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VOL. XI.
3STEAV BLOOMFIELD, PA., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1877.
NO. 46-
i
0 KU
THE TIMES.
An Independent Family Newspaper,
IS PUBLISIIBD BVERT TUESDAY BT
F. MORTIMER & CO.
0
Subscription Price.
Within the County II 25
HI x months 75
Out of the County, inclnclinp postage, ISO
" " " six mouths " 83
Invariably lu Advance I
anf Advertising rates furnished upon appli
cation. LOVE IN A HOGSHEAD.
"S;
MISS VASCOUR has a lover,"
said Fred. " Where did she And
him ?"
" In a hogshead," I replied, soberly.
" What'i"'
" In a hogshead."
"I asked you where Miss Vaseour
found her lover."
" And I repeat that she found him in
a hogshead."
" What do you mean, you absurd
woman ?" he said.
The compliment did not move me. It
was not a novelty.
" Just what I say."
" Then there must be a story to tell.
Just bring that cushion for my foot,
and let's have It that's a darling."
There's no hnrm In saying that Fred's
coaxing Is Irresistible; for the dear fel
low is my brother, and since he came
home from the war, consecrated by the
bloody baptism of Chickamutiga and
Stone River, he had become doubly our
hero, and the whole family had resolved
itself into a committee of ways and
means to promote his pleasure.
I was the self-constituted story-teller.
Coming home every Saturday from Mrs.
Forsyth's boarding house, I related the
petty dramas that had been enacted un
der my eyes, giving what life and reali
ty I could to the dramatis xcrsonrc, and
only borrowing from Imagination an
occasional gleam or two of color. Fred
eaid I was a perfect artist. He knew
Helen I)e Ituyter, and Captain Elling
wood, and Miss Vaseour, just as well as
I did, and his surprise was quite natural
when I told him that Miss Vaseour
the dainty highbred creature found her
lover in a hogshead.
"Now for a romance!" And Fred es-
tablished himself upon his cushions,and
' turned his white thin face towards me
with an air of confident expectancy that
it was a happiness to gratify. So I began
a long seam, and my story at the same
time :
I had been at Mrs. Forsyth's long
enough to feel quite at home, when, one
morning, I noticed a superfluous plate
was upon the table, and an empty chair
was evidently waiting for somebody.
" Is there a new-comer,Ms. Forsyth
cried out Helen Do Ituyter, in that clear
impetuous voice of hers.
" Yes. A Miss Vaseour."
" And who is Miss Vaseour '"'
" She is a day governess somewhere in
the city," replied Mrs. Forsyth.
" O!"
Helen Do Ituyter was an heiress and a
belle, gave us the fashions,and communi
cated a stylish air to our establishment.
That little interjection spoke volumes.
The four clerks on the other side of
the table tittered feebly, and Dr. Mor
rison, Miss De Ruy tor's special adorer,
repeated in an oily tone:
" A day governess!"
The syllables had hardly died away
on the air before the door opened and u
lady came In.
"Miss Vaseour ?" pronounced our
hostess.
I was aware of a flash of surprise pass
ing over the faces at the table, and Mr.
Deane, the lawyer, rose immediately,
and set Miss Vascour's chair in its place.
I caught a gleam of malice in Helen De
Ruyter's wickedly beautiful gray eyes,
and said to myself, " One enemy al
ready r"
It was true. She never forgave Miss
Vaseour that little Involuntary atten
tion on the part of Mr. Dean. The two
ladies were viu-a-vU. I tried to distract
Miss Yascour'a attention by various
email diversions. I gave her the sugar
and cream, and helped ber to biscuit
all in the hope that she would not notice
Miss De Ruyter's scornful Ignoring of
her presence.
I might have spared my Btrategy.
The calm, proud, sweet face gave no
recognition of any Impertinence. I
doubt if she Baw the stylish figure in the
showy morning-wrapper that faced her.
Mr. Deane was speaking to her, aud I
caught the sound of her voice, so soft
aud mellow, not pitched in that high
shrill key so usual and so disagreeable,
but musical and flowing, reminding one
of summer birds and the sweet Bounds
of nature. Such a still, sweet face the
slow smiles lighting the limpid eyes be
fore they dimpled the cheeks so full of
repose, but thrilling in its hint of latent
power, dark and clear in its coloring, no
brilliancy, except In the sweet lips that
were crimson as the autumn leaf heavy
braids of black hair lying on the tem
ples and outlining the low perfect fore
head. A face out of a picture, such as
looks at you from the canvas of the
early masters, who painted saints and
Madonnas a face too beautiful for
earth, but not happy enough for heaven,
having a lingering sorrow that dis
turbed its perfect Bweetness ; an eager
ness and repressed vehemence of nature,
that flashed out now and then in waves
of delicate color over the smooth skin,
or shone, diamond bright, in the large
beautiful eyes.
Miss Vaseour went out and in among
us reticent and proud, but gentle, and
most grateful for any courtesy ; a whole
winter passed before any of us knew
her. One day it was the last of Feb
ruaryI came home early, and going up
stairs, saw that Miss Vascour's door was
ajar.
" Won't you come in ?" She looked
out, a morning brightness suffusing her
face.
I went, of course. It was pleasant to
be distinguished, and I knew that no
one in the house, 'except the maid and
landlady, had ever seen the inside of
Miss Vascour's room.
" You look happy," I said.
" I am, I have had news from home
that makes me glad."
I looked about me. The room was
like her quiet, harmonious, with just
a gleam of splendor. There was no clut
ter of bijouterie, none of the fashiona
ble littering of mantel, aud tables, and
whatnots with small articles, which
makes a modern parlor look like a toy
shop. There were a good many books,a
landscape of Turner's, a lithograped
Madonna, and one or two plaster casts
from some real statue. Then there was
a single rose in the window, in luxuri
ant bloom, a pot of hyacinths, that satu
rated the room with their pungent sweet
ness, and a vino of Euglish Ivy about a
window, framing it in verdure, making
it look like an opening into green sum
mer gardens, instead of the cold winter
landscape which lay outside the walls.
Miss Vaseour took up her work again.
It was a little velvet sack, which I had
noticed was beginning to look frayed
about the edges and defaced along the
seams, but under her enchanting lingers
it was undergoing a transformation into
a charming basque.
" Toot but proud, you see," she said,
smiling, as I looked at her work.
" Then you are poor !" I said, absent
ly
She laughed gayly.
" Did you think that a day governess
went out teaching for recreation V"
" Rut I should think the governess'
salary would make you independent," I
ventured to say.
" Ah ! if you only knew what a deal
of duty it does what a vast extent of
surface it is spread over."
I began to see how it was.
" Aud what was the pleasant news
from home ?" I asked.
A bright smile swept away the sober,
ness which had come over her face.
" Sister Isabel is going to be married,
and I shall bo wanted at home for the
wedding in June," she answered.
" How many are there besides Isa
bel?"
"Johnny, who is in college; Maud, a
flve-year-old baby and mother ?"
It was a heedless question. Her eyes
swain instantly.
" Father was a minister," she sobbed
" He died last winter you did not guess
it, because we were too poor for me to
wear mourning."
I divined the rest of the orphan's story.
I picked up the velvet basque which
had fallen from her hand, and said,
while I lightly brushed its soft nap:
" This must be an heirloom, I am
sure. It would cost a fortune now-a-days."
1 It was my mother's wedding cloak.
Give It to tne now. You nave made me
cry, and hindered my work, and yet I
am going to forgive you."
I drew a cricket near her, and looked
up into her now smiling eyes.
" You don't cry often now," I said.
You keep your tears In your heart,and
that is what makes your face so pathetic
sometimes."
1 Little sorcerer ! How do you know ?'
" It would be much better to cry and
have It over," I pursued.
" I can't," she answered. "It makes
my headache and my eyes red, bo I
don't care to be seen, and wastes my
time. I can't afford to cry. But I asked
you in here to sing to me."
" Did you ? I'll sing to you every day
if you let me come in," I said, eager-
" Will you ? It Is a compact then
now sing."
I did sing. I searched among the dear
homely ballads that I knew for songs to
please her ; I sung gay carols and sunny
glees; I hummed sweet opera airs I
tried to recall to her those exquisitesongs
without words, In which I delighted, and
at last, I gave her sweet hymns and
stately anthems, and tender touching
prayers that had flowed out from some
pure soul in music. And she listened,
her hands crossed In her lnp, and her
face like one rapt in holy dreams. I stop
ped, at last, for I saw her heart was full,
" Thank you" drawing a long
sigh.
I rose.
" Now I am going down stairs so you
can finish your work. But will you
come down an hour before dinner ?"
" If I can, but I must finish this first.
Don't you wish things were immortal V"
she said, playfully.
"Not quite for then I should have to
wear my cloak that I hate so to the end
of time. Hut if I had a store of velvets
and silks, I don't know."
And so I left her. I met Helen Do
Ituyter on the stairs, just come out in a
new toilet a maze of sheeny silks and
misty lace.
" Where have you been y" she asked.
" In Miss Vascour's room."
She curled her lip.
" What kind of a place is ifr"
" One that Biiits her," I said, quietly.
Two hours after the parlor door open
ed and Miss Vaseour appeared in the
velvet basque.
" O, come in," I cried. " Miss Do
Ruyter has gone out witli one of her
beaux, and we shall bo very cosy."
She smoothed down her sleeves, ca
ressingly. " How do you like it '? All the shabbl
ness hidden, is it not, and good for an
other four years, at least ?"
" Charming," I said, making the grace
ful figure revolve for my pleasure.
" Now sit down, and tell me more about
Isabel. We can have such a nice talk
alone."
Alas to the fallacy of human expecta
tions 1 The bell rang, there was a rustle
of silks in the hall, and I fled. It was
the mother and aunt of the day gov
erness' pupils, called to patronize the
young lady. I forgot my chagrin in a
book, heard the bell ring again, dreamily,
and at last finished by book, and went
downstairs fifteen minutes before din
ncr. There were voices in the parlor, as
I paused on the threshhold not Dr,
Morrison's oily tones, noryet Mr. Dcane's
clear incisive emphasis.
Mrs. Forsyth came tlvrough the hall.
" Who is here, Mrs. Forsyth V"
" Oiilw f'nntnlu T"l 1 1 n trwnnil "I
The landlady was radiant.
" O, haven't I heard of him before y"
" I dare say ho is Miss Do Ruyter's
special ambition."
-"Ah! I remember. Captain EUing
wood, when he was .not at sea In the
Arabia, honored Mrs. Forsyth's house
with his presence. A fastidious, unim
pressionable man, I was told, true as
steel and as gold, a hero of the nine
teenth century and a bachelor. Miss
De Ruyter had aimed'her graces in vain.
Captain Elllngwood had known her
three years, and was still a bachelor.
What wonder that Miss De Ruyter was
indignant. I opened the door, curious
to see tills impersonation- of modern
chivalry. Miss Vaseour was sitting
there, and presented me, In her graceful
way. A stately man, dignified and
noble, with power in every feature of
the handsome face. I stole a look at
Miss Vaseour. There was a red flush
upon the white cheek, and a new gleam
lu the still dark eye. Then I guessed
that they had been a tete-a-tete for a
whole hour. Not to be de trop, I took
a magazine, and retired to a corner, and
I must confess that the conversation
went on nicely without me. Presently
Miss De Ruyter burst Into the room, in
a pretty flutter of excitment.
" Why, Captain Elllngwood.you have
fairly stolen a march upon us," exclaim
ed the beauty. " We did not expect the
Arabia till the tenth, and here you are
while It is yet February !"
"You flatter me, Miss De Ruyter. I
never could have supposed that my com
ing would be anticipated. The Arabia
is due on the twenty-sixth, so that I am
really behind my time."
" Was it the twenty-sixth y" said Miss
De Ruyter, knitting her pretty eye
brows. " Well, I am good for nothing
at remembering figures." And the lady
pushed an ottoman towards him, and sat
down bo as to Interpose her tall person
between him and Miss Vaseour.
I watched the slow color creeping into
Miss Vascour's face, and the flash of
anger in Captain Ellingwood's keen
eyes. He wheeled an arm-chair forward.
" Allow me to ofl'er you this, Miss De
Ruyter."
She crimsoned, bit her lip, and then
after a moment's delay spread her flow
ing drapery in the chair he had set for
her. Mr. Deane came lu just here, and
finding an empty Beat near Miss Vas
eour, appropriated it. I watched the lit
tle scene saw Miss De Ruyter's futile
effort to engross them both saw Captain
Ellingwood's eyes stray away from her
brilliant complexion and Bliowy person,
to rest upon Miss Vascour's pure, still
face.
Presently going out to dinner some
body pinched me.
" Helen De Ruyter, I'll prosecute you
for an assault.,'
"Pshaw! that didn't hurt you, I
I wanted you to look around," she said,
in an energetic whisper.
"Why?"
"Why'?" impatiently. "Don't you
see that she is setting her cap for Capt.
Ellingwood y"
"Who?"
" Miss Vaseour, of course." And the
beauty's face darkened.
"I looked at them.
" He does seem to be very much in
terested in her, certainly," I said, mali
ciously. " You are very absurd," she returned,
angrily. " Do you think he would mar
ry a mere adventuress as she ist V"
"There you are mistaken. Miss De
Ruyter. Miss Vaseour is a Brahmin of
the Brahmins," 1 said, coolly. " The
family are as proud as "
" They are poor," interrupted Miss De
Ruyter. " But Captain Ellingwood in
tends to remain a bachelor. You had
better tell her so, since she seems to be a
protege of yours."
" Excuse me, but had you not better
tell her yourself? You have known
him long no one would be more likely
to have ascertained his intentions in re
gard to marriage than Miss De Ruy
ter." She gave me a black look, and we parted
at the table.
A month drifted away, and April was
close by. All this time our drama was
approaching a denouement. Miss Vas
eour was lovely and ladylike, and Helen
De Ruyter was torn with jealousy. She
had surely lost Mr. Deane, who wor
shipped the very folds of Miss Vascour's
dress adored her afar off", with a silent
worship, which might or might not find
expression, according as circumstances
wrought.for he was a man of the world,
acute, able and self-conscious, not a man
to venture much, by no means a man to
risk a deliberate ofl'er unless he had good
reason for thinking he should be ac
cepted. So It was just possible that after
loving Miss Vaseour, he might marry
Helen De Ruyter.
But Captain Elllngwood was of an
other stamp not to be easily thwarted,
to let anything come between him aud
Miss Vaseour, if he loved her. But did
he love her t I was as curious about it
as Helen De Ruyter.
He came into the parlor one afternoon,
when I was Bitting alone, gave a quick
glance around the room aud sat down
with a disappointed air. My wicked
genius prompted me to tease him for a
scent.
" She isn't here, you perceive," I said,
quietly.
" Who Isn't here'?" he returned color
ing a little.
"Miss Vaseour. You were looking
for her, weren't you y"
"How do you know V" he demanded,
half smiling. " Are you a clairvoy
ant y
" One doesn't need to be a clairvoyant
to see some things," I answered, auda
ciously. He bent his keen eyes upon me.
What things, for instance'?"
I made the plunge. Advance was
as safe as retreat.
" And then one cannot help hearing
what the world says," I continued.
" Mrs. Forsyth's world, I suppose.
Well, what does the world say "i"'
He was unwinding my worsteds with
some embarrassment, but looking rather
pleased and curious.
" The world says that Captain Elling
wood, the unvanquished hero of a hun
dred sieges, the fastidious, the incorrigi
ble, isln love with Miss Vaseour."
He reddened a little.
" That Is what the world says."
"And what do you say y" he asked.
" I say the world is very stupid and
foolish, as it always is that with Capt.
Ellingwood, admiring and liking are a
long way from loving, and that while
his intellect appreciates and his taste
approves Miss Vaseour, his heart is en
tirely untouched is, indeed, in that cal
lous and half-petrified state which might
be expected in a heart that had resisted
so many attacks."
In an instant, I saw by the conscious
look which overswept his face that I
had stated the case correctly.
1 And suppose I admit this hypothesis,'
he said, smiling, " whose fault would it
be, if fault there Is?"
" Nobody's except Captain Ellingwood.
Not Miss Vascour's, certainly."
"If I were a man, I would fall in love
with her."
" Would you ? But then you might
not find it easy to fall in love."
" I would be a man, and not a fossil,"
I cried, indignantly.
T T .. 1 ..., 1 '
11U JUUglll'U.
" My dear little woman, why do you
care?"
" Because she Is such a true, sweet
woman," I said, vehemently. " I hate
to see her wasting her life in thankless
work, working for other people and not
for her own." .
"Such work brings its reward," he
said, quietly ;" and yet It is Bad. But
there is Deane, he Is rich and will mar
ry her by-and-by."
I gave him a sharp look. Nothing but
simple friendliness In his face.
" I don't know that it would please
me. Can he love her enough y O, she
needs she ought to have so much."
He looked surprised at my enthu
siasm. " A man would be a villain to marry
Miss Vaseour without loving her. She
Is very graceful and lovely very good,
too, as I believe," he replied witli quiet
gravity.
"Good! Capt. Ellingwood, I see that
she does not fchow herself to you as she
does to mo."
"Doesn't she? Then it is hardly fair
to call me a fossil because I don't look
at her through your eyes."
" Forgive me, Captain Ellingwood. I
was vexed because you wouldn't praise
her."
" I will praise her as much as you like.
Do you ever think of her as a dove, when
you see her ? Something in the grace of
her movemcnts,in the soft delicate colors
she always wears, but more I think in
the exquisite precision of everything
about her, her dainty nlceness of ap
parel, in the charming smoothness of
her plumage if I mtiyso speak remind
me of the doves."
"O Captain Elllngwood, if you are
ever really In love, may I be there to
see," I said, laughingly.
" I bide my time. But how can you
fancy Miss Vaseour among any rough
surroundings at sea in a storm, for ex
ample, or out of doors in a high wind V"
" I saw her come in the other day
there was a perfect gale in the street
but her plumage, as you call it, was en.