The Bloomfield times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, April 22, 1873, Page 2, Image 2

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I)c 6ttmc0, Nc& HJloomftelS, )a.
and by the time he reached the Hun, It
would be pitch dark; and ho, all unaware
of the condition of the bridge. ;
, She shuddered, and started forward to
ward the trembling timbers that spanned
the angry mass of foam, gleaming up so
ghost-like through the fast gatlioring gloom.
She muBt manage to oross the stream, or ail
was lost ! She forgot everything but the ur-
gent necessity she felt ot warning sir. Asn-1
croft ; of saving him from destruction.
Bbe stood still a moment on the edge of
one of the black, slippery timbers, and
looked down into the cauldron beneath.
Her head swam she felt faint and dizzy.
By a strong effort-, she forced herself to look
up ; there was safety only in ignoring dan
ger. A single misstep would plunge her
into eternity no living thing could exist
in that mad whirlpool below.
She stepped out boldly the timber trem
bled beneath her weight, her feet seemed
almost sliding from the slanting edge. Bhe
felt an irresistible iinpnlso to look down,
but she did not yield ; she fixed her eyes
resolutely on the opposite shore, and went
steadily on
She was safe. She sank down on a wet
.tan. nrpsi.d with rratitude that Bhe had
been permitted to achieve success. She must
wait for Mr. Ashcroft, How very long the
wait for Mr. Ashcroft. How very long
time seemed, and yet it was not more than
half an hour before she heard the sharp
clink of his horse's hoofs on the rocks bo
low. It was thick darkness now one
could hardly see a yard before him. She
stepped into the middle of the path, her
pale face shining ghostly white through the
mist. Ashcroft was coming at a lull gal
lop he had nearly ridden her down, but
his horse halted suddenly, and then he saw
How 1 what have we here ?" he called
out.
" It is I, Mr. Ashcroft. The covering is
irone from the brides. You cannot cross
to-night."
He was off his horse iu a moment, and
standing close by her sido.
'iYou, Argoline Vernon?"
"Yes."
"And why did you come to tell me?"
"Why, indeed? his question recalled her
to herself. She held by the trunk of a tree
for support. She was overcome with shame.
Hud she indeed unsealed herself to this
man, of all others ? Pride helped her,
though.
" I saw the condition of the bridge I
knew that you were expected to return by
this road after dark, and I would make a
. groat sacrifice to save a human life."
" How did you get across !"
"The strincors are left. I crossed on one
of them."
He caught her convulsively to him
" Argoline 1 Good heaven ! and you ran
all that fearful danger for my sake?"
Kha tried to tret froo. but he would not
release her.
" Be quiet I have borne your coldness
and scorn nationtly. Lot me know what
your love would be 1 . I have loved you al
ways ever since that first day. What will
you say to me?"
" I I thought it was Edith."
"Edith is but a child. She looks upon
me as a father. It is you only you that
I want, Argeline."
1 " But schoolmistresses are snuffy, and
wear corkscrew ringlets, and are always
just twenty-flve."
' " Ha 1 Bo now I have the clue I Arge
line, I was an insolent coxcomb. Forgive
- me. Remember I had not seen you, then
She forgave him, bhe said, softly she
had been foolishly sensitive about it and
further confession he stopped with his
kisses.
Mr. Ashcroft took his horse back to the
. nearest farm-house, and arousing the men,
he loft Argeline there, and they returned to
the bridge, where they built a large fire to
warn others who might bo travelling that
way, of danger,
John Draout came down to the run to
search for Argeline, was informed of her
safety, and went home with the glad tidl ngs,
They had been very anxious at the farm
house.
The next day, the bridge was repaired,
Mr. Ashcroft and Argeline walked home
together, the horse following, meek and
docile, behind. Four weeks afterwards,
Ashcroft Hall bad a mistress. The sohool
was given into other hands, and Argeline
took upon herself the duties pf Eugene
Asbcroft's wife. Duties of love, always.
When Edith was seventeen, she refused
the hand of the young widower, Philip
Desmond, who had just returned from Eu
rope, and was smitten with the charms of
the little beggar be had once strucic witu
his whip. And he knew her Identity, at
the last. , Afterward, she was married to
! Charles St.' John, the nephew of Mr. Ash
oroft, a graduate of West Point and now
a distinguished Federal officer.
t3T" Where are you going?" said a
young gentleman to an elderly one in a
white cravat, whom ho knew well, and
overtook a few miles from Little Hock
"I am'iroing to heaven, my son. I have
been on the way eighteen year."
Well, good-by, old fellow; if you have
travelled toward heaven eighteen years,
and sot no nearer to it than Arkansas, I'll
take another route."
tW A "tile word, act or look, when the
heart Is sore, lingers as does the fragrance
of the rose long after the vase is broken
A Short; Courtsliip.
i
WAS a young man possessed of suf
ficient means to enable me to live at my
ease, and refrain from laoor 01 any kiiiq,
when suddenly there- came a blow that
HCattered my prosperity to the winds, and
forcej me to employ my labor and wits in
the generai struggle of gaining a living.
The blow came j guape 0f the failure
f w8.flim iu wuich my capital was in.
Tested,
After securing a clorkship in the house
of a creditor of our late firm, my first care
was to look up a loss expensive boarding
house than the fashionable one in which I
was living. I inserted an advertisement
in several 'widely ' circulated city papers,
asking for reasonable board in a striotly
private family, and of course received a
multitude of answers by next post.: Out of
this motley installment of epistles, there
was but one which pleased me, and that
one I docided to answer in person imme
diately.
Graco Kingsloy was the name of the
favored landlady writing, to mo,
and the
letter stated that her house was entirely
private, having no boarders whatever. I
was much pleased with" the fair, delicate
hand-writing, and an idea took possession
of me that Grace was a young and fascina
ting widow. I was not disappointed when I
reached the houso, and my ringing at the
door-bell was answered by the lady herself.
She invited me into the parlor in a manner
so courteoirs, and yet so modest, that I had
fallen desperately iu love with her before I
could cross the threshold.
I enjoyed a very pleasant chat with Mrs,
Kingsloy. During the conversation she
informed me that her late husband had
been in a (fair way of business, and at his
death, which occurred a year previous, had
loft hor in pretty com fortable circumstances.
They had but one child; and this item of
mortality I was graciously permitted to
look upon, ' as it lay peacefully slumbering
in its cradle. I also learnod that the lady
was living in the house quite alone, and
desired a male boarder more as a means of
protection than as a source of revenue. In
conclusion, the landlady looked so pretty
(she was quite young, not more than two
or threo and twenty) and the board so
moderate, her companionship so inviting,
and she seemed to trust iu me, and look
upon me so favorably that I would have
been a heathen, dead to all charms and in
ducements of the sex, if I had not engaged
board on the spot.
The next day I had my trunk removed
to my new boarding place, and permanent
ly established myself there. Before leav
ing ray former boarding houso, a letter was
banded me by the postman, but I did not
find time to examine it until I was com
fortably ensconced in the parlor of Mrs.
Kingsley's cosy houso.
Opening the letter, I discovered it to be
from a wealthy uncle, residing in Ver
mont, who regulaily sent me a letter once
a year; but whom I had never seen. His
epistles were always short and to the poiut,
generally consisting of an account of the
weather in his locality, and some good ad
vice to me to take care of my money, as I
might be burdened with some of it before
I Was muoh older. . I was always very glad
to get this advice from him as I regarded
it as au intimation that I was to inherit
his wealth on his decease.
One day, however, about a year previous
I received a letter from him which contain
ed another topic besides those I have men
tioned. My uncle made some pressing in
quiries respecting my matrimonial pros
pects, and stated that if I was not already
married I should immediately enter into
the wedded state, and let him know of it,
or he would never more be an uncle of
Now, as my uncle lived in Vermont and
I in Philadelphia, and I never anticipated
the old gentleman : would pay me a visit
and discover the falsehood, I wrote and in-
formed him that I was not only married,
but the father of a bouncing baby. This
intelligence so pleased my uncle that he
sent a gold goblet and . a silver pap spoon,
to be presented to my child. I at first sat
down and wrote a very xomantio letter to
my uncle, thanking him for the presents,
and then visited the nearest jewelry store
and turned both the goblet and spoon into
cash, which I pocketed.
I had received no furthor letters from my
unole until the one which I read in Mis
Kingsley's parlor. The postscript to this
not only astonished, but absolutely fright
ened me. It read as follows :
P. S. I have never visited Philadelphia,
ao I have decided to do so at once, and get
a look at you and your wife and child. You
may expect me about the 1 10th of the
month.
" Good gracious I My uncle is coming to
visit me." I exclaimed; " and its past the
10th of the month now I I don't know at
what moment he may pop in. What ain
to do for a wife and child ?"
At that moment there came a terrible
pnll at the door bell as if the man who
pulled it imagined that he owned the house
and could make as much noise as be pleas
ed. A sickening sensation took possession
of roe, for I bad a misgiving that it was my
unole. Now as good fortune ' would have
it, Mrs. Kingsley bad gone ouv to a neigh
boring store for a few moments, and had
requested mo to have an eye On her child
while she was gone, so it wouldn't fait out
of the cradle and hurt itself. As I glanced
at the cradle, and thought of my uncle at
the door, a bright idea entered my mind.
determined, in case the visitor was my
uncle, to claim the youthly occupant as my
own.
" The " visitor proved to be my uncle. I
knew him by the pictures of him I had
scon, and ho likewise know me by my pho
tograph. After mutual recognition and
hand-shaking, I ushered my honored rota
tive into the parlor and . introduced him to
tny nowly claimed offspring.
- "There, uncle," said I, -"is the first
pledge of our married life. I assure you I
take pleasure in presenting to you my
child." ,. , . -
i"It is a fat little youngster," said my
uncle, gazing at it admiringly. " By the
way, what is it, boy or girl?"
That was a knotty story for me to ans
wer, for he was just as much acquainted
with its gendor as I was. But it would !
not do to show ignorance on the subject, so
I answered at haphazard that it was a
loy. ., , .
" I am sorry it is a boy," said my uncle ;
"there are too many boys iu the family.
Now, if you had enly produced a littlo blue
eyed girl, it would have been more sensi
ble." . ,
I assured hlra I was sorry the gender did
not suit, but hoped iu the future his wishes
would be gratified.
So far I had succeeded in deceiving my
undo, but tho worst I foared was that when
Mrs. Kingsley returned, she might object
to my claiming ownership in her child.
Besides, to carry out my deception, I must
find a wife as well as an infant, and Mrs.
Kingsloy waB the- only one I could con
veniently claim. The only difficulty was
to got her consent to the deception, and
this might be done if I could only secure a
private conversation with bor before I in
troduced her to my uncle, then it would be
all right
I watched my opportunity, and gained
an interview with her before she entered
the room. I told her, in a few brief and
hurried words the extent of my difficulty,
and how I had taken the liberty of acting
as papa to her little one. I then told her I
must find a wifo somewhere, and begged
her to allow me to introduce hor in that
capacity. She laughed very heartily at the
suggestion, said she could comprehend my
difficulty, and consented to my proposal,
and very roguishly warned me not to pre
sume upon tho occurrence.
We then entered the parlor and I intro
duced her as my bettor half. My uncle
was very much pleased with her, and com
plimented me upon my good choice in the
selection of a wife. Mrs. Kingsley, of
course, colored most charmingly at this
compliment, and I could plainly see that
she could scarcely refrain from laughing.
You have a fine boy here," said my
uncle to Mrs. Kingsley, pointing to the
cradle.
" Excuse me, sir," said sbe, coloring up
again, "it's a girl."
I was dumb founded. I was exposed in
my iniquity. Would my uncle believe me
after this? He looked from mo to my pret
ty landlady with a puzzled countenance
"Your husband told melt was a boy,
he said, and rather suspiciously too, I
thought. '
" Well, I always took it for a boy," was
my reply, putting on a bold face, "but I
suppose my wifo knows best." ,
Here Mrs. Kingsley fairly screamed with
laughter, and my uncle's stern face assum
ed an ironical smile.
" You are a nice father, ain't you ?" he
said touching me with the point of his um
brella, " not to know the sex of your own
child. Why, I knew it was a girl the mo
ment I looked at it. -
But, Charley," be said, again addressing
me, " what did you do with tne goblet and
pap spoon I sent to the little one?"
'Oh, they are perfectly safe, I assure
you, 1 replied. " 1 nave taken good care
of them.
"Yes, but where in the deuce are they?
would like very much to take another
look at them."
" Well, I have deposited them in a bank
for safe keeping, but I can readily produce
them that is in the course of a week's
time."
He told me to do so, as he wanted to see
them, and then I got out of the room, for
fear that he might ask me some more per
plexing questions.
A short time afterwaid, Mrs. Kingsloy
came to me, when I was alone, in an ad
joining room and I saw immediately that
something very humorous must have hap
pened, for the corners of her lips were break
ing into smiles.
"Do you know, sir, into what an awk
ward predicament you have got me ?'' she
inquired, as she took a seat on the lounge
by my side.
" Explain yourself," I said. , '
" Why, your uncle came to roe a short
time ago, and asked to see my marriage
certificate, and be said be had some money
to settle upon us immediately, but wanted
to be sure that everything was right first."
: "Did you expose me?" - I inquired anx
iously. ' - ,
"No, sir, I did not, fori never enter
anything" else,
by
halves." '
I was so elated that I could not with
stand the temptation of embracing her.
This did not make hor angry, for she nes
tled her head cosily on my shoulder and
smiled serenely. ,
"What answer did you make him?" I
asked.
She hesitated for a moment and then
said:
' ' f'l promised to produce the marriago
certificate."
"But we haven't got any," I then re
marked. ,
She indulged in a quiet littlo laugh to
herself, but said nothing.
"Mrs. Kingsley nay, my dear madam
no, I will call you darling we are both
in a scrape, and there is but one way for
us to got out of it. We must go and get
married immediately. Will you be my
wife?"
" I shall be dolightcd." she answered,
frankly,- and seizing both my hands, said
that she was ready for a frolic of any kind.
We lost no time I assure you. I don't
think Mrs. Kingsley ever got into her Sun
day clothes in such a hurry in her life be
fore, while I Bpoiled two pairs of suspen
ders in my frantio endeavors to bo on time.
We quite astonished the'parson by our
haste, and at the conclusion of the cere
mony, I would have forgotten to give him
the usual "fee," if he had not reminded
me of it.
We had secured the coveted marriage
certificate, signed and sealed, and were now
safely out of our difficulties, as we thought.
We had omitted one precaution, as we pre
sented the certificate to uncle. It was all
right with the exception of tho modern
date.
"Why, howls this?" said my undo,
gazing at the document through his specs;
" I thought you were married over a year
ngo."
"So we were, uncle," I answered very
solemnly.
" How comes it, then, that the certificate
is dated to-day ?" he asked in a voice of
thundor.
We wero struck speechless, both my wifo
and I.
"Come," said my uncle, "iBeethore
has been some trickery here. Own up to
it, or I will never forgive you."
I did own up to it, and told him the
whole story. I expected it would make
him angry, but it didn't ; for he laughed
heartily, and said I was a clever rascal, and
he was proud of me
" But how about the gold goblet and
pap-spoon? You haven't been drawing
the wool over my eyes about them, too,
havo you ch ?"
"I told the truth about the goblet and
pap-spoon.
" Why, you are a regular trickster,"
said my uncle. " I believe you would de
ceive Satan himself. But I won't get an
gry with you, for I used to play tho sumo
games when I was young."
In a word, wo became thoroughly recon-
ciled, aud my uncle settled upon me a suf
ficient income to cnablo me to quit my
irksome duties as a clerk. Ho has gone
back to Vermont, and I can but say in
conclusion, that when he pays us auother
visit, I can show several " little people"
that I call my own, and without telling a
falsehood.
An Ingenious Convict.
Tho convict Smith, who recently escaped
from his cell in Sing Sing Prison, made use
of a most ingenious devjee for unlocking
his cell-door. It consisted of a bar of
wood, about eighteen inches long, from the
end of which another bar reached down at
right angels, about four inches in length
In tho lower end of this shorter bar a re-
ceptacle was hollowed out for the purpose
of holding a cunningly-contrived false key,
and on the lower bar was arranged a twis
ted leather belt, passing over upright pins,
and worked by a crank so nicely adjusted
that by turning, the crank the key would
also bo turned at tho other extremity of
the bar. Having made these arrangements
he quietly awaited an occasion when the
regular keeper was absent nnd a relief
keeper locked up the cells on his gallery
This keeper having convinced himself that
Smith was in his cell, passed on to tho
other end of the corridor, and the most
plausible theory is that while he was thus
engaged Smith thrust the machine through
the bars of the square grating above the
lock, dropping it till the false key fitted in
the keyhole, aud thon turning the crank,
unlocked his door (throwing the bar and
crank on his bed, where it was afterwards
found) and quietly walked out past the
keepers at the north end of the corridor.
The oldest keepers at the prison are com
pletely bullied by the brilliancy of this ex
ploit, and assort that no such elaborate
method of escape has ever been dovised by
any other prisoner. As nobody actually
saw him pass beyond the confines of the
prison, there is still a doubt existing as to
whether he is " stowed away" within the
walls or enjoying his coveted freedom in
the world at large. , . -
tW What is the difference between a
murderous attack and pig-killing?
One is assault wltb intent to kill, and tho
other is a kill with Intent to salt.
into' a deception, or
PERKY, t'OCSTY
Heal Estate, Insurance,
CLAIM AGENCY.
LEWIS POTTER '& CO.,
Real Kxtate Broker), Insurance, & Claim Agent
Ne-w IIloonlIell, ,
WE INVITK the attention of bnyers and sell
ers to the advantages we oner llieni in pur.
dialing or disposing of real estate through our of
floe. We have a very large list of deslrab property ,
consisting of farms, town property, mills, store
and tavern stands, and real estate of any deaerip.
tlon which we are prepared to oiler at great bar-
Fains. We advertise our property very extensive
y, and use all our efforts, skill, and dilligence te
effect a sale. We make no charges unless th
property Is sold while registered with us. We also
draw up deeds, bonds, mortgages, andall legal pa
pers at moderate rates.
oine oi me oesi, cueapcsi, ana most rename
fire, life, and cattle insurance companies In the
United Mates are represented at this agency.
Property Insured either on the cash or mutual
plan, and perpetually at J4 and IS per thousand.
Tensions, bounties, and all kinds of war claims
collected. There are thousands of soldiers and
heirs of soldiers who are entitled to pensions and
bounty, who have never made application. Sol
dlers.lf you were wounded, ruptured, oreontract
ed a disease In the service from which you are dis
abled, you are entitled to a pension.
When widows of soldiers die or marry, the minor
children are entitled to the pension.
rarues navingany uusinessto transact in our
line, are respectfully Invited to give us a call, as
we areconiiuom we can renuersausiaciiou in any
branch of our business.
W No charge for Information,
4i!01y . LEWIS TOTTER & CO.
Neiv Millinery Goods
At Newport,
IBKO to Inform the public that I have Just re
turned from Philadelphia, with a ful assort
ment of the latest styles of
MILLINERY GOOD8.
II ATS AND BONNKTS.
RIBBONS, FRENCH FLOWERS
FEATHERS.
CH1UNONS,
LACE CAPES.
NOTIONS, ,
And all articles usually found In a flrst-clAss Mil.
llnery Establishment. All orders promptly at
tended to. rw will sell all goods as Cheap as
can be got elsewhere.
DRESS-MAKING done to order and In the la.
test style, as I get the latest Fashions from New
York every month, (loitering done to order. In
all widths. I will warrant all my work togive sat
isfaction. All work done as low as possible.
ANNIE 1CKE3,
Cherry Street, near the Station,
Newport, Pa.
Sltt 13
CARLISLE CARRIAGE FACTORY.
A. B. S1IERK
has a large lot ol second-band work on cSCftJ
band, which he will sell cheap 111 order CfJfastS
to make room for new work,
FOR THE SPRING TRADE,
lie has. also, the best lot of '
NEW WORK ON HAND.
You can always see different styles. The material
Is not iu question any more, for It is the best used.
If you want satisfaction in style, quality aud
price, go to tins shop before purchasing elsewhere,
there Is no linn that has a better Trade, or sella
more In Cumberland aud Perry counties.
REPAIRING AND PAINTING
promptly attended to.
and Pitt Slrculs,
Factory Corner of South
3dp CARLISLE, PA.
Farmers Take Notice,
rjMIE subscriber offers for Sale
THRESHING MACHINES. JACKS and HORSE
POWER, With Tumbling Shart. and Side-Gearing, Warrant
ed to give satisfaction In speedy and perfect
threshing, light draft and durability, on reasona
ble terms. Also
PLOW Or II H
Of Buiierlor Make.
CORN SHELLEHH,
KETTLES,
STOVES,
SCOOPS
AND ALL CASTINGS.,
made at a country Foundry. Also,
A GOOD MILL SCREW,
la excellent order, for sale at a low rate.
I refer those wishing to buy to John Adams,.
Samuel Khuman, John linden, Ross Heneh, at
Iekesbiirg. Jacob Shoemaker & Son, Elliotts
burg; Thomas Morrow. Loysvllle; John Flicking
er. Jacob Fliuktnger, Centre. 620 13
SAMUEL LIGGETT.
Ickesbnrg, May 14. 18V2.
JUNCAN SHERMAN A CO,
IIANKUHM,
No. 11 Nassau Street,
NEW YORK,
Issue circular Notes and circular Letters ot
eredlt available In any part of the world.
W Current accounts received on such terms
as may be agreed upon. 5 12tf
JNSURE IN THE
MUTUAL
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
of '
NEW YORK.
F. 8. Winston, President.
The oldest aud strongest Company iu the United"
States. Assets over l5,lj00,000 In cash.
t). 1.
8HULER, Agent.
Liverpool, Pa.
SU13t.
VIck'H Floral Guide for 1873 !
The GUIDE Is now published Quarterly.
TWENTY-FIVE CENTS pays for the year,
four numbers, which U uol half the cost.
Those who afterwards send money to the
amount oi ONE DOLLAR or more for (Jpeds
may also order Twenty-llvo Cents worth extra
the price paid for the Guide.
The JANUARY NUMBER Is beautiful, giv
ing plans for making RURAL HOM F.8, De
tlgus for Dining Table Decorations, Window
Gardens, Ac, and containing a mass of Infor
mation Invaluable to the lover of (lowers.
One Hundred aud Fifty paxes on line tinted
paper, some Five Hundred Engravings and a
superb COLORED FLATS and CI1ROMO
COVER. The First Edition of Two Hundred.
Thousand Jut printed Iu English aud Genua
ready to seud out.
JAMES VlCK,
Hecfcettor, n. f. '