2f Mm v-iii- yip r js tps Fit AX K MO 11 TIMER, ) Editor and l'rojyriefor. . t AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. ITcrmat IW ADVANCE H iZn Per Your. Vol. V. Iov Bloomfleltl, Tiiontliiy, Ncptciulxir 2(j, lyi. - I 's LI 0 Is Published Weekly, At Now Bloomlleld, Pcnn'a. BY FRANK MORTIMER. SUBSCIlirTION TEHMS. Jt l.JJ ."5 1 10 It Y 12 A. 1 1 ! 71 C'eHfn or 0 Month s 40 Vents for 3 Months, IN ADVANCE. GRACE BLENCHFORD'S LOVER. JONAS BLENCHFORD, with coat, hat and gloves already on, heard tho tink lo of tho sleigh bells, and arose to go down but when ho reached tho door ho felt a light touch upon his arm, and heard the well known voice of his daughter. "Ta, may I go?" "But I am only going to the bank, Grace." "After what, father? I will go there aud wait for you. It will not take me fivo minutes to get ready." " Well well ! Bo spry, and I'll wait," Mild tho old gentleman, quite merrily, "and I'll give you such a Blcigh ride as you never had before a tleigh ride extraordinary. You know I havo tho black before tho cutter." "So much tho bettor," said Graco, and sho ran away to dress, little dreaming how well tho promise would bo kept. John Normandy stood by the window looking out upon the busy street, ever and anon glancing at his watch, as if impatient for the time to pass. And indoed ho was. Ho had no thoughts for what was passing in tho street below. Ho saw Jonas Blonchford aud his daughter as they drove up to the bank, but forgot them tho moment they passed from sight within tho entrance. He had weighty thoughts upon his mind, that could not bo cast osido by any ordinary occurrence. He was somewhere about thirty years of age, tall, erect, dignified, and very plain of feature. Ho had battled with discourage ments and poverty until his very face bore marks of the terrible struggles, but ho had conquered. His motto had ever been, "Onward and upward," and, nover flinching, nover giving way, he had at last become cashier of the bank of E , a position both honorable and lucrative. Only a twelvemonth had he held the position, but in that short timo he had won tho confidence of the officers of the bank, the regard of his fellow employees, and was generally liked by those doing business with him. 1 Still he was unsocial, no lived a life of his own. Ho asked no companions wanted none. When the bank closed for the day, ho hurried away to his lodgings, aud was seen no more until the hour of business on tho following day. Business was his only pleasure. Ho talked little worked much ; he was a poor companion, but a true friend. Ho merely tuniod his bond when the president and his daughter entored the bank, and then went back to his thinking ; but Blonchford seemed disposed to molest him. " Day dreaming, Normandy ?" " I havo encountered so much reality that there is but little of tho imaginary left," said ho, turning toward them, half reluctantly. " Oh, fie ! Normandy. Not quite thirty, I should judgo, and settling down into an older man than I am. What are you thinking about ? It must not be. Grace, can you do anything to show this practical old gentleman tho error of his ways ? I'll leave you with him to try, while I dovoto a few moments to business." " Don't forget the l ido, father." " Never fear. You shall have it." Normandy was really voxod to sco the old gentleman trot away, and leave him to entertain tho peerless Grace Blonchford. Grace suspected it, and she led him a pretty race of words that brought tho smile to his face in spite of himself, and provoked some almost merry replies, that sounded strangely from Ills lips. When Blenchford returned, ho found them quite sociable. Normandy, leaning over the desk, listening to Grace's merry talk, and occasionally putting in a word that showed how well he was enjoying it. "Thawing, by smoke!" exclttimod Blenchford in surprise, but his manner changed Immediately. " Grace, we must postpone tho rido. Somo very urgent business keeps mo hero. Wait, Normandy can take my place." " I should bo pleased," said ho. "Very good, Normandy; and remember that I promised her a rido such as sho never had before." "A ride extraordinary, father." " Yes, yes ; that was it. Do not disap point her. "Assuredly not." While Normandy was drawing on his greatcoat, ag;cntlcman stepped to his sido and spoke to him in a very low tone. Normandy's face blanched whiter than snow, but ho recovered instantly. " Thank you, Gauson, for this proof of your friendship, but I have known it for some hours. Please let it rest where it is, if you can, and I will make it nil right in tho morning. There is some great mistake." With a buoyancy of manner that surprised Grace, after what sho had bocii, ho conducted her to tho sleigh, nnd with a gallantry little expected from ono bo practical, ho handed her in, arranging tho robes about her nioro skillfully than even her old father could havo done. Then ho took his scat by her side, and off they went. Through tho crowded streets, through tho less crowded suburbs, out into tho quiet country, Normandy all tho while chatting merrily, a startling contrast to his real feelings. But when once they wero out of tho reach of tho din of the great city his manner changed entirely. Turning his dark, searching eyes full upon his com panion's beautiful face, he asked, earnestly, almost beseechingly : "Miss Blenchford, can you trust mo?" Surprised and somewhat annoyed, sho hardly know how to answer. But sho saw that ho was in earnest, and in tho brief timo, sho thought of all her acquaintances, and not ono of them would sho trust sooner. " AVhy do you ask, Mr. Normandy ?" "If I should tell you," said he, "that thoto whom you hold most dear, yourself included, wore in great peril, and a peril that you never could guess, and that I had tho power to save you all, would you believe mo? Would you trust lao? Would you bo guided by me for a brief time ?" Startled by his manner, and convinced by his earnestness, sho replied as earnestly ; "Yes, Mr. Normandy; I can and do trust you. But why do you ask ?" "Do not ask me. It will bo enough to tell yon that you and your father and brother are truly in groat danger, and if you will place implicit confidence in me, I can save you. Drop your veil if you please. Thank you." Almost tenderly he wrapped tho robes around her, yot uttering no word. Then gathorlng the reins, he gave tho horse a light cut, and away they went, at a pace that soon left tho city far out of sight. " An extraordinary rido, Burely," thought Graco, as they sped over the crisp snow ; and there was a wonder how it would end. But she folt no fear, no regret that she had placed herself in his hands. For hours they rodo, ho doing oil in his power to entertain hor, succeeding so well that she almost forgot the singular position, in listening to his brilliant talk and varied experience. About dark they drew up to a farmhouse, where Normandy ordered supper. While it was preparing, ho looked after tho comfort of his horse, nibbing hiin down with his own hand and feeding him ; for tho tide was not yot over. " Wo havo four hours yet to rido, said ho to Grace. " Shall wo go on ?" " I trust you, Mr. Normandy. Let mo help you if I can." "Thank you 1 Thank you, Miss Blonch ford," he said, gratofully. " You shall not repent it." Out In tho night they started again. Ho procured additional robes at tho farm-house and wrapped his fair companion so closely that bIio did not feel the biting cold. He needed no covering ; his blood was at a fover height, defying tho cold north wind more effectually than tho warmest furs. On they drove through tho still keen air ; past farmhouses, over hills, across rivers, through douse woods nnd damp valleys, and yot tho ond of that rido was not yet." Could it bo that John Normandy was playing false? Did ho know that tho ofllcors of tho law wore searching for him far and neat ? That his name and descrip tion bad boon flashed over tho wires in all directions? That his namo was whispered upon the street as a defaulter a robber ? That he was already charged with tho abduction of Jonas Blonchford's fair daughtor? He could not have dri voifr faster had he known all of theso, nor seemed more impatient to got over tho ground. It looked very dark, yet Grace Blenchford trusted him. " Wo aro almost there," said ho, halting tho steaming horse, and pointing to a light ahead. Aro you sorry you trusted mo ? It is not too lato yet." " Your conduct is very strange, yet I havo no fear," replied Grace. " You aro ono among a thousand," ho said, honestly. Ho stepped out, and taking tlio bells from tho horse, stowed them away in tho sleigh. Then he drovo off cautiously toward tho light. "It is our beacon," said ho. "It tells mo that I am in timo." Ho stopped again, when within a few hundred yards of tho house. Securing and well blanketing tho horse, ho helped Graco to alight, nnd together they walked toward tho building. " Wo must bo very cautious, else our rido will bo for naught." Ho drow a revolver from his breast, and placed it in his greatcoat-pocket, whoro ho could reach it without waste of time. "Ihavocomo prepared," ho whispered, feeling his companion's arm tremblo within his own. " Do not fear. I would sooner lose my own life than that one hair of your head should bo harmed." They stopped in tho shadow, just before the door. " Now, Miss Blenchford, you will havo need of all your courage and foi'titudo," ho whispered. " Within this house you will sco that which will bo agony to you, but it cannot bo avoided. By no other means could I savo tho Blonchford namo from disgrace. Follow mo." Revolver in hand, ho burst tho door, and entered quickly, followed closely by Graco. With a cry of llerce anger, the only oc cupant of tho room sprang up to meet tho intruders ; but tho momeut tho light fell upon their faces ho sunk back into tho chair with a groan, and buried his faco in his hands. "Oh, Godl Lost, lout?" Grace Blenchford recognized hor ouly brother, James ; and seeing his distress, sho Bprang to his sido to comfort him. "Don't touch mo, Grace !" he exclaimed in terror. "Normandy, tako her away 1 Don't let hor como near mo ! Why did you bring hor hore? Oh, my sister 1 Is it pos siblo ? Great God ! I shall go mad ! I cannot endure it 1 Why did you ever bring her hore ?" "To savo you," replied Normandy. Ho had closed and bolted the door, but still retained tho revolver in his hand. Ho moved nearer to tho conscience-stricken man. "James Blenchford, calm yourself," said he. " We have come, not to harm, but to savo you. The presence of your sister should tell you that." Young Blenchford raised his head with a hoieful look. " God bless you, John Normandy 1 You know not what I havo suflbred, but I dared not como back. .And now you will keep it from my dear father ?" "I will," said Normandy, solemnly. " No ono shall ever know it, save our selves." "But Graco?" said James Blenchford. Sho need know no more," said Norman dy. I brought her that tho sight of hor might give you courage, to return to us." " John, I shall tell hor all," said James " I shall tell her everything, but not now." " Spare tho pain, James. "No, John. It is my duty. But not now." " Where is your accomplice ?" He will arrive by the next train," said Blenchford, with a shudder. " I wag wait ing for him." "And that is duo in thirty minutes," said Normandy, looking nt his watch. " Give mo the money, James, and we will loavo this place before the villian arrives." Graco saw all, but hoard nothing, for thoy had withdrawn to tho other sida of tho room, that she might not Ikj pained ; but a great fear was weighing upon her heart a dread of some approaching ca lamity. When they came back sho looked from ono to tho other for some explanation, but very little they gave her. Normandy spoke first. " Miss Blenchford, you aie puzzled at my words and actions, but you will pardon mo, I know, when I toll you that It Is better for all of us to say but little about it. Your brother has been led into an error that threatened to be almost serious. Fortu nately, everything is now arranged quite satisfactorily, thanks to your presence, aud he will return to the city with u. Watch over him, and pray for him," ho added, sol emnly, "that he may not stumble again." "I ask it," said James, bowing his head; and without another word they left tho house, and wero soon on their way back to tho city. Silently they rodo until the limits of tho city wero reached. Then John Normandy gave the reins to Blenchford, and alighting bade tho brother and sister adieu. " But you, John ?" said James. " What will you do?" "Fear not for mo,"' replied Normandy, adding in a whisper, I shall not betray you, whatever happens." Then ho charged them both never to toll what had passed between them that night ; and, without waiting to hear their replies, ho strodo rapidly down tho street. Ho went directly to the bank, reaching it just at opening time, and, without a word to any ono went straight to tho vaults his custom every morning and deposi ted tho money that James Blenchford had stolen from them. Then ho wcntbnck,and met tho officer to arrest him. Ho expected it ; but ho had left tho money in its placo, and now ho was ready for prison. Ilo folt thankful that ho had been allowed so much timo. Ho had saved James Blanehford, and his father, and Graco, and what did ho care now ? Ho was alonq in tho world ; he had done his duty ; and ho had hope James Blenchford wont to him in prison, but Norinany would hear nothing about surrendering himself. " I will tell you a secret, James, and then you will see a motivo for my actions. I lovo your sistor hotter than my own life, and I could not bear to have a word whis pered against her. Let it rest as it is. I am content." Again James Blonchford promised, but it was hard for him to abido by it. With all his faults, ho had a generous heart. That very day ho told Grace tho whole story of his disgrace, and how John Normandy was suffering for them ; and sho was touched by tho recital, and thought of every means to liberate him. "The money, Jamos, whoro is it now?" " Normandy placed it iu the safe, un known to any one." " And has it not been found ? Would not tho whole matter be looked upon as a great blunder ; and would not Mr. Normandy bo liberated at onoo, and exonoratcd from all blame, if tho money was found there ?" Away wont James Blenchford without waiting to answer his sister's question, and within ton minutes ho was mounting the steps to tho bank. He sauntered up to Gauson, aud carelessly inquired if there was anything now in Normandy's case. "Nothing," replied Gauson. "Ho pro tests his innocence, and I am inclined to think he speaks the truth." " So am I, Gauson. Do you know I am half certain that it is all a great mistake that the money Is now somewhere about the safe!" " I wish it might prove so. It is a hard blow for Normandy, and if it is gono, who else could havo taken it? Ilo has tho key to tho safe." " I don't bcliovo it is gono," Baid Blench ford, controlling himself wonderfully. " I would liko to havo another search made. I'll ask father and hero he comes." Jonas Blenchford felt very sore over the disgrace of his favorite, and espeoially since his daughtor had returned, aud spo ken in the wannest torms of her treat ment during the ride. He was therefore willing to do anything to cloar up the mat tor. He readily consented to make anoth er search for tho missing monoy, though ho was well satisfied that it would be fruitless. And indeed it camo very near being so. For full two hours they looked, pulling drawors, turning and unfolding papers, till every ono but Jamos was satisfied that It was not there. Ho knowing, or fully be lieving that Normandy told tho truth, did not give it up, and at last brought tho package to light, from an obscure corner where it might have been overlooked a score of times. With a cry of joy Jonas Blonchford took tho package, and counted . out tho money, all in bills of a largo denomination. "It's all right, boys 1" ho shouted. "Normandy is innocent." Then all was coufnsion. Jamos ran homo and told Grace, and they rejoiced to gether ; whilo their father wont in person and procured tho rclooso of Normandy, telling tho strange story as ho went. It was tho happiest momont of his life whon John Normandy took hit place In the bank again. ' ' Jamos profited by his bitter experience. He never again eworved ' from the right, aud is living now a rcspcotod citizou of his native place. Graco nover has forgotten her extraordinary sleigh rido, and never will, for her name is now Grace Normandy and she loves hor plain, uoblo-hcnrtod hus band, with trno affection. A TOOK FELLOW'S FORTUSE. . MANY years ago, a singular trial took placo in Dublin, about a Queen Anno's farthing. There was, at a popular restaurant in that city, a sharp lad, named Gcorgo Homo, Scottish by birth and train ing, who was intrusted with tho till, nnd had a high reputation for honesty. Ho had occupied that position for somo years, and was about twenty-ono at tho period I am alluding to. Ono day ns ho was going out, ho took change for a tenpeuny bank token out of tho till, and tho particular sil ver coin which ho put in was ono with a special mark upon it, which ho had long carried in his pocket as n " luck penny." Ho was unaware at tho time that ho was parting with this particular coin. Among tho change which ho took wero two far things ono of them had been in tho draw er for some timo, and boing a handsomo, old-fashioned coin had been shown to two or three customers, who admired it, but had no idea of its valuo. Whilo Home was out ho got a glass of beer, and, in paying for it, pulled out tho particular coin iu question. A gontloman who was pres ent picked it up off tho countor, and said : "Your fortune's made That is a Queen Anno's farthing. I should not wonder if 'tis worth a thousand pounds." Homo hurrricd bock to his placo of busi ness, and in an excited manner, mentioned what ho heard. His employer claimed tho coin. Homo refused to givo it up. The master said ho had stolen it. Homo pro duced a fellow clerk to provo that he had taken it, iu change, out of the till, and showed tho identical coin Homo's "luck penny," which had been put in tho draw er. Tho master sent for a policeman, charged Homo with theft, aud had him ta ken before a magistrate. As they were taking him to the police offico he slipped his hand into his pocket, and thenco re moved tho farthiug, chucked it into a heap of mud pilod up on the sido of tho street. Ho was searched by order of the magistrate, and though tho coin was not found, was committed to Nowgate on a charge of rob bery. Incredible as it may appear,' Homo was tried in tho Recorder's Court, Green Street, Dublin, convicted, and sentenced to twelve month's imprisonment. This matter got into tho nowspapors, of course, and caused no small excitement. A humane attorney was struck with tho in justice of tho proceeding, and called upon Mr. Daniel O'Connell, thon in largo prac tice as counsellor-at-law, who examined the records of tho court, and finding evi dence of the illegality of the whole pro ceedings against Homo, placed the case be fore tho Irish Government, and declining to accept a freo pardon for Home (who had done nothing wrong), succeeded in having the whole proceedings quashed, the Re corder reprimanded and Home liberated, his prosecuting employer paying him a considerable sum to forego law proceedings for damnges. There also was a liberal sub scription in Dublin ; and with tho money thus obtained, George Home took h leaso of extensive premises, which had boon oc cupied as an arcade, and oponed a restau rant, called tho Arcado Hotel, which, in a short timo became famous for good cheer, low price, great cleanliness, and civil wait ers. In about ton years ho realized a for tune, with which he returned to Scotland. His former employer, whoso business was ruined by Home's competition, finally be came his cashier, and was faithful and trustworthy. This story has an ond. At Homo's, where I havo oftou dined, I saw tho Queen Anno's farthing which mndo his fortuno. Soon after he had opened tho Arcado Hotel, the Identical coin again camo into his hand, among other money taken over tho coun tor. Ho was ablo to identify it by a cer tain wick or cut. upon tho edgo. It was supposed, that, on tho removal of the lnud mouud into which Homo had flung it when ho resolved that his master should never have it again, tho farthing had been found, aud had again got into circulation. At tho Bank of Ireland, its value, to a coin-collector, was estimated at 25. But Home nevor parted with it. no had it mounted in a silvor framo with glasses ovor it,' so that it could be soon, and not touched,' and was fond ot exhibiting It. ' The coin iu fact was oiio of the groat attraction of the arcade. So after all, a Qucon Anno's far thing did make a poor follow'i fortune.
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