THE TIMES NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA. JUNE 5, 1877.
CATCHING A PICK-POCKET.
"I
BTAKT to-morrow for Belleville,"
Bnld Ithoda Clare to her aunt, upon
whom she was making a farewell call.
" Are you going ftlone, child?" Inquir
ed her relative.
" Yes," was the reply. " Tapaeannot
leave his business, Just now, to go with
me, but he will put me on the cars, and
my frlends,who arealready In Belleville,
will meet me at the depot."
"I don't think It Is safe," continued
the old lady. " Just think, If you should
be robbed, as I was, on that very rond,
last summer 1"
" How was that V" asked lthodu.
"Well," replied her companion, " we
were just approaching the tunnel, when
a gentlemanly looking young man,
wearing spectacles, came up to me and
Inquired, ' Is this seat engaged, intulanir"
No,' I replied, and he Immediately ap
propriated It. He was disposed to be
rather chatty, and was quite Interesting;
but he left at the first station we reached.
After we had passed through the tunnel,
and when I put my hand in my pocket,
I found that my pocket-book had left
with him 1"
" The strange young man had proved
too fascinating for you," laughed Ithoda.
" I defy any one to rob me so easily."
Having just passed through the gradu
ating course at school, and come oft" with
flying colors, she felt equipped for any
.emergency which might present itself in
ihe battle of life.
" Don't be too sure," replied her aunt;
" and beware of any gentlemanly-looking
young man in spectacles.who wishes
to share your seat In the cars."
Ithoda set forth with bright anticipa
tions of a pleasant summer. Her ticket
was bought, her trunk cheeked, and she
was established in a seat, all to herself,
with an interesting book in her hand,
and her lunch in a satchel beside her.
The whistle blew, and papa, giving
her a hurried kiss, bade her good bye ;
and, for the first time in her life, she
was traveling alone. For a while she
watched the scenery, as the train whirl
ed her rapidly along. Then she devoted
herself to her book ; but finally becom
ing tired of both, Bhe yawned and wlsh
ed for company, and even fancied that
her aunt's fascinating young robber
would be rather an agreeable diversion.
" I should like to see him get my pocket-book,"
thought Ithoda. "If his
hand were once in her pocket, he would
not escape so easily without an introduc
tion to the police." And she closed her
own little palm tightly, as though she
already had the prize within her grasp.
While these thoughts were passing
through the young lady's mind, the cars
stopped, and several passengers came
on board. Rhoda was conscious of a
shadow falling near, and looking up,she
beheld a vision which mantled her
cheeks with a deep blush ; a tall and
rather elegant lookiug young man, with
dark whiskers, and wearing spectacles,
was respectfully touching his hat, and
inquiring :
"Is this seat engaged, MissV" And
then he added, apologetically, " All the
others seem to be occupied."
"Answers the description exactly,"
soliloquized the young detective. " Now
Aunt Ann shall be revenged ; I will
give him the opportunity to pick my
pockets, ifhe desires it. Terhaps he
may not enjoy it so much in the end !"
Then she added, aloud, putting on a
look of sternness which Bet comically
upon her childlike face, " The seat is at
your service, sir," and she proceeded to
remove her satchel.
" Allow ine," said the stranger,and ho
elevated It to the bracket above.
Ithoda kept her eye upon her proper
ty, almost expecting to see it and her
companion disappear together.
" He prefers pocket-books," was her
mental comment ; " I'll be on my
guard.'
In spite of herself, our heroine be
came interested in the conversation of
the stranger. He was so perfectly ac
quainted with the road, and pointed out
all the objects of interest, telling amus
ing anecdotes connected with them.
"But I must not forget that he is a
villain," was her mental reservation, as
she listened. " Aunt Ann said that he
was entertaining. " How funny," she
continued, addressing herself, " that I
should meet the same person. But then,
he frequents this road."
Finally, they entered the tunnel.
" I scarcely wonder," remarked the
strange young man in spectacles, " at
the mistake of the old lady who, having
entered the tunnel for the first time in
her life, and having never heard of it,
supposed the Day of Judgment had
come."
"He is trying to divert my attention,"
thought Rhoda. " Perhaps he imagines
that I am a young chit of a school-girl
who can be easily imposed upon, but he
may find himself mistaken."
Just then she felt a slight tug at her
linen polonaise, and immediately thurst
ing her hand in to the pocket, imprison
ed a masculine hand, which she grasped
tightly.
' Now I can triumph over Aunt
Ann," thought Ithoda, " If I am not
accustomed to traveling alone."
They emerged from the tuunel, and
what was the chagrin of the young lady
to discover that she was Imprisoning
her companlon's hand In the pocket of
his own linen duster.
"Oh I I beg your pardon!" stam
mered Rhoda, feeling very much like
the culprit for whom she had mistaken
the stranger.
" You are very excusable," he replied,
gazing in wonder at her blushing coun
tenance, while his face seemed to be an
Interrogation point.
Rhoda felt that, In justification to her
self, some explanatloiKwas necessary, but
with a sense of mortltl cation, she re
membered that the only one Bhe had to
ofler was the reverse of complimentary.
"I thought," she began " that Is
Aunt Ann said you were I mean, I
thought It was my pocket and I mis
took you for a"
" Tlckpocket ?" asked the stranger, as
the truth began to dawn upon him ; and
his eyes twinkled with a sense of the
ludicrous situation.
" Yes," answered Rhoda, desperately,
while her blushes deepened Into scarlet.
"And bo I was to be brought to jus
tice, I suppose, and delivered up to the
police at the next station." And the
dark eyes danced behind the spectacles
with merriment.
" Do please forgive me I" replied Rho
da. " I have never traveled alone be
fore, and I have been from home but
very little."
" Well," was the laughing retort, "I'll
forgive you for putting your hand in my
pocket. Now Bee how much more mer
ciful I am than you Intended to be !"
But Rhoda was In no mood for laugh
ter ; she felt that she had disgraced her
self ; and every time the train stopped
she wished that her companion would
leave, and that she might never see him
again. She was doomed to be dlsappoin
ed, however, for the cars were Hearing
her own destination, and the stranger
was Btill with her.
" Belleville 1" shouted the conductor,
and the Inexperienced little traveler
sprang to her feet, fancying that there
was not a moment to lose.
" I will bid you good-bye," she remark
ed, triumphantly.
" Oh, don't be In a hurry," was the
reply; " there Is plenty of time. I stop
here, too."
" Provoking I" thought Rhoda. "Now
I shall be constantly meeting him. I
wish the summer was over."
Rhoda's friends were at the depot ready
to smother her with kisses.
" Did you have a pleasant journey V'
asked Miss Townsend, as they were
driving to the one large hotel of which
Belleville boasts.
" 1 was somewhat lonely," replied
Rhoda.
" Duncan Rivers came on the train
with you. He is quite a distinguished
lawyer from Philadelphia, with any
amount of wealth, which he inherited
from nn uncle. I wonder if you saw
him. He is tall, with dark whiskers, and
wears spectacles."
" I was reading a good deal of the
time," remarked Rhoda.evaslvely, "and
paid very little attention to the passen
gers." .
Her friends wondered why the warm
blood mantled her checks.
On their wuy to the dining-room, Mr.
Rivers came up and shook hands with
the Townsend family ; and Nina imme
diately presented him to her " particular
friend and schoolmate, Miss Clare."
"Miss Clare's facets familiar," re
marked the gentleman, roguishly,
" Were you not on the train this after
noon i"'
Again the roses deepened on the soft,
dimpled cheeks, adding new brightness
to the dark violet eyes ; and Nina won
dered If any masculine heart could re
sist the Innocence, and freshness, and
beauty of that fair face.
Belleville was not a place in which
people could spend their time yawning
and going to sleep. The shaded walks
and beautiful drives, the magnificent
scenery, with the noble old mountains
frowning down upon the river, which
sparkled in the sunshine all these
proved to have greater fascination for
the young people than the cosy ld-fash-ioned
hotel, surrounded, as It was, by
great spreading trees, and looking so In
vitingly cool to the weary pedestrian.
Although Belleville boasted of many
eligible oeaux just now, who had come
to rusticate for a few weeks, yet Duncan
Rivers decidedly carried off the palm.
His cultivation, his personal appearance
his polished manners, and his politeness
to all and devotion to none, served to
rivet the thoughts of the young ladies,
upon him rather than upon those whose
particular attentions were bestowed more
indiscriminately. All but Rhoda. The
recollection of the particular compli
ment with which she had favored him
In the car served to render her shy to
wards him now, and she avoided him
upon every possible occasion.
Meanwhile, this little episode, which
be considered a good joke, had only
served to amuse blm ; and the pet of
loclety wondered, and was piqued, at
the indifference of an unsophisticated
young girl, Just fresh from the school
room. He carelessly resolved that she
should be conquered, not dreaming that
he had anything deeper at stake than
the amusement of the hour.
Ills frequent Invitations to her to walk
and drive, his devotion to her on the
croquet ground, their tele-a-tctes over
the chess board, were soon noticed by
the other occupants of the house, who,
of course, did not fall to make their
comments.
A plc-nlo hftd been planned to the
Falls, about twelve miles from the vil
lage. On the previous evening Rhoda
had wandered to the end of one of the
long halls, and had seated herself in the
window, where the moon poured In a
flood of silvery light, bringing out In a
shadowy baauty the leaves of the grand
old maple trees, which were reflected on
the walls, dancing in their own grot
esque fashions as they were gently sway
ed by the light breeze.
" I have found you at last," said a
pleasant voice. "Why did you run
away from us?"
" I accidentally strayed into thla cor
ner," replied Rhoda, "and then I could
not resist its beauty."
" It Is charming," said Mr. Rivers,
seating himself. " I have come to ask
you, Miss Rhoda, if I may have the
pleasure of your company In my car
riage, to the plo-nlc, tomorrow."
" I had half made up my mind not to
go," said Rhoda, " for I promised poor
old Miss Dennis, that I would spend a
day with her before I leave, and now the
summer is almost past."
" Oh, it will never do for you to give
up the pic nic !" exclaimed her compan
ion ; " the last gayety of the Beason.
Give the old lady some other day and go
with me to-morrow. Come, Miss Itho
da ; you must say 'yes.' I think I will
not take 'no' for an answer."
" Well," was the reply, " I will think
about it."
Just then the pair became conscious of
a presence. There was a rustle of starch
ed muslin, and they caught glimpse of a
figure as it gilded past, a little in the
distance, where another hall Intersected?
And how much of the conversation had
been overheard ? All of it, or only the
latter part V These were the thoughts
that had passed through Rhoda'B mind,
and Bhe glanced up and encountered the
merry twinkle In her companion's eys.
" There Is the foundation for quite a
romance ; a lover, deeply In earnest, and
an undecided young lady taking him in
to consideration," laughed Mr. Rivers,
as they separated.
That he, Duncan Rivers, the spoiled
pet of society, could be taken into con
sideration, that any young lady would
not answer an Immediate "yes," to a
proposition of marriage emanating from
him, had never entered that gentleman's
head as one of the possibilities; there
fore, he could afford to bo amused In
contemplation of the reports to which
theonversatlon just related might give
rise.
The bright morning sun overturned
Rhoda's self-sacrificing intentions, and
charitably resolving to bestow upon old
Miss Dennis the first rainy day, should
one occur before she left Belleville, she
took her seat in Mr. River's comfortable
little carriage. Bhe was beginning to
recover from the shyness which she had
always felt toward her companion, In
consequence of the awkward mistake
she had made when Bhe first met him ;
and now this drive through a lovely
country, surrounded by the most en
chanting scenery, had an exhilarating
effect upon her splrits,and her companion
was charmed with the wit and freshness
of her remarks, and wished that this
tete-a-tete drive might last all day. It
came to an end all too soon, and the entire
party was established in the woods.some
sitting in groups, some in two, and some
taking solitary walks, perhaps in quest
of congenial company. Mr. Rivers had
unconsciously fallen into a brown study,
from which he was rather rudely awak
ened by one of tho party, who stepped
up to him, exclaiming:
" I was to be the first to congratulate
you I"
"For what?" asked the gentleman,
somewhat Btartled by the abruptness.
" For being the lucky chap who has
secured the prettiest girl in the compa
ny," was the reply. "At least, we sup
pose you have secured her. We were
told she was taking you Into considera
tion ; but as she drove with you to
day, we fancy that Is equivalent to an
acceptance." And there was a mall
clous glance In the eyes of the speaker,
who had so frequently been eclipsed by
the gifted young lawyer.
" Have your congratulations until you
receive your information from a more
reliable source than boarding-house gos
sip," replied Mr. Rivers, as he turned
haughtily away.
" Confound that little school ghi !" he
mentally ejaculated. " Bhe first takes
me for a plck-pockct, and then places
me, to all appearance, In the position
of a humble suitor, waiting meekly for
my sentence."
J ust then a peal of laughter greeted
his ears, and turning in the direction
whence It proceeded.he beheld the "little
school girl" surrounded by four of her
companions, and Mr. Rivers was obliged
to acknowledge to himself that he had
never before seen so lovely a picture.
The sunshine had lent an additional
flush to her cheeks, and was playing bo
peep through the leaves with her soft
brown hair, from which her hat had
partially fallen; her beautiful eyes spark
led with mischief, and a merry laugh
parted her rosy Hps. In her fingers she
held four blades of grass, with one end
concealed in her dimpled hand. Each
gentleman eagerly drew, and compared
lengths with his neighbor, and then ex
claimed in a tone of disappointment :
" All alike!"
" Certainly," replied Rhoda, demure
ly. '.' How could I be the partner of
either of you when I am already en
gaged for the first game of croquet?"
The gentlemen took her Joke good na
turally, and went off In quest of other
partners.
" That little coquette !" mentally ejac
ulated Mr. Rivers. "I never noticed
before that she was so much admired,
she seemed such a shy little thing."
But this gentleman was doomed to
make several discoveries In the course of
the day, one of which was that he felt a
certain unpleasant sensation In the re
gion of his heart, when Rhoda's smiles
were showered too indiscriminately
among her admirers, and that his own
attentions, hitherto carelessly bestowed
had a deeper meaning than he was him
self conscious of. He noticed that his
courtesies now were accepted or declined
with the same saucy iudiflerenee which
greeted her other adorers. He wearied
of the day and rejoiced when he found
himself once more seated in his carriage
with Rhoda beside him, their faces turn
ed homeward.
" Well," said Rhoda, " this is the last
plc-nic of the season ! I shall be half
sorry to return to the city and settle
down to propriety once more."
"That will not require much exer
tion," remarked her friend, mischiev
ously, " If you can return to it as easily
as you left it."
"What do you mean?" demanded
Rhoda, half angrily. (
"Have you forgotten that you at
tempted to pick my pocket on the
journey?"
"Oh!" laughed Rhoda. "It was
you who were trying to rob me, only by
some legerdemain you managed to get
both hands Into your own pocket before
you emerged into the light." .
" But you really did steal something
from me, Rhoda. I was unconscious of
it at the time, but I have discovered my
Iosb since. Give me an equivalent for it
and I will promise not to make the. theft
public." Then he added, more seriously,
" You cannot want two hearts."
A saucy reply rose to Rhoda's lips, but
something in that earnest gaze put it to
flight.
"I don't think you have been any
more honest thou I," she faltered. " I
have missed "
But the rest of the sentence was lost,
as her lips was smothered with kisses.
" Then you do love me, Rhoda, after
all? I thought you were indifferent:"
" And I thought that, after you had
stolen my heart, you had merely played
with it for awhile, and then thrown it
away."
" When did you begin to care for me,
darling?"
" I believe it was when I found my
hand in your pocket, although I wished
then that I might never see you again."
A few days more ended Rhoda's visit
to Belleville ; but she did not return
home alone. Mr. Rivers declared it
would be necessary for him to accompany
her, to prevent her from making arrests
on the cars. He said that she had taken
him prisoner at their first meeting, and
had held him in chains ever since.
A Strange Fight.
A Middletown, N. Y. paper says : A
heavy throated bull near this city, noted
for bis fierceness, accidentally stepped on
one of a brood of goslings recently which
a stately gander was holding watch and
guard over with great solicitude. Straight
way the gander attacked the bull, and
seized him by the tall with his beak, his
wings lashing the animal's flanks with
the greatest fury. Ih vain the bull
wheeled about to reach his antagonist ;
the gander wheeled with him, all the
while retaining his hold upon the bull's
tail, and showering blows with his pow
erful wings Mith telling effect upon the
bull's legs, until he fuliy roared with
pain and terror. At last the gander, ap
parently thinking that his adversary
had hufflclent punishment, let go his
hold, and the bull took to his heels with
the liveliest speed, only stopping when
he reached the further corner of the
field.
- ... . .-
O" Life Is like a roll of costly material
passing swiftly through our hands and
we must embroider our pattern as It
goes. We cannot wait to pick up a false
stitch, or pause too long before we set
another.
DR. BClinSCK'8 tULSIOSIC SIRUP,
Br.K yer.no Tomo, and Mamirakr Pii.i.ia These
medicines nave undoubtedly performed more
cure of Consumption than any other remedy
Known to the American puhllo. They are com
pounded of vegetabfo Ingredients, and contain
nothing which can tie injurious to the human
constitution. Other remedies advertised as cures
for Consumption, probably con lulu opium, which
Is a somewhat dangerous drug In all cases, and If
taken freely by consumptive patients, It must do
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morbid matter In the system, which, of course,
must make acme Impossible. Schneck'sPulmon.
lo Syrup Is warranted not to contain a particle of
pplum ; It Is composed of powerful but harmless
herbs, which act on the lungs, llrer. stomach.and
blood, and thus correct nil morbid secretlons.and
expel all the diseased matter from the body.
These are the only means by which Consumption
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Sea weed Tonic, and mandrake Pills are the only
medicines which operate In this way. It Is obvlons
they are the only genuine cure for Pulmonic Con
sumption. Each bottle of this Invaluable medi
cine Is accompanied by full directions. Dr.
Bohenck Is professionally at his principal office,
comer Bixfh and Arch Streets, Philadelphia,
every Monday, where all letters lor advice must
be addressed.
VEGETI N
IS MY FAMILY
I WISH NO OTHER.
., - PKoytDENCB, April 7, 187ft.
MR.H.R. fiTEVHNS-Dear Kir: When I was
about 8 years of axe a humorbroke out upon me ,
which my mother tried to cure by giving me herb
teas and all other such remedies as she knew of.
but It continued to grow worse, until finally she
consulted a physician and he said t had the salt
rheum, and doctoreo me for that complaint. He
relieved me some, but said I could not be perma
nently cured as the disease originated in the
blood. 1 remained a great sufferer for several
years, until I heard of and consulted a physician,
who said I had the scrofulous humor and If I
would allow him to doctor me he would cure me.
I did so, and he commenced healing up my sores
and succeeded In effecting an external cure, but
In a short time the disease appeared again In a
worse form than ever, as cancerous humor upon
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terrible naln, and there seemed to be no remedy,
and my friends thought I must soon die, when my
attention was called, while reading a newspaper,
to a VEOETINE testimonial of Mrs. Waterhouse.
No. 364 Athens St.. South Boston, and I, formerly
residing In South Boston and being personally ac
quainted with her and knowing her former feeble
health, I concluded I would try the Vegetlne.
After I had taken a few bottles It seemed to force
the sores out of my system. I had running sores
In my ears which for a time were very painful. but
I continued to take the Vegetlne until I had
taken about twentytive bottles, my health Im
proving all the time from the commencement of
the first bottle, and the Bores to heal. I com
menced taking the Vegetlne in 1872, and contin
ued Its oonstant use for months. At the pres
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Mi s. I). C. COOPEIt,
No. 1 Joy Street, Providence, K. I.
VEGETINE.
The range of disorders which yield to the Influ
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diseases which It never falls to cure, are greater
than any other single medicine has hitherto been
even recommended for by any other than the pro
prletors of some quack nostrum. These diseases
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Kheumatisin, Gout, Neuralgia, and Spinal Com
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premature graves i Dyspepsia, that universal
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Rest Ileinetly in ilio Land.
Little Falls, N. Y., Sept. 23d, 187B.
Mr. H. R. Stevens : Dear Sir I desire to state
to you that I was atHlotcd with a breaking out of
blotches and pimples on my face and neck for
several years. 1 have tried many remedies, but
none cured the humor on my face and neck.
After using two or three bottles of your Vegetine
the humor was entirely cured. I do certainly be
lieve It is the best medicine for all Impurities of
the blood that there is lu the land, and should
highly recommend it to the afflicted public.
Truly jours, P. PKKK1NE, Architect.
Mr. Peril ne Is a well-known architect and
builder at Little Kails, N. Y., having lived there
and in the vicinity for the last 33 years. 23 lm
Prepared by H.R.Stevens, Boston,Mass.
Yegetiue Is Sold by All Druggists.
EATHER C.
THE subscriber has now on band at
LOW PRICES,
Good Sole Leather,
Kip of Superior Quality,
Country Calf Skins,
French Calf,
LININGS, ROANS, &c.
F. Mortimer,
NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA.
N
OW IS THE TIME TO PLANT.
IT r AYS
To plant FRTTIT TREES and GRAPE VINES.
They wlllyleld 50 per cent more profit mirt than
ordinary crops, and paylcr themselves the nrst
year they bear.
IT DON'T FAY
To plant poor, drled-out stock, brought from a
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regardless of quality or condition. You can
GET THE BEST
GUARANTEED STOCK, at bottom prices, fresh
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HIVEIIMDE NUltSEllIES,
, , . UARKISBUKG. PA.
OT, Circulars Free.
GEO. F. MuFAKLAND, Proprietor. H
gLAIN SELECTSCH00X7..
REV. G. W. LEISHER, A. M.f Principal.
THE Spring term will open Tuesday, Aphiu
17th. continuing in weeks. Tuition .SO cents imt
week. Pupils of both sexes received, bpevlal In
struction Kiven to those preparing to teach. A
primary JHpttrfnumt In connection with
Normal Derailment will be organized for youngef
pupils. Tuition iiA cents per week. Language les
sons mad a eyecinUtj, For further lutmauktiou
aUdres,
G. W. LKISI1KR,
W Blalu.piury.ca.Pa,
I