1 1 .
VOL. X1L
NEW BLOOMFIELD, IJ-A.., TUESDAY, 8EPTEMBEE 17, 1878.
NO. 38.
0
J
THE TIMES.
An . Independent Family Newspaper,
18 PCBLISOHD BVBRT TUI8DAI BT
F. MORTIMER & CO.
8 V 11 9 C K I 1 T I O M ritlUli.
(WITUIN TUB COUHTT.
One Year tl Z
tiix Mouths, 75
(OUT Of THB COUNTY.
One Year. (Postage Included) 1 PO
Six Mouths, (l'ostage Included) 85
Invariably lu Advance I
Advertising rates furnished upon appll-cation.
geledt Poeti'y.
ONE BY ONE.
One by one the sands are flowing
One by one the moments fall
Some are coming, some are going j
Do not strive to grasp them all.
One by one thy duties wait thee,
Let thy whole strength go to each,
Let no future drcaniB elnte thee,
Learn thou first what these can teach.
One by one (bright gifts from Ilcaven)
Joys are sent tbee here below j
Take them readily when glvon,
Ready too to let them go.
One by one tby griefs shall meet thee
Do not fear an armed band
One will fade as others greet thee ;
Shadows passing through the land.
Do not look at life's long sorrow j
See how small each moment's pain,
God will help thee for to-morrow.
So each day begin again.
Every hour that fleets so slowly
Has Us task to do or bear ,
Luminous the crown, and holy,
When each gem Is set with care.
Do not linger with regretting,
Or for passing hours despond ;
Nor, the daily toll forgetting,
Look too eagerly beyond.
Hours are golden links, God's token,
Reaching heaven ; but one by ono
Take them, lcBt the chain be broken
Ere the pilgrlmago be done.
A LAWYER'S STORY.
WIIEV old 'Squire Abbott, of South
ford, died, and I became his suc
cessor to the legal practice of the town,
I was barely six-ami twenty.
Gilbert was the most influential name
in town then. The old Gilbert House
stood near the cross-roads, a solid brick
mansion, painted cream color, with old
yews in the yard, and spacious stables
in the rear.
What first attracted my attention Was a
Splendidly handsome girl riding a blood
ed horse out of the gates every morn
ing. A servant girl opened and closed
them for her, and then, until her return,
an unbroken stillness and silence would
reign about the place. I used to wonder
what the life within those stately walls
was. At length I discovered.
One morning I received a messenger
with a note written ou creamy paper,
thick and yellow, requesting me to call
upon Agatha Gilbert, at the cross-roads,
at a certain hour the following day. I
took occasion to Inquire of a friend who
Agatha Gilbert might be."
"Why, the old 'squire's rich client."
"Well, who is she?" . . ,
" I have told you'who she Is.".- I I
"What then V"
" An eccentric, maiden lady, aged CO,
who lives in the house of her fore
fathers, and worships her money.
Though Bha .is isty years old . she ii
more active and alert thau most girls of
twenty. Everything is under her direc
tion. Shesees everything ; knows every
thing that takes place under her roof.
She is whimsical, Irascible, and leads
those Kirls a pretty life, I Imagine."
What girls V" - t -j
" Kate and Bessie Stanlels. Kate is a
beauty. BesBieisa pretty little thing,
hardly sixteen. They are the old lady's
nieces, born South, and went North
when their father died poor as church
imlee, and may, or may not,' be worth
a hundred thousand at the old lady's
'.death." ... ... ... ...... ,
"Which ls.lt I see- riding' a Black
Hawk filly every morning r" ' '
" That's Kate. Ain't she a Juno r
.The old lady has her match with her, I
guess. She has been engaged to Rick
Lawton two years, and she means to
marry him."
" Who is Lawton ?"
A young doctor in the city."
" Why does the old lady object V"
" Because he won Kate without her
consent."
"Characteristic."
"Exactly." ,
The next morning I drew rein at the
Gilbert gate. A great wolf-dog approach
ed, and after examining me carefully es
corted me up the drive. A touch of the
hand-bell made the bell peal loudly
through the house. In a moment I
heard light footsteps approaching and
the great door was unbolted from
within, and swung back. A young
girl, with golden curls about her neck,
and very sweet blue eyes, awaited my
wishes. I asked for Miss Gilbert, and
presented my card.
" Oh, yes," she said sweetiy. "Aunt
Agatha will be ready to see you in a
moment. She never keeps people wait
ing long," she added as she ushered me
into a large room wainscoted in ma
hogany, with horrible old portraits on
the walls, and a fire upon the hearth be
hind a fender.
The April air was chill, and I stood
before the blaze, getting the stiffness out
of my legs, when the door opened quick
ly ,and a little, withered woman in black
entered. She was evidently near-sighted
and came peering across the room at
me, without speaking a word. I bowed ;
she repeated my name and begged me to
be seated.
The interview was ordinary enough.
During the time I sat there I tried with
difficulty to realize that the tiny morsel
of humanity before me was as important
a personage as she really was. But fig
ures proved her immense wealth and
her power in the community. I was
anxious for a sight of Kate Stanlels ; I
imagined I had already seen Bessie. I
searched the spare brown face, trying to
discover some hope for these dependent
girls ; but Miss Gilbert, disdaining the
back of a chair at sixty, seemed as far
removed from physical enfeeblement as
the Hebe Kate herself and as little in
need of sympathy and aid as a bronze
woman. The Interview was for legal
purposes, as I expected, and at last I
took my leave possibly a little elated by
the patronage of such a client.
As I drove slowly down the road, I
met a gentleman on horseback a hand
some fellow, with a curly blonde beard,
and with a pair of blue eyes keen as a
Damascus blade. They met mine with
a flash that I considered quite Uncalled,
for, until I buw him cuter the Gilbert
gate, whence I had Just emerged. He
was Kate Staniels's lover. I snapped
my fingers at the discovery. Though I
might have been favored with brunette
Kate's utmost graciousness, Hick Law
ton need not have been Jealous, for the
little soft-voiced blonde girl was much
more to my taste. The moment I met
her lovely blue eyes, I was under the
conviction that I would snap her up
quickly enough if I had but the chance.
Wondering what kind of a reception
Rick Lawton would get from Miss Gil
bert, I drove on. It was a bright April
day, the thin shadows of the half-leafed
elms flickering in the grass, and the
roads heavy with a late spring rains.
Suddenly my horses pricked up their
ears. An unusual object attracted their
attention. It was a heavy coach minus
a wheel, deeply sunk In the mud a
break-down of the mall and passenger
stage from the railroad station. '
I came up and drew rein. It was the
trip from the early train, and there was
only one passenger.' The driver was
getting the horses ' out of their harness.
The passenger was standing on the steps
of the coach and looking about in the
gloomiest distress. '
He was a weak-eyed' young man, deli
cately attired', with a dressing case in his
hand, and hair so strongly red that It
seemed to hav? drawn all energy and
vigor from the rest 'of his body. ' He
looked helplessly from the driver to the
mud, and from the mud to the sky, as if
he had sent for a! chariot from the heav
ens perhaps ' Apollo's and momen
tarily expected his arrival. !
' ' Can I do anything for you, Jem ?"
Tasked the man who was unharnessing
the horses. ' : ' ' 1
"No, thank you, Mr. Ronaldson. The
mall's to go up, and I can take that up
on my leader. I've a passenger, and I
s'pose he can ride on another of the
horses, seeln' the mud's bo deep. Can't
you, BlrV" with an amusing glance of
doubt at the gingerly figure on the coach
steps.
" Wide won of those animals I No,
I couldn't do it. possibly. I've paid my
fare, driver. You must manage some
way to get me to town."
This, In a languid voice, from the
young with red hair.
" We're in town now," answered
honest Jem, a little roughly. "You're
wantln'togo half a mile to Miss Gil
bert's house. Well, there's no way now,
but to ride one of these horses, or to wait
until I can go to the hotel and get a hack
for yer."
" How long must I wait, fellah V"
"An hour or so. I've got to get the
mall up to the office in time."
And, jumping ou his horse, bareback,
Jem seemed about to leave his passenger
to his fate.
" If you like to take a sent with me, I
will take you to Miss Gilbert's," I Bald,
addressing the young man, whose pallid
face was growing as red as his hair at
Jem's unceremouiou9 treatment.
" Thank ye, thank ye 1" he said eager
ly; and then, seeing the oozing wheel
ruts a pile of destruction to his polish
ed boots he gave me a glance of such
pathetic appeal that I instantly turned
the buggy within reach of the steps,and
in a moment received the red hair,weak
eyes, lllao pantaloons, and dressing case
in close companionship.
" Howwid wude these stage dwivers
are!" he exclaimed, settling himself
comfortably beside me.
" I havo just come from Miss Gil
bert's," I said, as I turned my horses'
head.
" Aw, you don't say so ! Well, how
is she now ? Do you know, I never
Been her 1"
"Indeed!"
"Ponmyhonaw, never set my eyes
on her."
" Miss Gilbert Is well, I believe."
" Natural, now, my asking first thing
if she's well. Ha, ha! You Bee I'm
her heir'."
"Indeed!"
"She don't know it though; don't
know I'm living. I'm her brothers
son. The old gent died down in Ala
bama a few years ago. All the brother
the old lady ever had. Of course I come
in for the property."
" I have understood that Miss GHbert
had a Bister," . .
" Only a half sister. Married and had
Borne children; but they are only num
ber two. I'm her only brother's son,
you see." ; .
" I can't see that you are unmistaka
bly the heir."
" Can't ye, now ?" with a look of be
wilderment. "Oh, well, I ami" after
a moment, brightening up; and, evi
dently in the most serene frame of mind
I put him down at Miss Gilbert's gate.
If I was anxious to know how Rick
Lawton would be received, I wondered
yet more how this newly-discovered re
lative would be welcomed by the little
brown woman. But I had no opportu
nity for observation for a day or two.
Then, to my surprise, I received an in
vitation to a party at the Gilbert man
sion. It was singular, all the gossips said so;
but who could account for Miss Gilbert's
whims ? People looked curiously at the
lights streaming from the old mansion,
as they passed the house that night.
A dignified servant ushered me Into
the drawing-room. It was filled with
people. Miss Gilbert performed her du
ties with precision.
" Have you met my niece, Mr. Ro
naldson V" she asked, quite unnecessa
rily. I said no ; but should be very happy
to do so. ' ' ' ' ' 1
She led me across the room,' and pre
sented me to queenly Kate. That gra
cious young beauty gave me a rose from
her boquet, and presented mo to Bessie.
Bessie was 1 lo6klng a little pal I
thought. : i
"The dancers are forming a set In
the other room; Mill you honor me V"
I Bald. ...i .. ...
She declined to dance, and I saw (hat
she' was trembling. ! ' '
" You are fatigued. Pray be seated,"
I said, bringing her a chair. '.-
She sank down wearily. ' -
"Awl how are you, Ronaldson V
This is an unusual proceeding in this
ghostly old house, they say," drawled a
voice In my ear.
I turned and encountered my red
headed friend of the singe coach, stun
ningly gotten up In a white waistcoat
and salmon-colored pantaloons. He put
his glass to one of his weak eyes, and
stared about the room.
" My cousin Kate's a beauty, how?
Don't you think so ?"
" Miss Stanlels Is very handsome," I
assented.
"Wouldn't be a bad match," he
added.
I was Bllent.
"I wouldn't like to live in this old
castle alone and Kate's got life you
see."
I bowed.
Dropping my glance upon Bessie
Stanlel's face, I thought she was going
to faint. I bent down.
" Are you ill ? I am afraid you are.
Pray let me take you to a seat nearer
the window.
She took my arm and crossed the
room. A fiery glow burned upon her
cheeks. She looked back over her shoul
der, with her violet eyes vividly bright.
I Involuntarily followed her glance, and
saw it fustened upon her sister Kate,
who, languidly fanning herself, was yet
listening, with a glowing face, to a man
with heavy black beard and bushy ebon
eyebrows, who was talking earnestly to
her.
I could see nothing strange in this ;
but the delicate girl at my side was actu
ally panting with distress.
Something troubles you. Can I be of
any service to you ? Pray command
me," I said, looking into those beauti
ful eyes, heavy with pain.
"You? What can you do? Noth
ing. Nevermind. And yet," she added,
incoherently, "if you would if you
only would attract my aunt's attention
from my sister just now! You see,"
she said, earnestly, " my aunt does not
like that gentleman Kate is talking to.
Indeed" the tears filling her eyes
" she would turn us both out of doors
this moment if she knew. He knows
and yet he has come again. He and
Kate will dare everything for the sake
of meeting."
" Is that man with the black beard
Rick Lawton ?" I said bewildered.
"Yes. He is disguised, but I should
think any one would know him. Aunt
Agatha would if she only happened to
notice. Every one in town knows about
Kate and Rick. He was here yesterday,
and aunt ordered him out of the house.
And when he had gone Bhe told Kate
and me that that she would turn us
bareheaded into the street If he ever en
tered these doors again I i Oh, look. Mr.
Ronaldson, do you think she knows
hirn'r"" . .! i . .
Miss Gilbert was slowly approaching
the couple. I thought she had a sus
picion of the truth, and stepped into the
arena. " '
" Miss Gilbert, this is a very fine old
house of yours. Is there any truth in
the report that it is haunted V
Miss Gilbert's eyes flashed.
"Haunted! Where did you hear
such nonsense as that Mr. Rojialdson Y"
" Why, I have heard repeatedly that
an old mausion of the town has a well-
located family ghost, and I have always
supposed that this was the one."
" This is not the one. No such report
wasever attached to my house. I should
consider such a reputation an uu par
donably injury, Mr. Ronaldson. Peter
give me your arm to the dining-room."
Miss Gilbert's red-haired young rela
tive hastened to obey. I took Bessie ;
the rest swept after, with the exception
of Kate and Lawton, who lingered un
der the chandelier, evidently oblivious
to supper, or aught else but themselves
aud each other. ' n : .
' The crowd filled the old fashioned din-ing-hall.
' The gentlemen found seats
for the ladies,1 and circulated among
them with oysters and cream. I brought
Bessie a cup : of cofiee and urged her
to take a glass of wlne,: yet she--still
looked excessively weary ' and '111' at
ease. " '' ' '' " .
" Don't be worried," I whispered.-1-"
He will be gone before we go up stairs
again, and there is Miss Gilbert enjoying
her salad, yonder, with no thought for
the lovers, I am certain."
" Perhaps we have escaped this time;
but, ah, Mr. Ronaldson, if I could tell
any one of half what I suffer I Oh.don't
listen to me. I am crazy to talk like
this to a stranger."
" But I am not a stranger, I am very
much your friend ; and more, I have
become your family solicitor, so that
family secrets will be sure to get into
my possession. Pray tell me what ha
rasses you so, and very likely I can be
of Borne use."
"You are very good. I have told
you, partly. It was bad enough before
that Peter came, but now it is dreadful 1
Aunt has taken a fancy to him. He as
sumes to be the heir, and she does not
contradict him. Whether it is for the
purpose of hanging a terror over our
heads, or not, I do not know. He is
familiar, disagreeable, arrogant pre
sumptuous. It is torture to live in the
house with him. Kate does not mind it
as I do ; she Is dreaming .all the time of
Rick. My heart sinks every time they
meet, for I suspect they will plan an
elopement. Aunt Agatha's fury will
then descend on my head ; or, if I go
with them, I shall be dependent on
Rick, and he is poor. I neverlearned to
work. Oh, Mr. Ronaldson, it's a life of
constant apprehension."
Just at that moment there was a ter
rible cry, and Peter Gilbert's salmon
colored pantaloons leaped in at the win
dow. " Miss Gilbert," he shouted, " I saw a
man in the garden take off his head !"
"Don't be a fool, Peter!" cried Miss
Gilbert, forgetting politeness.
" I did I swear I did. It's so, it's
so!" shouted the young man, greatly
excited. " There was a tall man stand
ing right In the path. I was looking at
him when he took off his hat, and then
took off his head!"
"Where did he go?" asked Bome
one.
" Do you suppose I stayed to Bee ? I
was not such a fool as to keep such com
pany as that."
"Peter Gilbert!" cried Miss Gilbert,
approaching him, and gesticulating for
cibly, " how dare you raise such an in
famous tale about my house? How
dare you set such a disgraceful rumor
afloat among all these people ?"
" It was so 1 I'll give my right hand
if it wasn't," said Peter, doggedly.
The process of eating was entirely
suspended. ' Consternation settled upon
the company. Miss Gilbert's eyes glit
tered like two sparks as she heard the
whispers. I ! '
"There never was such nonsense
given rise to before. There never was a
whisper of such folly connected with
this place. ' I will have the garden
searched. Bessie, Kate, call the ser
vants." .
Just after Peter's outcry ,Kate Stanlels
had entered the room, and stood for a
moment quietly behind me. Then she
suddenly disappeared.
Miss Gilbert sent two men into the
garden. .
" Of course they will find nothing,"
whispered the guests, with very pale
cheeks.
We stood about the doors and win
dows, when there was a scream of ter
ror from the shrubbery, and Pompey
came running towards the house.
" Oh, Miss Gilbert, I swear to de
Lord dut dere's a white figger a-walklng
down by the summer-house."
"Fool! Fool! You're a fool too.
You senseless wretch I" cried Miss Gil
bert. " Peter Gilbert, go out of my
house ! You have disgraced it, and
ruined my servants. There never was
talk of ghosts and spectres until you
came here. Leave my house this min
ute and without a word ! "
Interferance aud : remonstrance were
useless. She set her face against listen
ing to any one, aud when Peter literally
took his departure from the assembled
company.the irascible old lady surprised
every one by sitting down on the stairs
aud crying like a baby. , . ,
, " She had hoped to have a son in that
fellow, and now he had brought dis
grace upon her. She was all alone In
the world, and would die as she had
lived, unprotected against calumny !"
"Oh, Aunt Agatha!" said little Bes
sie, affected to tears to see her sharp old
aunt crying, " you are not alone, I love
you indeed I do! and so does Kate
and no one will believe that the house
is haunted, I know." .
. , . " Where is Kate V" cried the astou.