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VOL. XIII.
ISTEAV BLOOMFIELD, IJ.A.., TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1879.
NO. 32
Ellis IJ JLH ' i-) VW
THE TIMES.
in Independent Family Newspaper
IS POBUSBBD BVEHT TU BSDAT BT
F. MORTIMER & CO.
0
8UB8C1IIFTIUN P It ICE.
. (WITH1H TUB COUSTT.)
One Year 11 25
Six Months 75
(OUT 0 TUB COUNTT.)
One Year. (PiwtRRe Included) fl RO
-Six Mouths, (Postage Included) 85
Invariably In Advanoe I
V Advertising rates furnished upon appli
cation. CONTENTMENT.
'Tls not to elt and Idly wait
With folded hands for tardy Fate
To bring the gifts that one might prize,
And cast before his sleepy eyes ;
To wait the coming of the ship
Whose sides unto the stern waves dip,
That bears, with love and glee and song,
The treasures we have craved so long.
It is to do whate'er we find t
To sow the seed t to reap or bind
To gather, though the yield be email,
With onr hand the bright Bheaves all
To search and find the golden mean,
And hold It with a hand serene.
A BOGUS LOVE LETTER
AND
WHAT CAME OF IT.
T WONDER if I shall look like Miss
JL Hannah when I attain her ad
vanced age," said Gertrude Lorrimer,
-drumming idly on the window-pane
with her slender, white fingers, and
watching the drizzling rain.
" Of course not, Gertrude. How foolish
of you to ask such a question 1 Miss
Hannah never could have been a beauty,
even in her palmiest days ; and you are
acknowledged to be the handsomest girl
in Bayville.
" You are always ready with some
morsel of flattery, Nettie," laughed
Gertrude ; " and I assure you I appre
ciate your kindness. Still, I am not
sure that I shall not be as plain as Miss
Hannah one of these days. Didn't
Aunt Grace say that she was once quite
a belle in Bayville V"
"It must have been nearly a century
ago," cried Nettie Morris, with a scorn
ful laugh. " But what set you talking
of Mips Hannah ?"
44 I saw her go by the window with
her charity basket," replied Gertrude.
There was'silence in the room for a
few minutes, and then a sudden excla
mation from Gertrude caused Nettie to
look up quickly from the crocheting
over which she had been busy all the
morning.
" What is the matter ?" she asked.
" Come here quick,Nettie. Dr. Astley
ia coming out to get into his buggy."
Nettie sprang up, and stood by her
cousin ; and both received a bow from
the tall, handsome doctor who had just
closed the door of his elegant house be
hind him, and run lightly down the
step to where his buggy stood, the ser
vant standing at the horse's head.
But, as Dr. Astley had one foot on
the step of bis buggy, a hand fell on Ids
arm ; and, turning, he saw the small
person of Miss Hannah Graves, attired
in a rusty waterproof cloak, rubber
overshoes, and a plalu bonnet; while
on. one arm hung the " charity bas
ket" " Your face is full of trouble, Miss
Graves," said the doctor, politely hold
ing his umbrella over the little woman,
44 and I am sure you need my help la
some case of wretchedness. " What Is
the particular trouble to-day ?"
"It Is very fortunate I met you,"
eaid Miss Hannah, in the sweet voice
which was one of the charms that had
not van lulled with her youth. "I do
need you very much. I have been down
to see the Brewers ; and I find that the
old lady has rheumatic fever,Mr. Brewer
has cut his hand terribly with some
glass, and poor Rachel is nearly ill
with watching the poor baby. It Is my
belief that the child will not live many
days. They have not sent for you, be
cause they have no prospect of money
to settle your bill ; but if you see what
you can do, Dr. Astley, I will be re
sponsible for the bill." ,
" I never send In bills to people as
poor as the Brewers, Miss Graves," said
Dr. Astley, with Just a trine or hauteur
in his manner; " and I will go and see
them at once."
"Thank you," suld Miss Hannah,
simply. "I have always gone to Dr.
Case, but, as you know, he Is too ill to
leave his house at present."
And she moved on, bowing slightly
to the doctor as he sprang Into his bug
gy, and took the reins.
" Did you ever see Buch impertinence
In a woman before!" exclaimed Gertrude,
who had watched the Bcene very Intent
ly, though no words of the conversa
tion had reached her ears.
" The idea of stopping hlni in that
manner!" said Nettle. "She didn't
seem to care what we thought of such
conduct ; and she saw us here too. Ger
tie, it is my belief that she is hi love
with the doctor, and Is trying to attract
him. You know old maids are always
on the lookout for a chance to change
their condition. Be careful, Gertie, if
Miss Hannah is your rival. She can't
fall to win."
And both the cousins laughed merrily
and long.
Well might proud Gertrude Lorrimer
be called a beauty ; and it was no won
der that she was called the belle of the
town. Tall, with a perfect figure, Lair
of a blue-black, eyes like midnight, a
clear complexion, and regular features,
she was a beauty, and she knew it.
Left an orphan at eighteen years of
age, Gertrude had only been too glad to
accept the offer of her aunt, Mrs. Mor
ris, to take her into her own home and
family, where she could share the pleas
ures of her couBln Nettle. Not that
Bayville suited Gertrude at all she
thought it much too small a town In
which to parade her beauty and her ac
complishments ; but still for three years
she had been contented If not entirely
satisfied ; and, being wholly penniless
and dependent on her aunt for every
thing, she did not allow her dissatisfac
tion to be seen. She was anxious to
marry well, and therefore Dr. Astley
was looked upon by her with favor. He
was young,handsome, wealthy ,and stood
high In his profession ; and Gertrude
could not ask for more.
He had evidently been impressed with
her beauty and accomplishments, and
had paid her some attention, but never
yet had assumed the character of a
lover ; and Gertrude inwardly fretted at
what she mentally termed his " horrid
dilatoriness." She had no fears as to
the ultimate result of his attentions;
but she was In haste to Becure her prize.
Her disposition was a jealous one, and
she could not endure seeing even plain
Miss Hannah talking to the doctor.
Miss Hannah, however, would not
have minded in the least if the whole
village had seen her in conversation
with young Dr. Astley. Her whole
mind and soul were bound up in the
welfare of others, and the greater part
of her time was devoted to the poor and
afflicted, doing what lay in her power to
help them.
, Miss Hannah was only thirty-four
years of age,though Gertrude and Nellie
gave her credit for ten years more, and
she was very plain indeed in appear
ance, and never troubled herself much
about the fashions, or cared if the two
frivolous girls at Mrs. Morris' made rude
remarks about her clothes. She had
seen very little of Dr. Astley, although
her cottage was on the same street with
his elegant, roomy mansion, and within
a stone's throw of that of Mr. Morris.
Dr. Case, who was Dr. Astley's senior
by thirty years, was the one to whom
Miss Hannah went with her tales of sor
row and sickness; but now the old doctor
had been 111 for several days with gout,
and she had mustered up sufficient
courage to apply to Dr. Astley for help
for the Brewers in ther affliction.
Miss Hannah had been a pretty girl
in her youthful days. Hers had been
one of those soft, sweet faces which win
the love of all. But, though lovers had
come to her, she refused them all. Her
life was devoted to the invalid mother
aud crippled little brother who made up
the household, and she would allow
no new duties to interfere with the
old.
So the years had flown by, taking
Miss Hannah's youth, bloom, aud fresh
ness with them ; and now the dear
mother and poor brother, for whom she
had sacrificed a woman's dream of
home, were laid beneath the church
yard sod, and only Hetty, the niald-of-all-work,who
had been with her through
all these years of sacrifice to duty, re
mained with her In the little white cot
tage in Bayville.
Hannah Graves hud been "Miss Han
nah" to all the village for many a year,
and her small, sprightly figure and
" charity basket" were well known In
the town, and there were few who did
not give her due jirnlse.
But she had incurred the ill-will of
Gertrude Lorrimer and Nettle Morris by
giving them a booth In a charity fair
which did not suit them at all.
They wanted the flower-stall, around
which the young men congregated; but
this Miss Hannah refused them. The
flower-stall had been given to two young
girls who were poorer In this world's
goods than were Gertrude and Nettie,
aud no persuasion could Induce Miss
Hannah to make a change. The posi
tion aud wealth of Gertrude and Nettle
had no eflect on her, and they vowed to
have revenge for the Blight they funded
had been put upon them, and from that
time forth lost no opportunity to ridi
cule and censure the pluln little
spinster.
The windows of the breakfust-room
were wide open, the fire not made, the
table destitute of dishes or repast, and
it was nearly half-past eight o'clock.
Dr. Astley was standing on the hearth
rug, with a decided frown on his hand
some face.
" This sort of thing has gone on long
enough," he muttered impatiently. " I
ordered breakfast at eight o'clock, and
never get it until nine. My fire Is nev
er built in the study, tf&d every one of
my shirts need an overhauling. I sup
pose I'll have to change housekeepers
or else get married."
A vigorous pull at the bell-cord caused
the entrance of the cook, whose lace
was flushed, and whose manner was
hurried and cross.
"Where is Susan ?" Dr. Astley asked,
" And why is the dining-room in such
a stale of disorder? Am I to have my
breakfast to-day V"
"Susan is with Mrs. Beck, sir; and
she hasn't had a minute to see to the
room. I had to go to the milkman's,
and to tell Miss Sims that Mrs. Beck
wanted her to-day ; so my breakfast ta
not ready."
" Does Mrs. Beck require Susan's ser
vices every morning ? It appears to me
that my comfort ' is of no moment to
any one. Tell Susan to come to me at
once; and let me have my breakfast
without further delay, please."
Susan, a plump, rosy girl, answered
her master's summons after some delay.
She said Mrs. Beck had a headache,
aud Bhe had been required to bathe it ;
but Miss Sims was to come to nurse the
housekeeper the rest of the day.
Leonard Astley tried to keep his tem
per ; but, as he ate his hastily prepared
breakfast, he made up his mind to have
a change of dynasty.
" Mrs. Beck has imposed on me long
enough," he thought, " and treats me
as if she thought she were conferring a
favor by remaining here. I pay her
twenty dollars a month to lie in bed,
and have Susan to wait on her, while
my comfort Is of no moment whatever,
There's Singleton : he stood house
keepers and boarding as long as he was
able aud then married pretty Florrle
Truedale. Now he has a pleasant, com
fortable home, his buttons all sewed on,
a congenial companion is always at
hand, and I worry on with Mrs. Beck.
I have a mind to propose to Miss Lor
rimer. I wonder If she would make me
happy. She seems like a pleasant, nice
girl ; and she is young and handsome
enough to grace the home of any man
I am thirty-three years old, and it ia
time I waa settled ; to-night no, to
night I must go to Singleton's but to-
morrow night I will call on the fair
Gertrude aud have my fate decided. If
I am so fortunate as to win her, I can
say adieu to Mother Beck, and welcome
comfort, ease, happiness"
The door opened, and the entrance of
a portly woman In a showy wrapper in
terrupted Leonard's train of thought.
She sunk Into a cushioned arm-chair,
with a heavy sigh, and requested Susan
to hand her a cup of coffee.
" Mrs. Beck," said Leonard, " a few
plrtiu words occasionally do a world of
good. I find that my comfort ia very
much neglected. This morning the fire
was out, the room cold, and my break-
fast an hour late again."
"Iam too ill, Dr. Astley, to listen
to such complaints," sighed Mrs.
Beck. " I could not spare Susan this
morning to attend to her usual duties."
"If you need a lady's maid, you had
better hire one, not depend on Susan,"
said Dr. Astley angrily ; " and, further
more, if you will rouse yourself occa
sionally, and try to do something to
earn the wages I pay you, It would be
better for your health-"
The fuce of the portly widow grew
scarlet with rage. She trembled from
head to foot, and her eyes blazed with
wrath.
" You talk as If I was a servant, Dr.
Astley," she screamed shrilly, " when
I came here as an accommodation, sim
ply as an accommodation, sir."
"Perhaps then, as an accommoda
tion, you will leave," "said the doctor
grimly.
Whereupon the housekeeper burst Into
tears, and gave symptoms of hysterics,
which sent the doctor from the room
and out on his rounds with all haste
possibly.
Meanwhile Nettle Morris and Ger
trude Lorrimer were discussing, in the
privacy of their parlor, a plan which
seemed to afford them the opportunity
to revenge the slight liss Hannah had
put upon them at the charity fair.
" I would give anything If I could see
her read it," said Nettie. " I declare! I
can't wait with any patience for to-mor-rpw
to come."
" I think I deserve some credit for
imitating the handwriting so well,"
said Gertrude. " I am sure she will ful
ly believe it is a genuine love-letter.
How I would like to see her answer!"
" Very likely he wiil keep it, and,
when you are hla wife, lie will show it
to you, Gertie," said Nettle, who believ
ed as fully as her cousin that the doc
tor's attentions were seriously inclined
to matrimony.
" Of course, and we will have a laugh
over it together," replied Gertrude.
" I rather think Miss Hannah will
feel very much mortified when she finds
out that she has accepted the doctor's
bogus offer," said Nettle. " You think
there is no doubt of her accepting, Ger
tie?" " Not the least," replied Gertrude, In
a tone of confidence. " You see, Nettie,
he is a very eligible person ; and I rath
er think Miss Hannah would not refuse
a man whom I would accept. No ; you
may be sure she will be only too glad to
say 4 Yes.' "
41 Suppose we go up-stairs and read the
letter over again," suggested Nettie;
44 and then you can copy it, and I'll find
Johnny Brewer to-night and make him
take it for us."
The cousins left the parlor and spent
the greater part of the morning re-wri
ting and reading the document which
was to bring such dire mortification to
poor Miss Hannah.
That night, as Dr. Astley was return
ing home after spending the evening
with his friend Mr. Singleton, who had
married such a pretty wife, and waa not
troubled with a housekeeper of the Beck
order, a violent gust of wind blew into
hla face a sheet of paper.
The doctor was desp in thought
about hla contemplated offer to Miaa
Gertrude Lorrimer the next evening,
and caught the paper mechanically in
his band, and abstractedly thrust it into
hla pocket, where it staid, completely
forgotten by the dreaming doctor, who
was in the midst of fancying Gertrude
in his arms, confessing her love to him ;
for in spite of his thirty-three years,
constant work, and petty trials, Dr.
Astley had not outlived all romance.
He passed the white cottage of Miss
Hannah and waa surprised to see a light
still in the window of the cozy parlor.
The curtain was drawn aside ; and he
stopped a moment, attracted by the com
fortable aspect of the whole room. The
fire was burning cheerily, and a cat lay
on a rug, and Miss Hannah sat in a cozy
arm-chair, an open letter on her lap.aud
her hands crossed idly.
44 How pleasant it looks there!" the
doctor thought, 44 and, for once, MIs9
Hannah is idle. She is a good little
woman and I like her. If I don't find
a fire in my study, I'll come back here,
and call on the poor little thing."
And the doctor laughed at the
thought. .
But, for a wonder, he found a fire in
the study, and so did not have an ex
cuse for calling on Miss Hannah. Per
haps, If he had done bo, he would have
been the recipient ofasurplsens great
as hers; for the letter which he had
seen lying on her lap of the spinster
ran as follows
41 My DkaK Miss Hannah During
the past three weeks we have Been more
of euch other than ever before ,and I have
learned to love you devotedly. Dare I
hope that I may win you for my own ?
Your grace and loveliness of person
have stirred tills heart, which has never
before succumbed to woman ; and my
only fear Is, that you will not think my
love wormy your acceptance. If you
can give me a favorable answer, write it
and bring It to my door to-morrow at
four o'clock. Susan will Bee that It Is
given to me at night, for I shall be
away all day.
44 If your answer ia unfavorable, if
you feel that I am not worthy the
blessed boon of your pure young love,
send me no reply. Your silence will be
sufficient to tell me that my hopes, my
ambition, are blasted and ruined forever
and my heart blighted evermore.
44 Yours devotedly,
44 LKONAIID ii. ASTLY."
This was the letter over which Miss
Hannah was dreaming in the firelight.
Perhaps to a young lady with whom
offers were plenty this letter would have
been stamped as counterfeit at once, but
it had been years since Miss Hannah
had received a love-letter, and the lan
guage to her did not sound unnatural.
During the three weeks which had
elapsed since she had stopped in the rain
to tell Dr. Astley about the afflictions .of
the Brewer family, they had met very
frequently.
Dr. Case was only Just beginning to
grow better, and Dr. Astley had his
hands full. In the hovel of every poor
patient, in the town hospital, and
among the needy of every grade, Dr.
Astley had seen Miss Hannah ; and,
while she had learned to admire and
love him for the gentleness and patience
he showed on every occasion, he had
learned to know how noble and gener
ous a heart beat in the breast of the lit
tle old maid. But he imagined that the
woman he was to marry waa Gertrude
Lorrimer, whose bright dark beauty
and graceful manners were to make his
home an earthly Eden.
Miss Hannah was astonished at re
ceiving her letter. A continued rap
ping on her cottage door caused her to
open it, to find the letter tied to the
knob, but no one in sight.
Johnny Brewer had done his errand
well, and had spent, in tops and mar
bles, the money Nettle bad given him.
Miss Hannah bad seen the band
writing of the doctor very frequently,
and Gertrude's clever imitation would
almost have deceived the doctor him
self. When the little old maid read the
joint production of the girls, the tears
came Into her soft blue eyes. She nev
er doubted the genuineness of her love
letter. As she read what it said of her
grace and loveliness, a sigh escaped ber
lips.
44 How I wish, for bla sake, that I was
lovely aud graceful !" she mused as she
sat by the glowing fire. 44 How can I
really believe that be loves me ! He is
so noble, rich and handsome ; and I've
thought he loved Gertrude Lorrimer,
and pitied bim, for she will never make
any man happy. And to think, that,
after all, I am bia choice! I never
dreamed that such happiness could come
to me.
44 He was telling me, only yesterday,
bow lonely be often felt in that elegant
house of his, and bow Mrs. Beck neg
lected his comfort in every respect. I
felt sorry for him then ; and to think
that now I have the chance to make bis
home bright and happy ! "
So Gertrude Lorrimer was right. The
letter of acceptance was written before
the little woman slept that night ; and,
at four o'clock the next day, the two
girls, who were eagerly watching, aaw
ber give the precious, missive into
Susan's hands.
How they laughed and rejoiced as they
saw ber move slowly away, in deep
thought ! their little old maid, whom
they had so cruelly deceived. They
were delighted at - the success of their
plan, and speculated as to what the doc
tor would do and say, and whom Miss
Hannah would accuse of the deception.
When Dr. Astley returned horr.e at