The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-11-08

what can there be In me-a poor, pennl-
less widow of thirty, to attract so hand
some and young man as you Y''
"Mocking again. he said, appealing
ly. "How you love to torture me, Julia"
"Excuse me, Mr.. Roberts am Julia
only to my nearest and dearest friends.
What is more, am not mocking. What
L said was the simple sober truth"
"What that you are poor, penniless
widow S'' he said, laughing.
eyes" she said. "From this day
forth little annuity of eighty pounds a
year Is all have on which to llve."
"You are joking. with me, Mrs. Hart
ley," he said, laughing; "but why do
you tell me all thisY What do you sup
pose care about whether you are rich
or poor? TO me you will always be
rich in every virtue, and now once more
listen to my prayer"
eyes, when 1 have undeceived YOU"
she said. "Mr. Roberts, 1t is my duty
to let you know my true circumstances.
1 feel assured that you have too gener-
GUS heart to have approached me from
mercenary motives"
"Thank you, and bless you, he ex-
claimed sit is you only that L love-"
"Under these circumstances, then, /
have concluded, as 1 am poor and the
handsome income have enjoyed goes
from me at once, that it would be unjust
to you to accept your generous offer to
make me your wife. We will remain
friends then, Mr.. Roberts, but that is
ALL"
"Do understand you Alright p' he
exclaimed.
Perfectly" she replied.
81 shall try and bear it," he said, in
resigned tone of voice "but never while
this heart beats shall cease to love you
or to pray for your welfare, dearest Mrs.
Hartley"
"Thank you, Mr.. Roberts, she said,
quietly; and somehow, instead of their
steps taking them farther from the COM
pany, they began to approach them rap
idly, joining group of ladies', and in a
few minutes Mrs. Hartley was without a
cavalier
"I always doubted him, " she said to
herself. "He did want me for my mon
ey. Heavens, what wretched world it
is for man to be protesting and swear
ing as he did, and then give up so easily
as soon as he heard that 1 was penniless.
Well, thank Heaven, that is one es-
cape.'
She remained very. thoughtful for a
time, for there was the other proposal of
marriage she had received, the one to
which she had promised some day to give
an answer.
Suppose Luke Morris, the quiet,
thoughtful, manly student, should prove
to be as sordid as Frank Roberts.
AS she unused upon this, hardly heed
ing the babble going on all around, she
trembled at the glance within which she
obtained her own feelings. 1t came upon
her by surprise that she really loved
this quiet, middle-aged man in despite OF
his plain features and stern ways.
"And suppose he did prove to be only
a money-wooer? Oh, it would be dread
ful !" she muttered, as the tears started
to her eyes.
She had hardly dashed them away
before she saw Morris approaching slow
ly and thoughtfully, and in spite of the
suffering which she knew it would cause
her, she made up her mind on the in
slant to open the ball by telling Mr..
| NTo..;a of l,ar alfa~aI oi rot, M cfo r,oou
"Ah, Mrs Hartley" he said approach
ing her with his grave smile and extend
ing his hand, "other people engross you
so much that it is only by chance one
can get word with you. May I?''
He offered his arm, and trembling and
changing color she took it, and he led
her along the river side, both of them
being silent, for he was thinking deeply
and she was beating about for words tC
commence what would be to her now 8
most painful subject.
She felt that she was growing more
and more agitated, and as if sooner thar
lose him, 10 whom she now realized
that her heart clung, she would retrac
her intention of giving up her late hus.
bands ill-gotten store.
Luke Morris relieved her of the diff
Guilty of sp eaking by commencing him
self.
" My dear Mrs. Hartley" he said, 81
picnic party of pleasure seems an i'll
chosen time for speaking to you, -bu
there are matters of such urgent impor