The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-10-04
A WOMAN FOILED.

A LII was excitementin the great house
IA ON the hill, for so Chalmers hall was
known for miles around. had not
served the family, boy and man, for
thirty years, without sharing 1t to GER
tain degree not incompatible with my
butler's dignity, and all evidence which
/ strove sedulously to conceal.
1t was occasioned by no less an event
than the return of the young lady of the
house-the only daughter and sole heir
ess of all these broad acres-from the
finishing school in Paris, to make her
formal debut in society.
The suite of rooms assigned to her had
been thoroughly renovated, and refur-
nished in manner widely different from
the solid English comfort which pre-
vailed elsewhere throughout the house;
but to look through them was like sud
den glimpse into the nest of some hum
ming bird, which had impaired all its
own brlliancy to its belongings.
Only few days before the expected
arrival came a letter, begging permis-
sion to bring with her her dearest friend,
young lady whose father was an East
Indian officer, and whose return had
been unexpectedly postponed couple of
months.
OF course the petted daughters wish
was law, and though the fond father,
reading aloud the letter preferring this
request at the breakfast table, exchanged
glance of disappointment with his wife
that so soon the privacy of their little
circle must be disturbed, formal invi-
tation to Miss Aline Revere to the hos
pitalities of Chalmers hall was dispatched
that very day.
L shall never forget the evening of
Miss Chalmers return. Her CHEEKY,
"How do you do, PeterY" thrilled my
old bones as did the touch of the little
hand she kindly offered me, in memory
perhaps of my long services and the
many rides up and down the broad halls
she had on my shoulder, screaming the
while with glee.
She fitted about all the evening, like
bee, from flower to flower, and it was
as though burst of sudden sunshine
had illuminated the old house. She was
fair, sweet English girl but, as all
were seated about the dinner table, 1
could not but acknowledge the palm of
beauty must be awarded to her friend.
had never seen more exquisite face.
1t fairly haunted me; il held in it the
fire of the tropics, the ice of the Arctic.
the light of the heavens, the shadow of
the night-each expression in contradic-
ton of the other, each tending to pro-
duce harmonious welfare.
did not think all this out myself, but
some one, long after, in describing Miss
Revere's face, thus worded it, and /
knew then they had made clear the enig-
ma my old brain had so long tried to
SOLVE. 1 would even then have been en-
vious, for Miss Chalmers sake, but that
she seemed so fond, so devoted to her
friend, that her very gladness was an
unconscious rebuke to me.
1t was not long before the house was
filled with guests-ladies and ladies
maids, gentlemen and their Wallets, COM
ing and going, filling the place with
gaiety and excitement. Then came the
announcement of grand ball. Glad
enough L was when the evening an
nounced for it actually arrived, and
could feel that the hustle of anticipation
was at an end.
On her way down to the drawing room
Miss Flo peeped in to see the tables, and
1 thought for that once we might COM
pare her with Miss Aline. She was
dressed in white, her neck and arms
bare, but glittering with precious stones.
Some of the family jewels her father had
had reset, and presented to her that very
morning at the breakfast table. L was
not likely to forget the circumstance, for
the old feeling of half dislike with which
l had at first regarded Miss Aline swept
over me as fancied an envious glitter
sparkled in the great black eyes as they
rested on the white, glittering gems,
"Will do, Peter ?" asked my young
mistress, sweeping me mock courtesy,
as she had done when tiny girl and
half believe instead of answering her
brushed away tear.
The ball was grand success, and the
sun had risen before sound of the wheels
of the last carriage filled with departing
guests had died away.
There had been many made welcome
that night, but none, well knew, re-