2
THE TIMES, NEW BL00MFIEL1), PA. MAY 18, 1880.
Deacon Sharpe's Wife's Niece.
Concluded.
' lJOW Bee en 1,eai M,M
ton, thereSi lio use to mutiny In
this way. That rtlr, ruarle up of rebellion
and obstinacy, Is ery becoming, I
admit, but It won't be of the least use In
the world. Bo Just keep quiet now, and
attend to your canaries."
" Now, Miranda, Isn't he provoking ?
I don't believe his salary Is half large
enough to support all these extrava
gance In which he Indulges us, and I
would not have Incurred such a heavy
debt for music lessons if I had not ex
pected to defray It."
" I think," said the soft grave voice of
'ouhhi Miranda Carter, as her gentle
face looked up from her sewing, " that
Iieltle Is In the right. You know, my
dear boy, that I wanted lo organize a
little school when we came here, and
you interdicted It. Our expenses are
Increasing every year, and I know the
burden must rest heavy on you."
" Well, I've strong shoulders to bear
it, and I'm twenty-four now," said the
young man, rising, and walking across
the room, while very loving eyes watch
ed the proud, handsome figure, whose
bearing was so full of strength and mnn
.HueE.s. ." Uctilde this, you bother mo, girls, by
continually harping on this subject. I
don't want Lettie to teach, and have
people that aren't half as good aud
: smart as she Is, turning up their noses
at her. I want to see her happy, and
free from care, In the bloom and glad
ness of her youth."
" Do you think, Gotham, that I'm so
craven as to care for the miserable,
heartless, soulless people that would
ilesplse me because I was a music teach-
-err'
" No, Miss Independence, I don't
think you are. But that's no elgu I
want them slighting you. Now, don't,
-cousin Miranda, read me a lecture on
"moral courage. I know you're all right,
Mid I'm all wrong, beside being a great
scamp Into the bargain. But Lettle's
not going to teach, so the matter's set
tled. By. the by, Mrs. Conrad came
into the store yesterday afternoon I"
"Did she? Oh! tell me about her,"
la my eagerness spilling half my cana
ry seed on the floor. Mrs. Conrad was
the bride of the senior partner of the
firm In which Gorham was engaged.
The gentleman was a millionaire, and
the lady young, brilliant, fascinating,
and had created a great sensation In
the high social circles in which they
moved.
" Well, she is not strictly symmetric
ally beautiful.but Bhe is Very interesting,
and her face is one you would turn and
look at twice in a crowd. It Is full of
character and vitality, and though it
may "melt with tenderness, you feel too
St might flash into earnestness, perhaps
anger. The eyes, hair, and mouth, are
perhaps the most attractive features.
The first is rich, the second glorious, the
last beautiful I They say she is very
good-hearted, very kind to the poor."
"Gorham Lawtonl what an artist
was spoiled when fate made you a book
keeper!" "I know it, little girl ; but it's grow,
lug late," looklug at his watch. "Kiss
me ; good-bye, girls," and he was gone.
Two months had elapsed. It was a
- wild, warring, November day ; and it
was drawing toward its close, when
Gorham Lawton paced with unsteady
step, and working features, the little
back office where his days were passed.
" Bis hundred dollars in debt," he
muttered, looking at a number of papers
he held in his hand, "and I cannot meet
ten of it. My creditors will certainly
pounce upon the furniture, and Lettie
and Miranda oh ! what will become of
them I If I had commenced In a plainer
way or not glveu them to understand
that my salary was larger than it is.
But something must be done to-night.
What shall it be V"
The young man tat down, and buried
hU head on the desk, and, sitting there,
a terrible temptation entered Into the
heart of Gorham Lawton. At first he
tried to resist it, but it folded closer, and
closer about his soul and at last
No wonder the faintness of my heart
shakes my fingers so that I cannot write
it. I never knew a man's hand that he
could not imitate, uud every member of
the flrm'B as well as his own. '
. I will try to win it back at some
gaming table this very night," he said,
"and it U but a thousand dollars."
:...
" It's very strauge Gorham does not
come !" said cousin Miranda Carter, for
at least the tenth time, aud she walked
o the window, aud looked out on the
great fiujits of snow which December
was lazily blinking through the air.
"I'm hungry, cousin Miranda," I
arswered. "Gorham'a probably been
detained by somebody. He will come
in while we are at; tea." Bo we sat
down.
" Lettie," asked Miranda Carter, "has
it struck you that Gorham fceemed
changed, absorbed, restless, for the last
day or two?"
" Why, no, Mlrada. I'm sure he was
very full of his Jokes last night."
" I know It, but his laugh didn't seem
natural, and there was a look in his
eyes I didn't like. Gooduesa! what a
rlngl"
Ten minutes from that time we knew
all Gorham was discovered, arrested.
All I can say of the night that follow
ed Is, We lived through It. Most mirac
ulous It seems that I can say this, that
the first knowledge of that terrible truth
did not strike me dead, as the blow of a
sword, or a flash of midsummer light
ning would have d .3.
But I lived, so did cousin Miranda
Carter. Our hair did not turn white, or
our faces grow wrinkled that night) but
our hearts grew older.
Miranda did not speak often. Once
in a while she moaned out, " Edward's
child! Edward's child!" aud twice dur
ing that night she crept up close to me,
and, putting down her blanched face to
mine, whispered, "Don't tell his father;
it will kill him; don't let him know
it," and I saw this great shock had
almost prostrated her reason.
That late, pallid morning at last rose
over the earth, aud then, through all
the darkness and despair that had folded
itself in my heart struggled up the
memory of those word9 of Gorham'e.
" They say she is a kind-hearted lady,
and very good to the poor."
Somehow, my soul grasped at those
words, and a new impulse stirred at my
heart. The day was not three hours old
when I mounted the broad steps of the
millionaire's princely mansion on Fifth
Avenue. The servant stared at me
curiously, and said she was in, though
she probably could not see me for half
an hour, as she had just breakfasted,
and was dressing to go out.
"Will you tell her my business Is
very urgent. Perhaps she will allow me
to go to her room. I must eee her quite
alone."
He bowed me Into the parlor, and oh !
with a heart ache I closed my eyes ou
my magnificent surroundings. In a
few moments the servant returned, stat
ing that his mistress would see me, and
In her own room.
I followed him up the long winding
stair-case, aud reached Mrs. Conrad's
chamber at last. Bhe came forward to
receive me, with a good deal of curiosity
and interest In her face. Bhe was a
small, very graceful woman, with large,
deep set, glorious eyes. Her hair was
hastily coiled up behind, and I remem
ber, though I was not consciously ob
Bervant of it at the time,' that she wore a
dark blue silk morning dress, uncouflned
at the waist indeed her whole appear
ance indicated she had hurried from her
toilet to meet me.
"Come in, and sit down," she said,
in a soft, languid voice; those dark eyes
searching my face.
And I went into the luxurious cham
ber, but I did not sit down. I stood
still by the table, and she stood before
me ; aud I told her my story.
How I told it I know not. It eeemed
to me my lips did not move, only my
heart spoke. I remember, as I went
on, the lady's face worked, the tears
flooded up her large eyes, and rained
over her cheeks. " It was for our Bakes
he did this deed," I concluded. "It
was for mine, his orphan sister, who
had none on earth to take care of her
but himself, and he was a loving, tender
brother. Oh ! if you have the heart of a
woman, have pity upon his youth, and
our misery have pity upon him, aud
save him."
"I will try. I will try," she sobbed.
Oh I I am very sorry for you. It was
such a little sum too a thousand dol
lars. My husband would never miss it.
Why, I could have pawned some of my
jewels, and the thing might "not have
been discovered at all."
Oh ! I could have fallen at the wom
an's feet, and worshipped her, as she
said these words.
" He will repay you all the money in
a little while," I gasped, " and oh, our
name is an honorable one; there was no
stain on it when my father laid his head
under the spring grass, and left it to his
boy. If you save it from disgrace now,
he will thank you for it when you see
him in heaven."
"I will do all I can. It is terrible for
you to suffer bo. You so young and
fair. But I must know your brother's
name before I attempt to accomplish
anything."
" Gorham Lawton."
She sprang forward with a strange,
wild cry,the like of which I never heard
before, or since. " Gorham Lawton !
Did he ever live in Pentouville V"
I bowed my head, staring mutely at
her, for something in her face seemed to
grow upon my memory.
" And you you are"
"Letltia Lawton."
Bhe threw her arms around my neck,
and strained me. to her heart. "Save
him I I will save him if it cost me my
life, for all I have and am, I owe to
him, and to you. Lettie, I am Mercy
Lane!"
I sat down in a chair, faint, dumb.
What happened after this I cannot
clearly remember. I know Mrs. Con
rad covered my face with kisses, and
then begged me not to faint away, and
tried to give me a glass of water, but
her hand shook so she spilled it nil on
the floor.
Then, I recall more distinctly, her
walking, with nervous unsteady tread,
across the floor, murmuring to herself,
" Gorham Lawton 1 Gorham Lawton !
he was bo noble, so generous, so good,"
aud then she would rush up to me, with
her white hands clasped together, cry
iDg, "I will save him, Lettie indeed I
will suve him!" and sometimes sli'e
would laugh loudly, and sometimes she
would sob wildly.
Two hours later, I stood in the cell
where he was. "Oh I Lettie, do not
come to me now." Gorham lifted up
his haggard face, aud stared at me a
moment, and then dropped it in his
hauds again, as though the sight of ine
was more than he could bear.
But I went to him, and knelt down,
and laid his head on my shoulders, and
covered his hair with kisses; for a while
I could not ppeak lo him.
At last he moaned, "Oh! Lettie, do
you know what I have done, and why I
am here V"
" Yes, Gorham, darling! I know all;
but we will not talk of that now there
is hope for you!"
"Hope for me!" He lifted his hag
gard face, aud I shuddered at the change
which a slugle night had wrought lu it.
" Do you know, Lettie, I am a criminal;
I shall be doomed to years of imprison
ment; that I have ruined myself, and
brought everlasting disgrace upon you V
Oh I would I had died long ago ; would
I had died!"
This Is too painful to linger over
And, with many caresses aud tears I
sobbed out the story of my Interview
with Mrs. Conrad, the Mercy Lane of
our childhood. I gave him, too, the
words her trembling fingers had traced
for him when I left her.
"Gorham Lawton Take heart!
take heart I For the sake of the past, I
will do all I can to save you.
Meiicy Conrad."
And when the hour came that termi
nated our interview, I left him "com
forted." " Well, what is it, my darling V" and
the pompous, but very proud, indulgent
husband pushed back the braids of hair
from the forehead of his young wife,
and looked very tenderly into the face,
which if not strictly beautiful, possessed
a woudrous charm for every one.
Bhe sat on the arm of his velvet
cushioned chair, and they looked like
father and daughter with the two score
of years difference between their ages,
aud Bhe leaned her soft cheek lo his, " I
am almost afraid to ask it, Morton."
"Afraid I Why, darling, I never re
fused you anything in my life, did I V"
" No, oh, no ; but this is so different
from the others and yet I shall never
be happy for another hour of my life
without you grant my request."
"Bless me! then out with it quick,
dear; why, how you tremble!" and
lifting up her head bo that the soft light
from the chandelier rushed over it, the
gentleman looked at his wife In amazed
curiosity.
But she dropped it once more on his
Bhoulder, and the Btory palpitated out of
her orphaned childhood, of the friends
that rescued her from mental misery,
degredation, death, and the rest you
know, reader, what followed this.
Mr. Con l ad was not a man of generous
instincts, though he loved his wife bet
ter than anything on earth.
" It is certainly very unfortunate for
the young man," he said, "and I can
understand. You feel indebted to him,
Mercy, but really it was a very serious
matter to forge my name. I hardly
know how to act in this thing." i
"ActJ1 Oh! Morton, aot only "o Bave
him ! Ilemcmbor if it had not been for
him you would never had your Mercy I
Am I not worth bo much as this to
youV Will you not do it for my
eakeV"
Mr. Conrad rose and walked up and
down the room several times with a
perturbed brow, and his wife followed
hb movements with great, beseeching
eyes.
At last he came and leaned over her.
" Mercy, my wife, you have conquered.
I will save him."
And Mercy sprang up with a cry of
joy, aud wound her arms around her
husband's neck,and pressed many kisses
on his face, with more of wifely tender
ness, it may be, than she had ever done
before. '
The rest was easily done. The prln
clpal witness lu the case was a clerk at
the bank, whose silence was readily
procured with a little of Mr. Conrad's
wealth.
Then the services of a brilliant lawyer
were secured, and the trial soon came
off; Gorham was aoqultted. There was
no shadow of disgrace on our honorable
name. I will write it again, for my pen
lingers Joyfully over every, letter. He
was saved ! saved I saved 1
What a meeting it was when he re
turned home! How cousin Miranda
Carter and I hugged him again and
again to our hearts, and laughed and
cried over liim lu that great Joy which
Is well nigh pain. Mrs. Conrad was
there too. Gorham went to her, but
when he would have spoken she laid
her hand on his Hps, "Do not thank
me," she said, " I have only paid what
I owed you."
And I have no doubt It was through
her influence that Gorham was, soon
after, elevated to a much more honora
ble and lucrative situation than the one
he had formerly occupied in her hus
band 'b establishment.
I need not say that Gorham never
fell again. Aye, I believe that he is
this hour a stronger and a better man
because of that time of weakness. Was
he not afterward doubly tender and
charitable to the sinning t Did he not
struggle harder and with longer endur
ing patience to reclaim others because
he had once sinned? Ah! they who
have felt the temptation can pity the
offender !
Seven years had passed. It was a day
bright with sunshine, and balmy with
soft odors from thesummer woods. Mrs.
Conrad was passing it at our house, and
she looked very young and fair in the
lobes of widowhood which she had
worn for two years.
And a little longer than this had we
worn these " tokens for the dead," for
cousin Miranda Carter had joined our
father and mother in heaven.
"Now, don't you think, Mercy," I
Jestingly asked, in some pause of the
conversation, " that It's manifestly
Gorham's duty to get married? He is
over thirty years old, and I verging
toward old maidlsm, am obliged to stay
here to be his dutiful housekeeper,
thereby letting slip all chances of ever
being my own. It's too bad, and I'm
going to mutiny."
Some one called me at that moment,
aud I left the room before Mercy could
leply.
" There is a reason (you understand
it, Mrs. Conrad,) why I have never ask
ed any woman to be my wife," said
Gorham, in low, solemn tones.
She flashed up an inquiry lu his face
with those large, deep-set eyes.
"Oh! Gorham, It is very wrong even
to speak of that. No true woman would
ever love you less."
" Do you think so?"
" I know it."
" There is but one woman on the face
of the earth whom I would care to
known that it would influence. Shall I
tell you who she Is ?"
"Yes."
" Yourself."
Another inquiry startled wondering,
flashing up from those glorious eyes.
"Oh, Gorham!" and she burst into
tears. He took her hands, and he was'
answered.
" To think," she said to him, half an
hour afterward, "you suppose- I could
let that matter influence me 1 I, who
have known from my childhood your
ingrained nobleness, and truth and gen
erosity! Besides have I nothing to
confess? Did I not marry an old man
for his wealth, when I loved him only
as a child should love its father ?
" But I was an orphan and alone,
Gorham, and toiling very hard In my
arduous school duties; aud when he
brought his niece there, and took so
much interest in me, of course I was
very grateful.
" Then when at last he asked me bo
tenderly to be his wife, aud promised to
surround me with all the beauty and
luxury my nature had always panted
after, I could not refuse him.
" I did all that could be done to make
him happy and am sure I succeeded."
" Well, if you marry me, you will at
least not marry for money," replied
Gorham.
When I returned to the room my
surprise was as great as my satisfaction
at the result of my remaik about my
brother getting married. The marriage
in due time took place and they lived
happily, near neighbors to me and my
husband who I soon found after Gorham
did not need me for his housekeeper.
We all often think over the days of our
early lives, and love yet to talk of the
times when my brother's wife was only
" Deacon Sharpe's Wife's Niece."
Timely Caution.
Genuine Hop Bitters are put up In
square paneled,- amber-colored bottles,
with white label on one side printed in
black letters, and a green hop cluster,
and on the other side yellow paper with
red letters; revenue stamp over the
cork. This is the only form in which
genuine Hop Bitters are put up, and the
sole right to make, sell and use them is
granted to the Hop Bitters M'f g Co., of
toohester, N. Y., and Toronto, Out., by
patents, copyright and trade mark. All
others put up In any other way ' or by
any one else, clal ming to be like It or
pretending to contain hops, by whatever
names they may be called, are bogus and
unlit for use, aud only put up to sell and
cheat the people on the credit and pop
ularity or lop imters.
JUSSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, PENN'A.
'Now offer the public'
A HARK AND ELEGANT ASSORTMENT OP
DRESSGOODS
Consisting at all shade sultabla tor ths season
BLACK ALPACCA8
AND
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY.
BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED
MliBLINB,
AT VARIOUS PRICES.
AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF PRINTS'
We sell and do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS
And everything under tliebead of
GROCERIES!
Machine needles and oil for all makes of
Machines.
To be convinced that our goods are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE 8T0CK.
J- No trouble to show Roods.
Don't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry County, Pa.
The Blood is the Life.
LLDSEYS BLOOD SEARCHER
Is rapidly acquiring a natloual reputation for
the cure of
Scrofulous Affection. fJanceroiw Formation,
Erysipelas, Bolls, Pimples, Ulcers,
Bore Eyes, Bcald Head,
Tetter, Salt Rheum,
Mercurial aud afl Bkiu Diseases.
This remedy Is a Testable Compound, and
cannot harm the most tender Infant. Ladles who
Buffer from debilitating diseases and Female Com
plaints, will Mud speedy relief by using this rem
edy. .
0. W. Llncott. of Messoootamla, tt. says It cur
ed him of (Scrofula of thirty years. Two bottles
cured Mrs. E. J. Dukes, of Colfax, Ind., of ulcer
ated ankle and big neck. Llndsey'a Blood Search
er cured my son of Erysipelas Mrs. K Hinellzer,
Larimer Station. Pa.
The BLOOD SHAKCRER Is the safest, unrest
and most powerlul purltler ever known. Price
$1.(0 per bottle.
It. E. SELLERS & CO.. Prop'rs, Pittsburgh, Pa.
To Regulate The Liver,
Use only SELLERS' LIVER PILLS, the best
and only true Liver Regulator. Established over
60 years. They cure Headache, Biliousness, Oost
lveness. Liver Complaint. Fever and Ague, and all
similar diseases like Biaglc. (Jet the right kind.
Boilers' Liver Pills, 2b fonts.
The great worm destroyer f SELLERS' VER
MIKU3E. " Expelled 4U0 worms from my child,
two years old." ;Vm. Sarver, Kt. Louis, Mo.
Bold by druggists. Price iiS cents eeh. R. E.
BKLLER9 & CO., Proprietors, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Bend tor circulars. 41) lj
gLOOMFIELD ACADEMY.
The next regular term of this Institution be
gins MARCH 2!th, 1880.
Full preparation, classical or otherwise. Is given
for any college male or female either lor Fresh
man or Sophomore year.
A thorough course Is provided for teachers, and
the option is given ol selecting one or two of the
higher studies.
Prof. J. C. Miller will have charge of the Pen
manship and business courses.
Music, Drawing and Painting.
Philosophical and Chemical apparatus' for the
study of the Natural Sciences, Literary Society,
Library.
Students are at all times under the supervision
of the Principal and their progress and conduct
noted on their weekly reports.
Boarding. If In advanc, $2.1:0 per week, othar
wise, 12.76; Tuition Iroui 60 cents to 91.00 per
week. In wimnce.
For further Information, address,
J. K. FLICKINGKK, A. ft.. Principal.
' or Wv, Ohikk, Proprietor,
9 2m. . New Blooinneld, Pa.
J. M. Gmvm
J. H. Qiavu
J.M. GIRVIN & SON.,
FLOUR, GRAIN, SEED Si PRODUCE
Commission Merchants,
No. 64 Sooth (-'ay, St.,
BALTIMORE, MD.
We will pay strict attention to the sale of all
kinds of Country Produce and remit the amount)
promptly. 4alyr.
J. M. GIRVIN & BON.
ESTATE NOTICE. Notice 111 hereby glf.
en, that Letters of Administration on the
estate of David Geib, late of Marysvitle. Perry
county. Pa , deeeased, have been granted to the
undersigned, residing In the same plaie.
All persons Indebted to said estate are requested
to make payment, and those having claims w ill
present them duly authenticated to the under
tigued tor settlement without delay.
SAMUEL (i. OKIB, Admlnstrator.
March IMano. Cma. H. Bmilkv, Att'y
JyJEW. WAGON SHOr.
THE undersigned baying opened a
WHEELWRIGHT SHOP,
m
: NEW BLOOMFIELD,
are now prepared todo any kind of work In their
line. In anv style, at prices which cannot fall to
give satisfaction. Carriages of ait styles built
and all work will bo warrauted.
8TOUFFEB & CRIST.
New Bloomfleld. April 13, 187.
-IOB PRINTING of every description neatly
I and promptly executed at Reasoaable Katet
at the UlouuiUeld Times Steam Job OtUce.