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VOL. XIII.
NEW BLOOMFIBLD, TXJESDA.Y, AUGUST 2G, 1879.
NO. 35.
3 oVT- LM
5
THE TIMES.
in Independent Family Newspaper,
IS PUBLISHED BVBBT TUESDAY BT
F. MORTIMER & CO.
suBscnirxioN imuuk.
(WItlllN TUB COUNTY.)
One Year, II 2
8x Months 75
(OUT 0 THB COUNTT. )
One Year, (Postage Included) II 60
Six Mouths, (Postage iuoluded) 85
Invariably In Advance I
y Advertising rates furnished upon appli
cation. $eleit Poetry.
LIKE HIS DAD.
I hear his mother's chiding voice t
How came Tour trousers torn ?
And black as Ink, sir, Is that shirt
You put on clean this morn.
" Tour feet are wet, too, I declare ;
You're muddy to your knees ;
It Is too bad ; you only care
Your mother, sir, to tease.
" And, those nice shoes your Sunday best, ,
That but three times you've worn,
Are scratched and scraped and all run down,
The heel of one is gone.
" Your hair Is twisted In a snarl,
And just look at that hand !
It looks as though 'twere never washed
How dare you say 'tis tanned I
" You've been a-fishing, sir, I guess
What 1 been to see the match ?
You'll have a fit of sickness, sir t
A pretty cold you'll catch."
And thus she talks for half an hour,
And only stops to say,
"Your father'U hear of this to-night )
I wonder what he'll say 7"
My friends In complimentary way
Declare to me they see
A close resemblance very marked
Between the boy and me.
But nothing that they see In him
In either form or face
Bespeaks my son as do his pranks
In these my own I trace.
And why should I at tattered clothes
Or dirty ones repine 1
In blm I'll live my life again
God bless the boy I he's mine !
NO STEP-MOTHER WANTED ;
OK,
How the Match was Broken.
THERE was not a sound in the cot
tage that drowsy midsummer after
noon ; although the walls were thin,
not even the squeak of a mouse could
be heard. Open doors and windows,
however, told of occupants, camp-stools
were on the piazzas, newspapers and re
views were scattered about as if hastily
abondoned.
A light footfall broke the stillness ; a
lady appeared, who with graceful, easy
motion passed and seated himseir on a
shady balcony overlooking the sea. The
little waves rippled softly up, and broke
away again on the beach, white sails
shone in the distance, and fleecy clouds
floated overhead in the exquisite blue of
the sky. The spectator noted all this,
and drank In the wonderful beauty of
the day. Although Interested in her
book, she could not forbear constant
glances at the .scene about her.
As her eyes rested on a jutting rock
she saw some one taking observations
He put up au eye-glass to assure him
eelf that it was indeed she ; then clam
bered over the intervening obstacles
and hastened toward her.
She looked at first annoyed, and as if
meditating an escape ; then relinquished
the idea, and composed herself with
polite smile to greet the intruder. He
also smiled as he lifted his hat, aud dis
played very handsome teeth, quite at
variance with his evidently advanced
vears. His features were regular, his
cray bair was cut as short as possible,
and he had a decidedly distinguished
air.
Ha seated himself with a deferential
exnression beside her:
" How fortunate I am 1 Really, I had
no idea, when I strayed out this after-
noon, that anything so pleasant was to
befall me."
This was rather hypocritical, as he
strayed out, as he called It, for the very
purpose of this encounter.
The lady smiled graciously upon
him.
4 Mrs. Page," he exclaimed suddenly,
11 permit me to resume the conversation
which was Interrupted so unhappily the
other evening.
' Ah, Mr. Lee," with a deprecating
air, " why not confine ourselves to or
dinary topics V I like you so much, and
am so eager to retain your friendship,
that I have not the courage to oppose
you; yet"
She had charming, pretty, graceful
w&ys, not wholly free from coquetry.
Bhe glanced at him shyly, and blushed a
little, in spite of the awful disparity in
their ages.
'And yet " he repeated eagerly;
" what does 'yet' imply ?"
1 1 prefer friends to lovers," she an
swered, quite decidedly.
" But, my dear Mrs. Page, the world
is censorious, and will not permit friend
ship between men and women."
His tone was somewhat sarcastic.
Mr. Lee evidently did not like opposi
tion. Mrs. Page looked out on the sea, then
up at her companion.
1 If I could only be your daughter !"
she whispered softly.
' That's an awful hit at my years,and
I ought to be excessively angry. Such
an arrangement could not be carried Into
effect ; some young fellows would steal
you from me. Besides, iny real daugh
ter might not like it, you know."
" How would she like your having a
young wife V Tell me frankly, Mr. Lee,
what would your children say to such
an arrangemeut V"
" Frankly, my dear Mrs. Page, I
think they will not like It at all ; but I
shall reason calmly and diplomatically
with them, and prove very clearly that
It is their duty to" and he hesitated.
' Make the best of it."
"Well, yes; and very soon they will
be as much in love with you as I am."
Mrs. Page had a mocking, incredulous
air, which Mr. Lee Ignored.
44 I shall say to them, 4 Although the
day I marry her I propose to settle a
million on my future wife' "
44 Oh, Mr. Lee 1" her face crimsoned
" how can you propose to to bribe
me In that open way 1"'
" By no manner of means. This is
what I am to say to my children : I
am not saying It to you, only rehears
ing. Don't interrupt rue for a moment,
please. 4 This million which I settle on
the charming person who condescends
to become my wife I should otherwise
give to a hospital ; therefore, how does
it affect you, my dears V "
" I am very impertinent, but do you
love your children much V"
44 Yes, I am very fond of them, but I
give them all they ask let them do what
they please. Why should I not do what
I please t I have an idea that they will
oppose me here," in a frank tone,
"which I confess irritates me somewhat
against them. However" and his
voice became tender again 41 only give
me permission to make the announce
ment, and all difficulties will be re
moved." Mrs. Page looked distressed and per
plexed :
" How many children have you, Mr.
LeeV"
" I have four."
"Are you sure they will dislike it V
Four of them ! How can I endure four
enemies in my own household V"
" You will have one friend, I am sure,
among them. There is my son Wil
liam ; he is a magnificent fellow no
ble, good, superior. He certainly dis
dains all mercenary considerations ; the
others may too, but I am sure of Wil
liam. William, you and I against, Ger
trude, Archie and Jack ; we certainly
can hold our own."
Mrs. Page with downcast eyes had
passed through every phase of blushing
and agitation while he spoke.
Mr. Lee, who was shrewd, marked
these signs and took courage :
" My dear, cannot you comfort me a
little V"
" There are so many objections I" Bhe
sighed.
"Name them," he exclaimed eagerly.
"lour children" in a fullering
tone.
" Oh, we have disposed of them."
"Your money and the disparity in
our years," almost in a whisper. "All
the world will think Dear Mr. Lee,
let me say no, and like me always in
spite of it."
" I can't consent to anything of the
kind. My money an objection 1 Why,
the money is good ; it bridges over the
chasm between eighteen, is It V aud
fifty. The million I propose to settle
on you"
"Very well," she Interrupted, "If
you propose to buy me, there's an end
to our negotiation."
" On the other baud, I am perfectly
willing that my sixty-five years I am
really seventy should offset with mon
ey your "
" Thirty," she replied.
There was a brief silence. Mr. Lee
was evidently taking counsel with him
self. " Mrs. Page, I am going to confide
in you. I am not sure that it is quite
right or kind in me to say this; but I
have had a very unhappy life, although
the world considers me a fortunate man.
My wife was a great invalid. I Indulged
her in every possible way ; her least
whims were respected ; but all that
made existence worth having was sac
rificed in the effort. Our beautiful home
was a scene of darkness and gloom, noise
maddened her, all guests and gayety
were excluded. The natural affection
which one would have supposed she
would have had for her children seem
ed extinguished by her maladies, and
they and I were really victims. I have
known of cheerful, angelic invalids, but
my poor Eleanor certainly made us all
suffer with her. I managed, in some
degree, to spare my children ; my sons
went abroad; my daughter, with a cha
peron, entertained at our country-house
while we were in town ; as for myself,
she wanted me always with her.
" After her death, our physician, who
was an old friend, acknowledged that
perhaps it would have been better for
her health of body and mind if she had
been forced to regard us more and her
self less. This was a great blow, for I
am inclined to believe the assertion true.
However, the result has been that I have
now an intention to enjoy the brief re
mainder of life that is left me. I have
an unnatural longing for gayety, happi
ness, society. I have had no life for for
ty years, either literary, social or relig
ious. She positively did not like me to
go to church 1 I am shocked myself at
making these revelations, but you are
the only living being who has a suspi
cion as to my feelings : I never, to my
children or brothers, suggested these
ideas. How could I enrich and adorn
my life more effectively than my beg.
glng you to share it with me ?" and he
put forth a manly, sunburnt hand to
seize her little white palm, when there
was a scrambling of ponies around the
house, a clatter of many feet on the
piazza, and shrieks of " Cousin Alice I
where are you t Oh, Mr. Lee 1 is that
you V cried Peggy, the head romp.
" How glad I am ! Now we can have
our champion game of tenpins you
promised us the other day. Come,
Alice."
And Mrs. Page, with great relief, fol
lowed her discomfited admirer to the
bowling-alley.
The scene changes to Mr. Lee's country-house.
Mrs. Grant, his daughter, a
pretty blonde with a fastidious, disdain
ful air, enters the breakfast-room attired
in an exquisite white morning-dress
and enveloped in a fleecy shawl.
There is a lovely picture through the
open windows of a smooth lawn skirted
by magnificent old trees. Delicious
odors greet her from the flowers on the
breakfast-table.
She seats herself, fills the daintiest of
china cups with tea, takes a piece of
toast aud opens her letters.
" Have the gentleman all breakfast
ed James V Shut the door; there is t
draught."
Her languid affectations leave her, an
angry flush rises on her cheeks, her eyes
dilate, aud, evidently too discomposed to
continue her slight repast, she exclaims
impatiently:
" Where are Mr. Archie and all of
them P Say that I want to see them
immediately something of great im
portance in the library. Now.James'
he was an old servant" make them
all come."
Mrs. Grant sank Into an arm-chair in
the cool shaded room, and Archie, Jack,
and lastly her husband,a fresh English
looking youth, came lounging in.
"What is it, Gerty V" cried Archie.
" Certainly uncommon must be to pay."
" What a low expression 1" with a lit
tle air of disgust. " Shut the door; yon
will not laugh when you hear my
news."
They clustered about her; her hus
band presented het gallantly with a
bunch of violets.
"Oh, what nonsense, Harry I will
take them, though," catching them
hastily and putting them in her belt"
4 when a sword is suspended over our
heads. Papa is going to be married !"
Archie tumbled off his chair in a very
evident and boisterous manner; Jack
started up with a smothered, angry ex
clamatiou ; and her husband looked
crest-fallen. Yes, there is no other
word to describe exactly his expression.
; How do you know f Has he writ
ten V" exclaimed Archie, recovering his
equilibrium.
1 Nina Montgomery has written me.
She Is staying' at the same place, in the
very house with papa's inamorata. I'll
read you her letter :
1 Dearest Gerty :
" ' Doing precisely as I'd be done by,
write in the greatest hurry to tell you
that, unless you can prevent it, your fa-
tuer will lie married to a lascinaung, in
triguing kind of cousin of mine, who is
doing ail in ner power to mane lam ana
every one else in iove wnn ner."
"What a scare for nothing 1" inter
rupted Jack. "He is only in love; I
thought It was all fixed."
' Wait until you hear more," solemn
ly replied his sister :
" She Is a widower, aud fatally, dan
erously charming ; I hate her, but am
forced to acknowledge tnis. livery
creature, except me, whom she looks at
likes tier, biie lias iignc nazei eyes
wonderful hair, an exquisite white skin,
and, whether she walks or sits still, looks
un or down, is irresistible, iier voice
would cnarra tue uira on tne tree, jl
!... . .... 1. X 1 ,.r unw
and, although she purrs over me, will
not be friendly. Very well, i ll come to
the point. 1 heard your father entreat,
beseech her. to marry him. I listened ;
yes, I was so base even as that sat near
a window they were on a piazza. He
told her he'd settle a million on her, at
luded to all of you, and seemed to think
no one but William would like it.
" 4 There is no use in my saying more,
Come on in full force. She's a coward
ly little thing has scruples. I think
you can prevent it.
" xours, witn mucn sympainy,
44 4 Nina Montgomery.' "
Mrs. Grant laid the letter gravely
down on the library-table, gazed at the
three with a questioning glance, and
languidly Inhaled the perfume of her
blue violets.
44 How can father be such a fool ?" ex
claimed Jack ; 44 he is seventy years
old."
44 Poor father 1" said Archie. 44 How
devoted and kind he was to mamma !
Let him marry if he pleases."
44 You little know what you are say
ing I" shrieked Gertrude. 44 Let him
marry!" with a sarcastlo air. 44 The
woman is an artful, designing minx I
Do you suppose she'll be content with
her million ? By no manner of means,
She'll never rest until she has put us
out of the house, and out of his heart,
and out of his will. She'll take posses
sion of him. I've heard too much of
rich old fathers and young step-moth
ers. Mrs. Brooks made her husband
leave her every bit of his property, cut
ting off his daughters with a shilling,
When thepr man wanted to retract
make a new will or something they
said be had had an attack of paralysis
In the mean time, and was incapable.
Actually, when he wanted to alter it,
with death staring him in the face, he
couldn't. I feel awfully sorry for pa
pa," added Gerty. 44 He has had a very
gloomy life, and if he were a younger
man But how long could he live with
bis pert young widow V Threescore years
and ten, the Bible says, is the limit, and
he has attained it."
44 1 wish William were here," ex
claimed Archie: 44 he'd tell us what to
do."
44 He'd tell us just to make tlie best of
it," cried Gerty. 41 William would
let father cut his (William's) throat
cheerfully if he were so inclined. He
doats on papa. So do we all," she added
with a elgh, 44 only we don't want him
to be married. It is undignified, it is
preposterous I" with rising indignation
44 We can prevent It. Nina says she'g
cowardly; let us use our utmost en- y
deavors. I shall start to-day. Harry,
telegraph papa to secure rooms for me;
and Archie, and Jack, you come as soon
as I send for you. In the meantime I'll
write to William he is at the White
Mountains and I'll lay the whole mat
ter before him. If he chooses to evade
the responsibility, he may; he cannot
say he has not been warned."
44 Dear papa, I could not live without
you a moment longer," whispered Ger
trude as she emerged, faint with fatigue,
from the lumbering coach and kissed the
old gentlman tenderly.
Her maid followed with bags and
wraps.
44 1 rather thought you'd meet me with
a carriage at the statlon,"she continued,
gently reproachful.
44 1 am sorry, my dear," replied Mr.
Lee with some embarrassment, 44 but I
had made up a party to go off in my
yacht, and, in fact, had to shorten the
sail to meet you at all."
44 Dear papa I" ejaculated Gerty, press
ing his arm tenderly.
Mr. Lee looked doubtfully on the fair
little face nestling against his shoulder :
he was evidently ill at ease. A look of
relief passed over him when Mrs. Grant
announced her intention of remaining
in her room for the evening and having
her tea sent to her. She summoned,
however, secretly, Miss Nina Mont
gomery. I shall be perfectly frank with your
cousin," she said to that young lady. "I
mean to write to Mrs. Page and propose
an interview. No skirmishing: I'll
come to the point directly."
That astute young person looked
doubtful :
4 She Is hesitating; may not opposi
tion decide her the wrong way V"
'No, it will frighten her; you said
she is cowardly. No temporizings or
hesitations for me ; I hate masterly in
activity, I am going for her I a com
mon expression," she remarked.
They were playing croquet on a very
poor croquet-ground, with a large party.
Mr. Lee," whispered Mrs. Page,
will you walk on the beach after the
game? I have something to tell you."
I hope it is something agreeable," he
replied, disturbed by her manner.
No; it is something very disagree
able."
The new moon gleamed uncertainly
on the water ; delicious salt breezes blew
upon them as they walked up and down
upon the sands.
Mr. Lee, I have had an interview
with your daughter, Mrs. Grant a very
unpleasant interview. If I had made up
my mind to be her step-mother, I think
I should retract : as it is"
44 What did you say, my dear Mrs.
Page ?" asked Mr. Lee with a serenity
he was far from feeling.
44 1 said very little. If she had coaxed,
I should have told her how little she had
to fear."
44 Ah I" In a tone of dismay.
44 As she did very much the reverse, I
was cold, dignified and non-committal.
She was very disagreeable" and Mrs.
Page wept at the remembrance of her
wrongs 44 accused me of entrapping
and intriguing talked of your money"
Mrs. Page actually gobbed "in short,
my dear Mr. Lee, I think I had better
leave to-morrow morning."
44 And if you go, what will be the re
sult, so far as I am concerned V" he po
litely Interrogated.
44 If I go it will greatly Inconvenience
me, end of course my only object in
going will be to end this matter, Mrs.
Grant the immediate propelling cause."
An angry gleam shot from Mr.
Lee's eye.
44 I'll take care," he said, 44 that you'll
not be annoyed in the future. Mrs.
Grant shall humbly apologize, and she
must leave, not you."
44 My dear Mr. Lee, promise me that
you will never speak to your daughter
on the subject. I a cause of discord in
your family I Promise me ; I insist, I
entreat, that you never allude to me.
Promise me, dear Mr. Lee," continued
the coaxing voice.
44 On one condition" Mr. Lee seized
his advantage 44 that you stay, and that
what Mrs. Grant has said shall have no
effect on your conduct or decision. I'll
take no denial," he gently whispered.
44 How does our little negotiation stand
-V