The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-09-26
GRACE BLENCHFORD'S LOVER.

TOMAS BLENCHFORD, with coat, hat
~ and gloves already on, heard the tink-
10 of the sleigh bells, and arose to go down
but when he reached the door he felt
light touch upon his arm, and heard the
well known voice of his daughter.
"Pa, may l go?"
"But am only going to the bank,
Grace"
CATER what, father? 1 will go there
and wait for you. 1t Will not take me five
minutes to get ready"
Well-well Be spry, and I'll wait"
said the old gentleman, quite merrily, "and
I'll give you such sleigh ride as you never
had before-a sleigh ride extraordinary.
You know / have the black before the
cutter"
9" So much the BETTER" said Grace, and
she ran away to dress, little dreaming how
well the promise would be kept.
John Normandy stood by the window
looking out upon the busy street, ever and
anon glancing at his watch, as if impatient
for the time to pass. And indeed he was.
He had no thoughts for what was passing
in the street below. He saw Jonas
Blenchford and his daughter as they drove
up to the bank, but forgot them the
moment they passed from sight within the
entrance. lie had weighty thoughts upon
his mind, that could not be cast aside by
any ordinary occurrence.
He was somewhere about thirty years of
age, tall, erect, dignifed, and very plain of
feature. He had battled with discourage
ments and poverty until his very face bore
marks of the terrible struggles, but he had
conquered. His motto had ever been,
Coward and upward" and never
finching, never giving way, he had at last
become cashier of the bank of F., a
position both honorable and lucrative.
Only twelyemonth had he held the
position, but i'll that short time he had won
the confidence of the officers of the bank,
the regard of his fellow employees, and was
generally liked by those doing business
with him.
Still he was unsocial. He lived life of
his own. He asked no companions
wanted none. When the bank closed for
the day, he hurried away to his lodgings,
and was seen no more until the hour of
business ON the following day.-Business
was his only pleasure. He talked little
worked much he was poor companion,
but true friend
He merely turned his head when the
president and his daughter entered the
bank, and then went back to his thinking
but Blenchford seemed disposed to molest
him.
ebay dreaming, Normandy ?"
{" have encountered SO much reality
that there is but little Of the imaginary
left, said he, turning toward them, half
reluctantly.
"Oh, fie Normandy. Not quite thirty,
should judge, and settling down into an
older man than am. What are you
thinking about 1t must not be.-Grace,
can you do anything to show this practical
old gentleman the error Of his ways? I'll
leave you with him to try, while l devote a
few moments to business"
"Don't forget the ride, father.'
"Never fear. You shall have it."
Normandy was really vexed to see the
old gentleman trot away, and leave him to
entertain the peerless Grace Blenchford.
Grace suspected it, and she led him
pretty race of words that brought the
smile to his face in spite of HIMSELF and
provoked some almost merry replies, that
sounded strangely from his lips. When
Blenchford returned, he found them quite
sociable. Normandy, leaning over the
desk, listening to Grace's merry talk, and
occasionally putting in a word that showed
how well he was enjoying it,
"Thawing, by = smoke p exclaimed
Blenchford in surprise, but his manner
changed Immediately. "Grace, we must