The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-08-09
Testing His Friends.

vile uTaWlnB rOOn Ny lne Ilcn lOlus
of the lace curtains that hung from the
lofty French windows like billows of
foam.
A dainty, daisy faced girl, with COM
plexlon as fresh as the morning; with
II warm, rosy glow on the healthful skin,
and the wine bright sparkles in the big,
velvety gray eyes. A happy, earnest
hearted girl, on whom all the .fpesse of
her paternal aunt, the fashionable Mrs.
Grenvllle, of Lexington Avenue, had
been wasted in vain, in so far as that
lady had attempted to make stylish
city young lady of the little rustic guest.
A girl with plenty of common sense,
and an innate delicacy of refinement
that Alexouma and Ethelberta Gren-
vile her twin cousins, might have been
proud to have possessed.
Now, nesting away among the foamy
curtains, Lily listened to the ripples of
conversation that had eddled past her,
thinking-in the vague, half.distressed
way of thought, that had somehow,
come to be quite natural to her, these
few last weeks of that short delightful
winter spent in New York--that of all
these people who had met her so many
times in her Aunt Grenvilles's drawing
room, there was not one who would
care when she was gone, unless-and
just the faintest possible little quiver ran
through her pretty figure as the sound
of Sidney Ellis voice suggested the pos
sibility of an exception in his favor.
He had been very good to her all that
winter--from the very day that AleXou-
ma introduced him, and told Lily after
he had gone that he was one of the most
eligible young men in the city, worth q
couple hundred thousands, and perfect
love of a mansion on Fifth Avenue, not
to mention his country seat on the Hud-
son. Lily had liked him from the very
first-and liked him none the less when
Alexouma had whispered to her, in
greatest possible confidence, that she
and Mr. Ellis were so nearly engaged
that it was as good as accomplished
Liked him none the less, certainly, but
somehow she felt curiously strange
about it.
Not that she was in love with him
indeed no She had told herself
thousand times that she was in love
with nobody, and tried her best, and
almost succeeded in convincing herself,
that it was only little reluctance at
leaving all the luxury and the elegance
of Aunt Grenville's city house that
made her so uncomfortable.
Uutil the sound of Sidney Ellis voice
talking to II group of girls near her,
aroused her from that sad, distressful
mood that had taken complete possess
ion of her.
Then you consider me fair subject
for pity, ladies ?"
"Only we don't believea word of it,
Mr.. Ellis. Just imagine the incongruity
of the thing"
Miss Ethelberta Grenville laughed,
and looked straight into Mr.. Ellis eyes.
He smiled, as if famused.
"The incongruity of what Miss Ber-
tie? confess my inability to follew
your meaning"
Alexouma flirted her fan in manner
intended to he the very poetry of motion
and took up the line of defense.
Why, the idea, of you, of all men,
leaving the city and burying yourself in
the horrid country! What on earth
will you do with yourselfp"
Mr.. Ellis looked Across the group to
Helsinger, who was vainly trying to
interest Mrs Eustacie Wyndham, who,
had her eyes on Sidney Ellis for her de-
ceased husbands successor.
Helsinger, what do you think !?
Shall stand it, if emigrate to my
Wisconsin farm y''
Your Wisconsin farm ! Bless my
soul Ellis is the Wisconsin farm all there
is left you from the wreck of your for
tune ?"
Ellis laughed, as much at the horror
on Mrs. Wyndham's face, as at the
ready reply of his friend Helsinger.
"Oh, Mr.. Ellis you never are going
into the horrid Western wilds, because
you have actually lost everything else
l thought surely you meant it for sort
of a lark, you know, supposed ther,
was a delightful little cottage, and car
riage and everything romantic"
Lily parted the curtains and came GU
at this juncture, in good time to see th'
surprise and growing GOODNESS on Mrs
Wyndham's pretty face.
Ellis looked quickly up at her ant