The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-11-22

nuu MIS- NOTCObt anu Iluke our uuleuS.
IL can tell you what / know of Mrs.
Valance" " began Hammond, when the
two men had reached their lodgings and
were again seated, each in an easy chair,
at the open window, for 1t was summer
time, ''in few sentences, for 1t is after
all simple enough story. When Mrs.
Valance was girl of twenty she was
engaged at Plymouth, where she resided,
to young fellow few years older than
herself Unfortunately, however, he
had not the wherewithal to keep wife,
and with the hope of increasing his
worldly circumstances more rapidly than
he was doing in England, he resolved to
emigrate to Australia. He was to re-
turn in short time and take the girl
out with him. In Australia he started
sheep farming, l believe but his success
was by no means as rapid as he had
hoped for. Years passed on, and still
there seemed no prospect of his being
soon able to return to England. At last
the girl received a letter in which her
aflianced lover-whose name I never
happened to hear-stated that he could
not possibly say when he would be in
position to fulfil his promise to her.
Under these circumstances he could not
ask her to wait any longer for him; and
he therefore released her from her en-
gagement. Well, the girl was sad de-
pressed enough for a while, they say,
h1t hxy nd hui l,a ,oIf fo, =
About this time Mr.. Valance, an old
friend of the fathers, came a good deal
about the house, and il was soon evident
that he was attracted by the daughter.
Valance was partner in long g-estab-
lished mercantile house in London, and
was reputed to be rich. He was kind
hearted and estimable man in many
ways. The parents looked favorably
upon his suit, and, when he proposed for
the daughters hand she accepted him.
They were married.
"Mr. Valance took handsome house
in London, and made q kind husband
and generous son-in-law. But this
prosperous condition of things did not
last long. In little more than two years
after his marriage, the house to which
Valance belonged, TO the astonishment
of the mercantile world, stopped pay
ment. The affair made considerable
talk in the city at the time. Nobody
seemed to have anticipated the firms
failure, and L don't think Mr.. Valance
could have had any thought of the pos
sibility of such change in his circum-
stances when he married his wife, from
the way he took the matter to heart He
never recovered from the shock, and in
year after the firm suspended he died.
His widow was left almost entirely de-
pendent upon her own exertions for the
support of herself and her two young
children. She removed to Plymouth
again, began to give music lessons, and
in this way has maintained herself and
her family ever since; and very nobly
she has done it. 1t was shortly after her
husbands death that became acquaint-
ed with her. have given you the most
favorable version of her story. AS re-
CARDS her engagement with Mr.. Val
lance, there were not wanting people in
Plymouth, who limited their doubts as to
whether she had ever received such
letter as L have mentioned from the
young fellow in Australia. Gossips said
that she lent willing ear to Mr.. Val
lance's addresses"
''Was it general report ?" asked
Herder.
swell, 1t was not uncommon to hear
the matter talked of in that way"
'And what is your own opinion ?"
"There is no lady of my acquaintance
for whom have greater respect and
liking than for Mrs. Valance, answered
Hammond; land I would not believe
anything unworthy of her.
There was short pause, during which
the two men puffed their pipes in silence.
Then Herder said:
''Miss Maurice-that was the young
lady's maiden name, L think, though
you did not mention it-did receive such
letter as you describe, from her friend
in Australia; letter, too, that released
her completely from her long engage
ment."
"And how on earth do you know all
this ?" asked Hammond.
"For the simple reason that am the
young fellow that went to Australia"
"You, George ~ exclaimed Ham
mond, starting from his chair, and star