Wl lr jfl 1 il ;i fttttltll W I 1
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. jiJLIT
Vol. "V. IYoav DBiooiiiiloia, Xfi., rX1iieKclny, Mny 3, 1S71. IVo. IS.
loomfitlb (pure.
Is rublished Weekly,
At New Bloomfleld, rcnn'n.
BY
FRANK MORTIMER.
flUBSCllirTIOK TEKMS.
OXE DOLLAR lyEU YE A It I
GO Cents for 6 Months; 40 Cents
for 3 Months,
IN A.IV-A.IS01i:.
MRS. HARTFIELD'S ESCAPE.
IT wns not quite a year since Mr. George
Ilartfleld, tlio leading solicitor iu tho
market-town of Norbury, had returned
from his honey-moon tour, bringing with
him tlio prettiest little wife that tho good
old town had boasted for a long time.
George was only thirty years of ago, but
his wife looked a mere girl, and was at
least cloven years his junior ; much to tho
disgust of more mature damsels who would
bo very willing to step into tho proprietor
ship of tho good-looking young lawyer and
his prim, respectable old house, which was
ono of tho most conspicuous dwellings iu
tho upper and more rural part of High
street. Mr. Ilartfleld had inherited an ex
cellent business from his father, and was
altogether a person of somo importanco in
tho opinion of the Norbury world at largo
and of himself particularly.
Tho wifo was a shy, girlish creaturo, who
seemed scarcely fit to be mistress of that
big formal house, with its shining wains
coted walls and grim old furniture furni
ture that had been fashionablo in tho days
of George's grandfather-gloomy old mahog
any four posters and walnut-wood presses
in tho polished panels whereof sentimental
little Alice Ilartfleld, whose head was a
kind of a branch station of tlio circulating
library used to fancy sho saw ghosts in tho
gloaming. In honest truth sho did not
take much to the house in High street, and
looked back with fond rcgrctfulncss to tlio
bright country home from which George
had won her.
But Mr. Ilartfleld boing of an arbitrary
temper, and having convinced her that tho
old house was perfection, sho had never
ventured to hint her dislike. It must be
owned that the evenings were long and dull
for so girlish a matron.
George was often out sometimes at a
public dinner at Crown Hotel, sometimes
at a social club at tho same prosperous
tavern, or playing billiards with bachelor
clients all in tho way of business, of
course, as bo told his wifo.
But tho evening during which ho was
absent were not the loss lonely on that ac
count. Mr. Ilartfleld employed three clerks ; a
gentlemanly young man, who was articled ;
a stripling, for copying and out-of-door
works ; and a gray haired old man, with a
a face upon which there was a look of
melancholy. Mr. Bestow, the first men
tioned, and Tom. Dreger, the stripling,
had christened him Old Dismal, and spoke
. of him commonly by that disrespectful sob
briquet. If he ever heard the name, it
apparently troubled him very little. He
rarely spoke, except so far as his business
required him to speak ; and in the two
years that he had been with Mr. Hartfield
he had not advanced so much as ono step
towards intimacy with his fellow-workers.
lie lived four miles out of Norbury,
walking to and fro in all weathers, and no
one had seen the inside of his home.
Her first year of married life closed in
sorrow and disappointment for Alice Hart
field. The baby-stranger, from whose
coming she bad expected so much pleasure
only opened its eyes to close them again
forever upon this world. She dwelt upon
. this loss with a grief which seemed to her
husband just a littlo exaggerated, and it is
possible that her tears and sad looks drove
him to the club at the Crown rather moro
often this year than previously.
He fancied she was perfectly happy with
hor books, and work and piano, in tho In
terval between six and eleven o'olook, at
which hour he punctually returned to his
abode, as sober as when he left home, well
pleased with himself and the world at large,
The young cloiks commented very freely
upon the solicitor's conduct in his domestic
capacity. .,. ..
" If I had such a pretty wife I wouldu't
leave her alone evening after evening, as our
governor does," remarked the stripling
pertly ; " I wonder he is not ashamed of
himself.'! . .,
"He ought to take her more into society
certainly," replied Bestow, who was in
much request in that brilliant circle which
constituted Norbury "society."
Mr. Morgan tho old clerk, looked up from
his desk with a sigh.
' What my funereal friend cried Bestow;
" do you mean to say you are interested
in the subject?"
"I am very much interested iu Mrs.
Ilartfleld," tho old man answered quietly j
"she is always kind to me 1 It is a good
sign when a woman of her ago takes tho
trouble to bo polito to an old man like mo
a sign that tho heart's in tho right place.
I wish hor husband understood her bettor.
I don't think she wants to bo taken to tea
parties, Mr. Bestow ; but I do think sho
wants a little moro sympathy."
This was a long speech for Mr. Morgan.
The young men stared at himsupercilouBly
and then wont on with their work. From
tho first day of hor coming to bo mistress
of the old house, William Morgan had shown
himself interested in his master's wife. He
was always pleased to perform any littlo
servico for her, and seemed needlessly
grateful for tho smallest kindness at her
hands. His way homo took him the wholo
length of tho town ; and Mrs. Ilartfleld used
to intrust him with her books to change at
the circulating library, an oflioe which he
porfoimcd with much taste and discretion.
" I take tho liberty to carry a volumo
homo with mo for the night at odd times,"
he said to her ono day.
"What Mr. Morgan do you read novols?"
" No, madame ; but I have a niece living
with mo, who is glad to skim the volumes
of an evening."
" Indeed 1 You never spoke of her before.
Is your ucico married 1"
" Sho she is a widow, to all intents and
purposes. Her husband doserted her three
years ago, and left her and hor child, a boy
on my hands. But wo are very happy to
gether, I thank God !"
" The husband must have boon a bad
man." i
" Ho was a most consummate scoundrel!"
answered tho old clerk, with suppressed in
tensity. " How hard it must bo for you to work
for all three !" said Alice.
" It will bo harder for the two that are
left when I am gone. My niece is able to
earn a little money at her nccdlo, but very
littlo. It is a dark lookout for the future."
One morning early in the spring, Mr.
Ilartfleld came into the office with a very
dashing gentleman, a now client, who had
just como into a handsome fortune by the
death of Squire Comberford of Comberford
Hall, seven miles from Norbury. Edgar
Comberford, the new proprietor, was a
nephew of tho old man, and had boen a
school-fellow of Goorge Hartflold's fifteen
years before. Sinco that time he had dis
appeared from the ken of Norbury, and
was supposed to have led a wild life in
foreign lands. He was eminently handsome
and in high spirits at the accession to tho
Comberford Hall estate.
" Thoro are thepapors,titlo-docds, leases,
and so on," said George'IIartfield, pointing
to a japanned box on a shelf in the oflice ;
"do you want to see them ?"
" Not I George," answered Mr. Comber
ford, gaily ; " it is quite enough for me to
know that the lands are free from mort
gages, and that the rents come in briskly.
The papers couldn't be in better hands.
Halloa 1 what's that?"
It was Mr. Morgan, the old clerk, who
had put his head in at the door of the oflice
and suddenly withdrew it.
"Only one of my clerks," answerod
Goorge Ilartfleld. " Come in, Morgan 1"
he bawled ; but the clerk did not reply, and
the two young men left the oflioe ; Mr.
Comberford to be introduced to his friend's
wife. '
He was not a little surprised by her
grace and beauty, not a little fascinated by
her shy, girlish manners. He stayed for
dinner, and contrived to make himself em
inently agreeable to both his host and hos
tess, giving an animated aocount of his
advoutures in Mexico during the last two
years.
" I should nevor have come home from
there, George, but for my unole's death,"
he said. "I was thorougly cleaned out
when I left England, and meant to live and
die abroad."
After this social dinner Mr. Comberford
dropped in very often at his friend's house.
He seemed to have some perpetual reason
for seeing the solicitor on business, and
happened by a kind of fatality to call when
the master of the house was out. Would
he leave statement oi his business with a
clerk ? . No, he would wait ; and he stroll
ed uuannounccd into the little sitting-room
at the back of the office where Mrs. Ilart
fleld spent her mornings. It was the pret
tiest room in the house, opening into a
small garden, at tho end of which there was
a narrow crock, an inlet from tho pretty
river that flowed through Nasbury. By
and by Mr. Comberford took to approach
ing tho houso by this way. Ho was an
export waterman, and spent a good deal
of his time on tho river. So it was an easy
an natural thing for him to moor his boat
at tho bottom of George Ilartflcld's garden
and step lightly on shore. Ho always
found Alico in her sitting-room, and ho
found a look in her faco which told him his
visits were not unwelcome. Ho was a thor
ough man of tho world, and knew tho dan
ger of tho game ho was playing, nor did
ho yield without a strugglo to the tempta
tion that had overtaken him. Such a heart
as ho had, was hit harder than it had been
of lato years. Tho outside world of Nor
bury had not yet been awakened to tho
scandal of Mr. Conibcrford's frequent vis
its to tlio lawyer's houso, nor was tho law
yer himself alarmed by them ; but tho
younger clerks were quick to remark upon
tho length and frequency of these morning
calls and on Georgo Ilartflcld's blindness to
the fact.
Edgar Comberford had been settled in
the hall for six months, when George
Ilartfleld had occasion to go to Paris on
business. IIo had intended to tako his
wifo with him for the trip, but tlio weather
was sultry and oppressivo, and ho wont
alono. Mrs. Ilartfleld seemed very littlo
disappointed by this change in his plans.
Mr. Comberford had assured her that Paris
was utterly unbearable in July. It was
upon his business that George Ilartfleld
was engaged. Ho wont to mako a settle
ment with a Parisian money-lender who
had advanced money to the young man iu
the days of his insolvency, and who now
put in an exorbitant claim for the interest.
The first day of Mr. Hartflold's absence
wont by without any visit from Mr. Com
berford ; but in the evening, when tho
clerks wore gone and Alico was sitting
alone and very low-spirited, tho peculiar
sound of the boat grating against tho wood
work at the bottom of tho garden struck
upon hor ear, and brought a sudden blush
into hor checks. Sho looked up with a
movement of surprise as Edgar Comberford
came across the garden. Ho came in at
open window with tho air of a person who
had a perfect right to bo there, and seated
himsolf opposite , Alice at the little table
where she was drinking tea.
" I thought you would give me a cup of
tea after my row, Mrs. Haitfleld," ho said,
" and I could not pass the croek without
bogging for one. I dreaded going homo to
the desolations of the Hall droary, empty
rooms and cross old housekeeper. I think
I shall go back to Mexico before the year
is out."
Alice gave a little start.
" What 1" sho said j "loave the Hall
forever?"
" Iu all probabilities forever. A man
seldom comos hero a second timo from such
a place as Mexico."
" But why should you go back there
why should you got tired of the Hall so
soon ?"
" Why should I be tlrod of life altogeth
er? Why should I try to run away from
myself from you I"
And then he went on to speak of his
love for hor in dark hints rather than
plain words. She tried to roprovo hint ; to
show that she was angry, but the attempt
was a very feeble one. She could only in
sist that he should leave hor immediately.
Ho did leave her, but not immediately, and
not till she had changed resistance into
piteous entroaty.
The boat had scarcely shot away iu tho
twilight when the door between tho sitting
room and the oflice opened, and the old
clerk, Morgan, appeared on the threshold.
"You here, Mr. Morgan 1" exclaimed
Alice, making a vain attempt to conceal
hor tears ; " I thought all the clerks had
gone."
" I had some letters to copy, Mrs. Hart
field. Can I do anything in the town for
you to-night ?"
" Nothing, thank you." i
He lingered, twisting the brim of his
shabby old hat, round in his thin, wrinkled
hands. " '
"I wish to Heaven I might speak to you
freely," he said, at last, " without offend
ing or wounding you." 1
"About what?" , V
, " About the man who has Just left you ?"
, "Mr. Comberford, my husband's friend?"
" Youi husband's direct, deadliest foe
and yours," answered the the old, man,
passionately. , . u,
" What right have you to say that?"
asked Alice, trembling with indignation.
" Tho right given mo by knowledge of tho
world, and, abovtf all, by my knowlcdgo
of Edgar Combefford."
" What knowlcdgo can you have of Mr.
Comberford? Did you ever sco him before
ho camo to this oflice?"
"Nover, but his name is a word of dire
meaning in my life. Ask him what be
came of tho girl ho stolo way from an hon
orable homo and left in a wretched London
lodging-house four years ago. Ask him
the fato of Boseio Raynor."
" Why should I trouble myself about his
affairs ? And who is this Bcssio Raynor?"
" Nover mind who sho is, Mrs. Ilartfleld.
Sho was a good girl beforo ho met her.
Sho will never bo a happy woman again.
Ask him about her, if you doubt what I
tell you, and you will see by his counte
nance whether ho is innocent or guilty.
Knowing what I do, I am bound to warn
you of his real character."
"I do not require any such warning,"
replied Alice, coolly ; Mr. Comberford is no
more to mo than any other cliont of my
husband's. And I beg that you will not
trouble yourself to dictate my conduct to
him."
" I see that I have offended you."
" I do not liko spies."
"I am no spy, Mrs. Ilartfleld. I am an
old man, and have had bitter cause to know
tho wickencss of the world. Your sweet
faco has been a kind of light to mo ever
sinco your husband brought you homo to
this houso. God forbid tho light should
ever be clouded !"
He bowed and left her left her standing
in a reverie, looking absently out upon tho
shadowy fields beyond tho little garden and
winding creek. Sho was angry, unhappy,
bewildered.
" I wish Georgo had taken me to Paris,"
she thought. " lie ought not to leave me
alono in a dreary old houso like this to be
insulted by a clerk."
After this evening she passed Mr. Mor
gan without speaking to him, much to the
old man's concern. Tho days wont byand
not one passed without a visit from Edgar
Comberford, although in the first evening
Alico had expressly forbidden him to call
again during hor husband's absence He
was not easily to be put aside. Ho knew
the weakness of tho girl's unschooled na
ture, and know how to trado upon it. His
tender talk of tho life that might have
been, had Alice been l'reo his glowing de
scriptions of distant lands which those two
might have seen Bido by side, of countries
where the commonest lifo was a kind of
poetry charmed hor in spito of herself.
She knew the guilt involved in this danger
ous pleasuro, and hated herself for her
weakness, and yet looked forward with a
dull sense of dread to her husband's re
turn. Nothing could tempt hor to Bin
against him, she told Edgar, however un
Buited they might be to each othor. She
was his wife, and would do hor duty to the
end of hor lifo. But the temptor was not
convinced.
One day she ventured to ask him about
Bessie Raynor. He gave a little start at
the sound of hor name, but declared that
it was strange to him ; and Alice was weak
enough to believe his assertion. It had
been a mere ruse of the old clerk's to
frighten her, she thought. The poor dis
mal old creature had tried to make her
miserable about the only acquaintance that
gave hor any pleasure.
Mr. Ilartfleld had been ten days away,
when Mr. Comberford camo in upon Alice
one morning with a grave countenance.
The noat little parlor maid was only just
cleaning away the breakfast things when he
came in, and lingered inquisitively to bear
the meaning of this early visit.
"I am sorry to say I have rather bad
news of your husband, Mrs. Ilartfleld," he
said to ' Alice's expression of surprise.
"He has been taken ill with some kind of
a low fover, which is a good deal about
now. Don't be alarmed ; it is nothing very
serious ; but he wants you to go across to
him. His doctor, a Frenchman, has writ
ton to me, but there Is an enclosure for you
from the patient."
lb handed hor a slip of foreign paper, on
which there were a few lines in her hus
band's hand. : ' ' ' 1 ' I,
- "Deab Alice Please come to me at
once, if you are not afraid of the journey.
Comberford can escort you, as he Is want
ed over here. Yours, &c, .
G. II.
" You'll not be afraid of the journey?"
asked Mr. Comberford.
I "Not at all; I should not mind going
alone.", , ,, , . , , .
.. "tflut you see, I am due there, so you
cannot deny me the pleasure of being your
escort."
" It is not a very pleasurable occasion,"
said Alico, with some embarrassment, as
bIio twisted tho slip of writing round and
round hor finger. Sho was wondering if
the strict moralists of Norbury would al
together approve of this journey.
Mr. Comberford gave her littlo time to
think. Ho went into tho clerk's oflice to
tell Mr. Bestow of his e mploycr's illness,
and to mako inquiries about tho London
trains. William Morgan looked up from
the desk and watchod him thoughtfully, as
ho loungod against tho mantcl-pioco read
ing the timo tablo.
There was no possibility of going to Par
is earlier than by tho night mail. Mrs.
Ilartfleld would have to go first to London
a three hour's journey. There was n
train left Norbury at a quarter to four in
the afternoon, "which would tako tho trav
elers in amplo timo for tho Dover mail.
Mr. Comborford decided upon going by
this, and left Alico in order to make "his
preparations for the journey. Ho did not,
however, go back to the Hall, but fidgeted
in and out of tho lawyers house several
times in tho course of the day on somo
pretence or other, spending the interval at
the Crown, where ho drank brandy and so
da water to an extent that astonished the
waiters. But in spite of all he had drunk,
he looked palo and anxious when ho camo
at three o'clock ready to take Mrs. Ilartfleld
to the station.
Alice was just stopping into tho fly whon
William Morgan camo out of tho house
with a carpet-bag in one hand and a moroc
co oflice bag in the other.
"Why, whero the deuce are you go
ing?" asked Mr. Comberford.
" I am your fellow-traveler, sir ; at least,
I am going second-class by the same train."
" To Loudon?"
" No, sir, to Paris. Mr. Bestow sends
me across with papers."
"Why, what consumato folly of Bos
tow's ! Your master is not fit for business.
IIo won't bo able to attend to anything for
days to como."
"I hope he may be hotter than you think,
sir. In any case I am bound to obey Mr.
Bestow's orders."
Ho spoke in a mechanical kind of tone,
nor did his countenance express tho faint
est interest iu his work
Mr. Comborford laughod grimly to him
self as they drove away witli tho old man
on tho box. '
" That old fool's company can make very
little difference," ho muttered, and then
grew moodier than ho was wont to bo in
Alice Hartflold's company.
IIo brightened considerably by and by,
when they were alone in a first-class com
partment, flying Londonward at express
rate ; and he succeeded in making Alice
boliove that hor husband's illness was only
a trifling matter, and that she had no oc
casion to be anxious about him.
"Men think so much of the slightest
touch of illness," he said, "and are al
ways in a hurry to summon their wives.
We are such selfish creatures, you see, and
so miserable without the comfort of a wo
man's presence.
And then he wont on to speak of his own
solitary position.
" What is to become of me in the hour
of sickness, Alice," he asked, "with no
one but a gloomy old housekeeper to care
for me ?"
" You will marry by and by, I daresay,
and have a wife to care for you."
" Never, Alice. There is only one wo
man on earth I care for, and if she cannot
be my wife, I will go down to my grave a
bachelor."
" You must not talk to mo like that ; it
is taking a meau advantage of our compan
ionship You know that I am with you at
my husband's wish."
" Yes, you have his orders for the jour
ney. Poor, doar George, what a fine bold
hand he writes, doesn't he ?"
Mrs. Ilartfleld did not see the sardonic
grin which accompanied this trivial remark,
nor did Mr. Comberford again offend hor
by any allusion to his hopeless passion. It
was pitch dark when they reached Dover,
not a star in the sky, and a high wind blow
ing! There was considerable confusion in
getting on board, and Mrs. Ilartfleld scarce
ly knew where she was till she found her
self standing on the deck of a steamer
arm-in-arm with Edgar Comberford, while
the lamps of Dover receded rapidly from
her vision. Her companion persuaded her
to remain on deck. , .
" There is an atmosphere of sickness be
low that would inevitably make you ill,",
he said. " Let me find you a comfortable
corner, where you can sit all night secure
from wind and weather." Concluded on
second page.