The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-12-20

tHAOoC
whom he was an entire stranger. His
companionship was not, indeed, avoid
ed for his conversation abounded with
entertaining and not improbable nara
tives of adventure In various foreign
lands; but The objects of his wandering
were never named, and it was not
strange that, among sober and un-
sophisticated people, the pursuits which
seemed to preclude revealment should
have been suspected as contraband.
Thrown constantly into his society,
Jane felt not only the dlstrust of him
communicated by others, but the invol-
untary repulsion of pure spirit. against
one of evil. Though he was compara-
lively guarded in his expressions while
in her presence, yet she knew that he
was sensual, rapacious, unfeeling and
unprincipled. A more private reason
soon added to her dislike. At first he
had assumed toward her an unskillful
semblance of brotherly prudence and
fondness, but before long he changed it
for the bearing If not the language of
terfeiting, for it must have been callous
nature that could have resisted the pow
er of her extreme beauty and loveliness.
His mother perceived it, and attempted
to warn him from any decisive purpose,
by informing him of the projected mar
riage, but she was heard without effect.
''That is dainty, lily-faced spark of
yours, Jane" said George, with an inso-
lent sneer, when the young pastor had
left the house, after his first visit to his
intended bride; che looks as il he had
been laid on bookshelf all his days,
for the preservation of his complexion.
How he must tremble at the thoughts of
wind and weather ~
"His profession does not subject him
to much exposure" replied Jane, with
out seeming to have noticed the sarcasm
of his language; "but though he looks
delicate, his health is sound"
"His waist is as slim, and his hand is
as soft as lady's" pursued George sit
would go hard with him to be forced to
any manly exertion. suppose you
have made up your mind, Jane, to be
master as well as mistress, and to look
after the outdoor business yourself"
81 trust shall be able and willing to
do all that will be required of me-"
answered Jane, as placidly as before.
"It is very well that you have prepar-
ed yourself beforehand to be properly
submissive" said he, lowering his brows
still more darkly "for there is no such
tyrant as your bookish man. He thinks
that humble service is his due from his
wife for the honor he does her by yoking
himself with so weak creature. Has
this young Walton made you sensible,
Jane, of the honor in store for you, and
taught you to act accordingly ?"
"And is it not an honor, George Slade,' -
said Jane, now coloring, and with an
unwonted fire in her soft, blue eye; sis
it not an honor to an humble girl like
myself, without fortune, fine manners,
or high connections, that man like
Lewis Walton, learned, accomplished
and looked up to, should choose her to
be his wife ?"
can honor to you, Jane, to be the
wife of poor milksop of country par
son why have seen kings daughters
in my travels, and never one as fit to
wear her gold and jewels as such as you
would have been 1t is man who has
lived among men, instead of books, that
Aa
would glory in beauty like yours, and
wear his life out, if that should be re-
quired, in struggling for the means to
set it off, and show it to the world as it
deserves. He would be your slave, Jane,
and that gladly, and not make you his.
You are inexperienced and unsuspect-
ing, and don't understand the step you
are taking. Let me advise you choose
q man of the world for a husband, and
one who would worship you as if you
were queen or an angel. Let me find
find you your wedding ring, Pretty
! janet"
He threw his round her, and attempt
ed to force upon her hand ring OF
value, which he had drawn from his
own. She flung 1t from her as if its
pressure had stung her, and pale with
indignation and adherence, broke from
his clasp. Her expression of loathing
was too much for the self-love of the re-
pulsed suitor. For an instant he grew
pale as herself, but, with an effort to
control his irritation, he changed the