The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-08-16

latiOus W cOulpiy WIN ueI beW NiSiI-
or's request.
1t was not without a little conscious
ness of the slngularity of the position
that Esther found herself riding by the
side gentleman with whom she had
scarcely exchanged half dozen words
in the course of her life. The distance,
however, was but short, and she had
little time for reflection. On arriving at
her place of destination, she found the
the chief part of the business accom-
plshed. The furniture, which by the
way was new and handsome, had been
arranged in the rooms after fashion,
but Esther was able to point out several
changes for the better, with all of which
Mr.. Bigelow professed himself delighted;
he, moreover, asked her advice as to
the proper place to hang several very
fine pictures that he had picked up in
the course of his European travels
This was accorded with some hesitation.
To avoid comment, she did not even
inform Philip that she had ever met Mr..
Bigelow. He took frequent opportuni-
ties to call upon her, on some slight pre-
text or another but it always chanced
to be when her brother was absent
81 WONDER" said Philip, carelessly,
"whether Mr. Bigelow will not be look
ing out for wife before longY
81 don't know" said Esther, and in
her embarrassment dropping half a
dozen stitches from the stocking she
held in her hand.
Not that / approve of marriage-at
least in my own case," said Philip, not
noticing this demonstration, but it may
be different with Mr.. Bigelow. He has
no sister to superintend his establish
ment. 1 don't know, however, wheth-
er there is anybody likely to suit him in
this village. Let me see-there is Miss
Preston; she might do.
"No, don't think she would suit
him at ALL" said Esther with a spirit
which considerably surprised her BROTH
er. " She knows very little about house
keeping"
Perhaps not, he rejoined, and so
the conversation ended.
Meanwhile the gentleman continued
his visits Oftentmes he would ask to
see the bed of flowers on which Esther
rather prided herself, and sometimes he
would petition for seeds, being very
fond of flowers, as he said, and very
anxious to introduce them into his own
garden.
On one of these occasions Mr.. Bigelow
after little visible embarrassment, said,
hesitatingly:
{" would like to ask your advice,
Miss Esther on a rather delicate subject,
and one of great importance to myself
There is one thing wish to secure to
make my establishment complete, but
hardly know in what manner to ask for
it,"
What is it you refer TOP" asked
Esther unsuspiciously.
"A wife," was the significant reply.
Instantly deep crimson flushed
Esther's cheeks. She did not trust her
self to speak.
Need say that you are the one
whom, of all others, L would seek to
place in that position?'
He took her unresisting hand and
kissed it with all the gallantry of
young lover.
But what will my brother say =" in
quired Esther, when she found voice to
speak.
"What should he say? You are your
own mistress, surely ?n
Yes, but he is always ridculing the
idea of marriage, and couldn't venture
to tell him.
" No need of it. Let's run away to
New York and get married. You
know" he added gaily, We are both
young and romantic, and it would be
quite in character
Esther at first objected, but when she
came to consider that in this way she
would be relieved of great portion of
the embarrassment which such step
would naturally bring with it, she con-
sented, and that day a week was APP
pointed for the departure. She required
this time to make preparations.
Meanwhile, If Esther had not been so
exclusively occupied with her own af-
fairs, she might have noticed that
change had come over Philip. He was
often absent evenings, and when at
home was more silent and distracted
than his wont. The former she readily