of natives.'
"Oh, think 1 shall do" laughed
Ef1le, 'though was not prepared for
such festivity."
"They don't happen often, thank
goodness; why, now think of it, you
left us in the lurch on the last grand
occasion; this very day, last year, by
Jove, so it was.''
Yes. Oh, we won't talk of that"
said Effie, shuddering and turning pale.
She was relieved by the entrance of
Mrs. Holt, who offered to take her to
her room.
have done the best 1 can, dear;
ordered my den to be turned into a bed
room for you. There was literally no
other room available. There is'only one
drawback; it is at the end of a long
passage, has no lock to the door, and is
not very near any other room"
" 1t will do beautifully, am sure"
cried Effie, vexed at the trouble she was
giving, and feeling she could not in
reason make any objections, though the
idea of an isolated room did not strike
her pleasantly.
That is my husbands dressing
room," said Mrs. Holt, as they passed
an open door. Now turn to the right
and at the end of this passage is your
room. chose it for my den on account
of its inaccessibility."
When reached it looked such cheer
full, bright little room, with the after
noon sun streaming into it that Effie
was charmed. elf I feel lonely can
keep Susan with me-" she thought.
snow shall leave you to rest," said
Mrs. Holt. "If you could get little
nap before dinner, you would be all the
better for it.'
81 must write to mamma and Launce,
that will be better than sleeping, and
will refresh me quite as much. What
time do you dine ? 1902 Very we'll;
good-by till then"
really believe Simmons is wrong
in his head,'' said Colonel Holt to his
wife as he came into her room half an
hour before dinner.
" What has he done now, then ?"
" The fellows manner is so odd
can't understand him. AS soon as you
had taken Effie up to her room sent
for him to say an extra plate must be
laid at the dinner table, and stated the
reason. He didn't make any answer,
and looking up saw he was white as
death and shaking all over; then he
hegan a stammering request to be allow
ed to go away, he was not well, and so
on. However, L cut him short, and
told him if he wanted to go he must
wait till tomorrow, and that then, if go
he would, it must be for good but that,
of course, he must stop and do his work
tonight. With that 1 left him, and
| just now 1 saw him at work in the
dining room, so suppose he has re-
covered his senses.
How very strange his conduct is"
said Mrs. Holt. cit is exactly year
ago to-day since his last vagary."
Contrary to her wont, Mrs. Holt felt
somewhat of an anxious hostess as she
greeted her guests that evening, but she
was reassured by Simmons manner,
which was as composed as usual. Effie,
obeyed her natural instincts, was late,
and reaching the drawing-room after
dinner had been announced, fell to the
lot of shy, red-haired youth, who took
her in in solemn silence, apparently
abashed by the radiance of her dia-
monds. 1t was pleasant, social dinner
enough, and all went we'll, to Mrs.
Hollis secret relief. She gave sigh of
satisfaction on reaching the drawing
room, feeling now that all danger was
over. Never had Effie been brighter or
merrier. AS soon as the men came up,
Mrs. Holt persuaded her to sing. She
had lovely voice, but was usually too
shy and nervous to perform before
strangers. However, tonight she SEEM
ed different creature, and not little
to her own surprise felt every inclina-
tion to comply with the request. Every
one was enchanted, and she was besieg-
ed for another song.
" You must have some coffee first"
said Colonel Holt, beckoning to Sim
mons to bring it.
&C. am better without Coffee" said
Effie, looking up to decline it, when her
eyes suddenly met those of Simmons,