FRANK MORTIMER,
Editor and Proprietor,
'Vol. IV.
J Published Weekly,
At New Bloomfield, Penn'a.
BY
FRANK MO 11 TIMER.
A Woman's Secret.
mISS TIGGS was not tho legitimate or
accepted form of tin old maid ; or, in
other words, Miss Tiggs was not tall, scrag
gy, prim and sharp-nosed. On tho con
trary, Miss Tiggs was of rolcy-poley order,
short, plump and full-faced, and without a
bit more primness than was necessary to
keep up the dignity of tho profession into
which tho fortune of lifo had cast her, for
Miss Tiggs kept a boarding school for
young ladies.
Besides her pupils, Miss Leonora had two
nephews one an inmate of the establish
ment, and one away at school in a distant
city at Miss Tiggs cxponso, whom she had
not seen for nearly live years. Tho ono
who was an inmate of the establishment, a
youth of twenty, Walter Askam by name,
was under continual sentence of banish
ment, or, in other words, since he had
reached the maturo age of fifteen had
been told daily that ho was too old to be a
S dweller in the samo house with his aunt's
) twenty-five rose buds, and that he must
make up his mind to immediate remoyal.
He had made up his mind, but somehow
tho sentence, though reiterated almost
daily, was never carried into eil'ect, and so
this wolf remained in tho fold.
To say that Walter, out of all the twenty-five
charming pupils of Miss Leonora,
did not see anything to charm him into
breaking through that terrible lino of de
markatiou his aunt had laid down for him,
would be saying almost moro than nature
is capable of. There was one, tho neatest
and sweetest little body that ever ate
bread and butter her namo it was Kate
Dillon, and her age sweet sixteen that
lie was especially fond of, and that state of
things had existed four years, since the
first day sho had been taken into Miss
Tiggs' school, which happened in this
way.
When Miss Tiggs wont to school herself,
she had an intimate, Lillio Pierce, by
name, with whom tho school-companionship
was perpetuated. Lillio married and
after six years of matrimony was left a
widow with ono daughter. Six years' more
strugglo with tho world as a widow, and
Lillio ono day laid down tho load of life,
and left this daughter to tho tender mercies
of tho world as embodied in Miss Leonora
Tiggs, who closed tho eyes of tho dying
woman, and breathed in her car tho com
forting assurance that Kato should never
want a mother while sho lived : and well
she kept tho promise, for in tho four years
she had been under her hands sho had
grown into as elegant a little lady as could
be found in a summer day's walk, and as
wonderfully in love with Walter Askam as
it was possible.to be. All this could not
holp leaking out, and into Miss Tiggs'
eyes and ears, and, as a consequence,
troubled her amazingly. One restriction
after tho other had sho put on tho couple,
but all seemed to be of no avail, and sim
ply made tho lovers regard her as a tyrant,
and ono whose breast was not susceptible
to the grande patsion.
At last camo the climax. Miss Tiggs on
terea uie Dreaiaast room one morning
noiselessly and suddenly, and caught Miss
Katie kissing Walter right on the lips.
This was too much, and the fiat went forth.
Had sho caught Walter kissing Katie, there
might have been some condoling, but the
act reversed showed malice prepense and
on tho spot the sentence of separation went
forth, separation, not banishment for Walter
from tho Tiggs mansion for Miss Leonora
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY
IVew IBloomlioia, November 8, 1870.
could not so suddenly make up her mind
to so serious a step but the rigid confine
ment of Katie to tho girls' apartments, so
that he would bo isolated, and tho lovers
have no chance of meeting. This was the
torriblo sentence of Miss Tiggs, and a sen
tence that was carried immediately into ef
fect, Miss Tiggs announcing to Walter as
she rebukod him for his heinous immoral
ity, that within a very few days he would
have an opportunity of judging what he
ought to bo by taking for his exemplar his
cousin Bob, who was to spend a month
from school with her foi the first time in
five years. " This fact did not interest Wal
ter much, for really nothing did interest
him save Katie, and the only point on
which ho could dwell in connection with
the newcomer was curiosity. Cousin Bob,
according to Leonora's idea, was perfec
tion. He was only thirteen, but an Admi
ral Chrichton. What he couldn't do wasn't
worth doing ; as to good looks, he had
more of them than he knew what to do
with, and was expected with them every
hour at Miss Tiggs' establishment.
To chango the scene to the girhs apart
ments. Poor Katie had now been one
whole week that she had not seen Walter,
and she was not only broken-hearted, but
desperate. Tho gossip among tho girls
about tho coming cousin Bob did not move
her ono bit. She know nothing, could
thing nothing, but Walter, and as long as
Miss Tiggs was in tho house it would bo
impossible for her to see him ; and Miss
Tiggs was always in when Walter was.
All the girls pitied Katie, but what could
all tho girls do against fate ? But there
was one very littlo girl, and as reckless
as she was little, and as full of fun as she
was reckless. This very little girl was al
ways up to all tho mischief that could be
hatched, and had often been heard to be
moan the ancient days when tho girls had
such fun when they used to dress up in
Walter's clothes and play various pranks,
generally ending in some sort of punish
ment from Miss Tiggs, which was only
looked upon as the salt that flavored the
affair. This very little girl it was, putting
that and that together, who ono day said to
Katie, who was only waiting for a proper
opportunity to burst into a hearty cry ;
" Why don't you dress up and pass your
self off with Miss Tiggs for Cousin Bob,
and then you can see Walter as much as
you please ?
Now it was a dreadful thing for this very
littlo gal to do such a wicked thing as this,
so very little as sho was too; but what
shall we say of Katie, who took her as
quick as lightning in her arms, and said
"Oh, you dear little creature ! how smart
you are 1 I'll do it right away."
Well, well, tho wickedness of young la
dies at boarding schools never can bo esti
4-.l n,,.l 1 r. J.I 1 .
Miuiuu, uuu biiciuiuiu uiviu nceu uo no
wonderment when we assert that Katio and
this very littlo girl were soon laying their
good-looking heads together and contriving
how this notable plot could be accomplished,
and at last concluded that nothing could be
dono without calling in tho aid of Molly.
Now Molly was the maid-of-all-work for
tho young ladies general dressing-maid,
chamber-maid, errand-maid, and made to
do all kind of things either by lovo or
bribery ; tho first being the motivo with
Kato Dillon, for Molly had been heard sev
eral times unblushingly to declare that
she would run her head off to servo that
young lady, though how far running one's
head off can serve any person is a problem
not easily solved
And now these three Kate,, Molly and
this very little girl, have their heads to
gether, and soon tho problem was solv
ed, first, that a suit of clothes must be
got, which Molly settled by engaging to
borrow tho Sunday-go-to-moetings of I
nephew, which sho had presonted him her
soif j and why shouldn't she borrow them,
wniea uitung ivaie in wiiii ner eye
would just fit? After this master-stroke,
the trouble was almost over, for there was
nothing else but to manage tho arrival
between four and five o'clock p. m.. this
being the hour between school and supper,
and of Waltor's coming home, and the time
w
'hen Miss Tiggs always went out. It was
bold move, but Molly could fix it. The
deception could not be expected to last
long for Miss Tiggs must soon find it out
and punishment must follow, but Katie
was willing to take all risks, so that she
should only once again pass an hour with
Walter.
Is there any wonder that when Miss
Tiggs returned from her afternoon excer-
cisc, Molly, who was on tho watch, an
nounced that Mr. Robert Tiggs had ar
rived, and was at that moment in the
parlor, and that Miss Leonora, with a
pleasant flush mantling her yet good-looking
cheeks, made very hasty steps toward
that spot, ana caught in her arms an ap
parently good-looking boy of about thir
teen, who modestly returned her caresses
and answered the hundred questions that
were showered upon him ? How came he
to arrive a day sooner than he was expect
ed ? Anxiety to see his aunt. Where was
his trunk ? Left behind to be delivered to
morrow, for the same reason. Delicate
flattery ! How could Miss Tiggs withstand
it t She was dolighted. Several times she
held the nervous and blushing boy at arm's
length and declared, delightedly, that sho
could seo nothing of tho likeness of five
years ago, he had so improved : and then.
leauing him up in lront of the mirror, af-
firmed that ho had
grown very like hor-
self in fact, tho
likcncss must strike
everybody.
How many kisses and embraces all this
was interspersed with cannot be recorded,
but in tho midst of it in walked Walter.
ino meeting Between tne cousins was a
queer one. On his entrance Walter was
constrained and offered his hand, but
Cousin Bob, however backward ho mitrht
have been with Aunt Leonora, was not so
with Walter, for in a moment ho had his
arms about his neck and gave him one of
the soundest kisses on the lips that had
been seen or heard in that house for many
a long uay. Aunt jjeonora saw this an.
m l a i T ...
provingly, but Walter rather winced undor
it at first, until, as it were, suddenly un
dergoing a revolution of sentiment, ho irave
a quick, piercing look at his now cousin.
and as vehemently caught him in his arms
and duplicated tho kiss ; which was all that
was wanted to make Miss Tiggs burst out
into a littlo cry of admiration, and clap her
plump littlo hands with as much delight as
though sho had found a penny.
After this there was nothing for Miss
Tiggs to display her delight in so practical
a way as m a question of supper. For
over a week Walter had taken his supper
alono to keep him away from Katio. but
to-night, according to Miss Tiggs' arrange
ment, Cousin Bob should tako supper
with him J and away sho fluttered to make
tho arrangemont.
Now, wo are not going to intrudo on the
privacy of thoso two cousins when left
alone by their aunt ; so we will not only
close tho sceno on this part, but on the
supper, only asserting that if ever thorn
were two pcrfoctly happy ousins, that roof
sheltered them. In fact, Miss Tiggs knew
it, for as they rose from tho table this little
lady said :
" I am so delighted, Bob, to think that
you and Walter have taken so great
fancy to each other that I am going to loave
you as much togothor as possible. You
shall always breakfast and sup together
("Just like you, aunt you are always
good good," says W alter. Bob said noth
ing.) "And," rosumed Miss Tiggs,
have given Molly orders to chaniro tho
single beadstead in your room, Walter, and
put in a doublo ono. You shall sloop to
gether."
This was kiud, but why there should
come to tho faces of these two happy cous
ins such a blank look of sudden misery,
none could defino but themsolves. Cer
tainly, Miss Tiggs could not, for this elder-
NEWSPAPER.
ly young lady was proverbially short of
sight, and desperately fought against the
use ot glasses except in the retiracy of her
own room. Therefore it was that the blank
look must have escaped her notice, though
Walter felt that she had read to thoir very
hearts' cores when, a few moments after-
'ard, and before their speech was restored,
she said in a grave and altered tono of
voice :
Walter, you can go up stairs for half
an hour. I wish to have some talk with
your cousin." ' (She certainly did empha
size " cousin.") " He can go with mo to
my room, and I will ring when I want you."
And so those two happy cousins sepa
rated, each feeling liko detected felons led
to their punishment.
We shall follow Katie to Miss Tiitrs'
rooms, whero they arrived without a word
spoken on either side. It was a verv droll
beginning that Miss Tiggs mado toward
having somo talk. First, sho turned tho
gas, which had been burning brightly, to
so Iowa point that thero was something less
than " a dim religious light" iu tho room :
and secondly, she went deliberately to a
closet and bringing a bottlo labelled "Sher
ry," and two glasses, set them on tho table,
filled the glasses, and motioning for her
companion to do the same, sho quietly
emptied one of them. This was an extra
ordinary refrection for Miss Tiggs, and
only indulged in on momentous occasions,
as tho recipient knew, though only by hear
say. This disposed of, she settled herself
in a large, easy-chair and motioned her ci-
devant nephew to a seat at her feet ; then,
without further preliminaries, sho opened
on tho trembling girl.
"Robert," says Miss Tiggs. "I have
much to say to you, and I feel that I must
say it to-night, before I sleep."
"Robert!" says Katio to herself. "Then
sho-has not detected mo."
"For," resumed Miss Tiggs, "there'suo
knowing what a night or day may bring
tortli."
Katio thought so too.
" Whilo you were away from mo. Robert.
I did not feel the importance of this as I do
now, but seeing you has brought it all to
my mind, and I feel that vou must and
ought to know it."
Katio did not feci so sure of that, but was
afraid to dissent.
I am now going to tell you some part of
my past lifo ; but whilo I want this known
to yourself, so that in caso of my deatli you
will know how to act, while I am living you
must keep it always a secret locked in vour
own breast."
"Oh, dear 1 what was Katio Dillon to do
now? Hero was some fearful revelation
coming that she did not want, and which
sho was sworn to keep. Thero was no help
for it ; hear it sho must. Miss Tiggs went
on :
"Robert, the world, evon to my own rel
atives, has always considered me unmarried.
This is not true. I have beon married, and
yon are my child." Oh, horrors ! for Katio
Dillon to sit thero and listen to such a con
fession, which sho knew was not intended
for her ears ! Sho buried her faco in her
hands whilo Miss Tiggs burst into a suc
cession of sobs.
" My poor boy, I don't wonder you hide
your faco for shame of your mother. And
yet it is true. At an ago whon I should
have been thinking of anything else for I
had reached thirty-five I loved your fathor
and married him. Ho was my English
teacher, and for fear of tho world's opinion
I kept tho marriage secret."
How Katie did squirm on the littlo stool
at the good lady's feet, and how guilty she
felt in listening to all this ? but she could
not speak, for her tonguo clovo to tho roof
of her mouth.
" Three months after we wore married,
my poor Robert, your father left me for a
fow woeks to go homo and close his old pa
reuts'eyes, and I never saw him again. Tho
vessel in which ho sailed was never heard
of."
Katio sobbed aloud, and buried her face
'cri; IN ADVANCE
One Dollar per Year,
IVo. 45.
in Miss Tiggs' lap, half in shamo at her de;
ceit and half in sympathy ; for sho dearly
loveu her adopted mother, and felt her sor
rows her own.
"Shortly after, you were born, and from
that time I have passed you off as my
nephew, though I know it was wrong : vet
now that it has gone on so long, it may go
on until my death."
Oh oh, ohl Miss Leonora 1" sobbed
Katio jumping to her feet. " I am such a
wicked girl to be sitting hero listening to
all this, but I declare I didn't know what
was coming till it was all said I declare I
didn't I Oh, indeed I am not as wicked as
I look. I hope you'll forgive mo. Oh dear !
oh dear 1"
Miss Tiggs didn't scream. Sho got up
as quietly as though she woro going to her
breakfast, turned up the gas to its full
height, opened a bureau drawer, put on a
pair of spectacles and surveyed tho tremb
ling and crying Katie from head to foot;
and having finished the inspection, only
ejaculated, "Well, welll" and sat down.
How it was Katie's turn to talk, and talk,
she did. The whole story ran glibly off her
tonguo. Her great love for Walter, her de
spair at not being able to see him, the plot
to reach that end, even for a few hours,
braving punishment and peril : her sorrow
at being made tho recipient of Miss Tiggs'
secret, when sho thought she had been dis
covered and a reproof about to be admin
istered all this camo in a storm of words,
mixed up with sobs and tears ; and yet Miss
Tiggs only sat and said, " Well, well f
until it was all over,, and then she rose up
and taking tho poor girl in her arms, kissed
her and said, "I forgive you, Katie, I don't
believe you intonded wrong."
"Oh, indeed I did notl" Katio sobbed.
"And now," said Miss Tiggs, "as you
have my secret, I suppose I must make a
bargain with you to keop it. What shall
tho bargain be ?"
"Let mo seo Walter sometimes," she an
swered, smiling through her tears and
throwing her arms about tho littlo lady's
neck.
" That you shall, and moro too. For if
you love each other as much as you seem to,
and it is not, as I first took it to bo, child's
play, God forbid that I should bo tho one ,
to separato you. You aro both young to
many yci, out ii m another year your
minds havo not changed, wo will seo what
can be done."
And Miss Tiggs was as good as her word.
and always did declare, wlmn t.lm rni
cousin Bob camo homo, that he wasn't half
as good-looking as his representative. As
to Miss Tiggs' secret, a secrot it always re
mained until she saw fit to make it known
herself, which sho did when she retired
from business a few years after.
" Bird in Hand."
No doubt tho readers of tho Timet who
havo traveled over the railroad from Lan
caster to Philadelphia, have been amused
as tho brakeman would call out the stations,
at tho singular namo of " Bird-iu-IIand,"
and no doubt tho remainder of the old prov
erb of "worth two in tho bush," would at
once come to mind.
At a recent visit to that place we
came across an old gentleman who gave the
following explanation of the manner in
which it received its name. During the
Revolutionary war, whilo Washington was
with his army in that section of the State,
word was received that a small Tory band
had their head quarters at the place now
called "Bird-in-Hand," and could be easily
captured. A forco was therefore sent to
perform that duty, but while on the way,
some i ory sympathizers endeavored to turn
the officer in chargo to another point by
telling him of a larger camp of British
which could easily be surprised and cap
tured. The officer however, saying "he was
sure of capturing tho Tory party, and that
a " Bird in tho hand was worth two in the
Bush," kept on his way, and mot with suc
cess, and ever since, the locality has been
known by the name at the head of this
article.
2V