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

tell you"
Mrs. Holt asked no further questions
till the man had left the room. Then
she said: =" My dear. when you allowed
Simmons to leave, did you remember
that Mrs. Perceval and Ef1ie were com
ing to-day, and that we have a dinner
party tomorrow
Yes, did not forget, but the man
would go. could get nothing out of
the fellow, except that he must go this
very day, and would return by the
twentieth"
"But what reason did he give for
such extraordinary conduct Y'
"None whatever. He looked misera-
bly, i'll and changed, as pale as a ghost.
never saw such a scared object in my
life."
"Do you think he has been drink
ing?"
"Oh, no, he was as sober as a judge.
Never mind, his brother will do very
we'll, no doubt; he's butler at Beau
champ, and looks decent sort of fellow.
By-the-by, what time is the carriage to
be at the station to meet the Perce-
walls ?"
Before Mrs. Holt could reply, Sim
mons No. appeared, bearing a tele-
gram.
'This has just arrived, madam"
ga telegram Some change of plans,
suppose, on the part of the Percevals,"
said Mrs. Holt, opening the envelope
quickly. "Oh, how tiresomel Listen:
So sorry we cannot come. Effie has
one of her nervous attacks. Will write
all particulars"
"Well, that's no end of bore. Plague
take these girls with their nervous
attacks Here we've the nuisance of a
dinner-party of natives tomorrow all to
no purpose"
"They must have been asked some
time or other, my DEAR" said Mrs. Holt
mildly; "but it's very provoking, 1
own"
"And so Miss Effie and her wonderful
diamonds are not forthcoming" said
her husband, getting up and lighting a
cigar. Well, I'm off. L think I'll
take the dog-cart and drive to the
station. No doubt there will be fish
and other things to be fetched" And
Colonel Holt sauntered out.
On his return, to his great surprise,
Simmons himself met him at the hall
door. "You back again? What does
this mean ?''
The man looked confused, stammer-
ing out, I-I-thought better of it, sir,
and-and-I hope you will forget what
has passed."
You are determined to puzzle me
to-day, Simmons. Do you think you
are quite right in your headY Have
you no explanation to give of your
strange conduct ?"
"None, sir" was the answer, in low
tones.
"Now, what on earth would be the
proper thing to do, l wonder ?" thought
Colonel Holt. "Oh, If 1 didn't hate
trouble so much, and the weather were
not so hot! AS itis, mastery inactivity
must gain the day." And without
another look at the delinquent, he made
the best of his way upstairs.
II
On this very morning, August 4th,
1864, Mrs. Perceval, as she pushed her
chair back from the breakfast table,
said
What can make Effie so late this
very morning of all others, when there
is so much to be done before we start.''
What was the row with Ef1ie in the
night, mother ?" asked James, boy of
fourteen, who at the moment was con-
veying large piece of bread and jam to
his mouth.
With Effie," asked his MOTHER
What do you mean, Jem 2"
"All | know is, heard scream in
the night" replied Jem "and imagined
it came from Effie's room opposite. But
was awfully sleepy, and the next
moment l was off again, and forgot all
about it till just now."
Mrs. Perceval hastened up to her
daughters room. To her great dismay,
Etfie was sitting on the edge of the bed
in half fainting condition, only partly
dressed.
My darling, are you i'll? What is
it?" asked her mother.
"Oh, mother, mother" moaned the
girl, clinging to her, "don't go away,
was all poor Efiie could say.