New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-11-14
SIMPSONS COURTsstlP.

SIMPSONS COURTSStxP.
Abo,,t three wears have elapsed since Mr..
Robert Simpson succeeded, at the demise OF
Mr. Isaac Simpson, ironmonger by trade. fish
rnonger by livery, and common councilman Of
the CITY OF London by election, to the pros
nervous business and municipal honors estab-
Eshed and acquired by his respectable, pans
taking parent, Mr.. Robert simpson, albeit
arrived at the mature age OF thirty-five, was
still a bachelor; and, not oaly unappro-
nriated. but. as ward-rumor reported, un-
promised; at perfect liberty, in fact, to be-
stow himself, his very desirable stock in
trade. business rremises, and freehold houses
IN the Poultry, upon any fair lady fortunate
enough to engage his affection, and able to
return it.
Not that Mr.. 81 npson was, by any means,
inseusible to female fascination he was. I'M
fortunately, for his own peace OF mind, some.
what too susceptible; an ardent adnirer OF
beauty in all its hues and varieties, from the
fair maidens of the pale North, to the richer
glow of the sunny South. But the care and
Surveillance of his honored father, joined to
constitutional tnidity he was quite unable
to overcome, had, however, sufficed, during
that gentleman's lifetime, to prevent rash
impulse from eventuating in rash deed. tie
was, also, l must mention, extremely iasti,
dious in his notions Of feminine delicacy aud
reserve: and his especial antipathies were
red hair. or any hue approaching to red, and
obliauity Of vision of the slightest kind. such
was the Mr. Robert Simpson who, about two
o'clock On the afternoon Of March the st.
lS47. stepped, richly and +scrupuionsiy at
tired. into a brougham, specially retained to
convey him to dine at his friends, Mr.. John
Puekf0rd's modest, but comfortable estab'
Heh,nent at Mile End, where he was, by ex,
press arrangement, to meet his expected, eX-
pectant bride. Before, however, relating
what there befell him, it will be necessary to
out the reader in possession OF certain I'M
portant incidents which had occurred during
the three previous days.
On the eyef1 IL Of the preceding Tuesday
Mr.. simpson, finding himself at the East enc
of the town, and, moreover, strongly dis
posed for a cup of tea and quiet gossip, re-
solved to s'drop in" upon his new acIuaint
ance. Mr.. John Puckford. hoping to find hin
and his wife alone. In this, however, he was
doomed to disappointment; for he had scarce
withdrawn his hand from the knOcker, 'shcr
be was startled-Mr. Simpson was, as have
before limited, sngularly bashiul person il
the presence of the fairer and better half :"
Sreaiiou-by the sound Of female voices i-s'
ING, in exltberant merrimcnt. from the 1r"h'
parior. There was company, 1t was evident
and Mr.. simpsons first impulse was I" lily
As the thought crossed his mind, the dool
oseued. and Mr.. Puck!ord. who CHANGED t,
be in the passage, espying him, lie was fain t.
make a virtue of necessity, aud was speedily
IN the midst of the party whose sayety had Il
alarmed him. That the introduction wa'
managed in the usual way. have no doubt
bat the names, however distinctly uttered
seem to have made no impression upon tht
sopiused brain of the bashful visitor, so that
When. after the lapse Of a few minutes, he be
can to recover his conlpOsure, he found him
self In the presence of three ladies and one
gentleman, of whose names, as well as per
sohs, he was profoundly ignorant. The Ia
dies were two Of Mr.. Puckiord's married sis
ters, aud Miss Fortescue, young lady o
reduced fortune, at present occupied as 8
,eaeher in a neighboring seminary. Tie
dentlsman was MI. Alfred Gray, bachelor
Ike Mr.. Simpson, but nothing like so old
and scarcely SO bashtul. Mrs. Frazier, the
eldest of the two sisters. a charming lady
ike person, Of, you would say, judging from
sppeafances, twenty-three or twenty-fn,l
wears of aye, seenea-after sDme oscillation
ietveea her and Mrs. Holland, whose fuller
vFeportions, dark hair, and brunette COM
plexisn. contrasted not uuiavOrabiy with the
lighter figure and fair features Of her sister
to engross Mr. Simpsons whole attention,
and to arouse. after a while, all his cOnycrsa-
sonai energies, which, by the way, were by
no means contemptible. Mr.. simpson g time
was come, ere couple Of hours had fed, the
hapless ircDmonger Was hunt past all sur
gery; had fallen desperately in love with a
married lady, and the mother OF three OF four
children! On the only single female pres
ent, Miss Foitescue, Mr.. simpson had be-
l,,t oil at.t mart
paent that had been quite sufficient to check
any desire for a more intimate peresal at tea-
lures. The LADY combined his tw1 antip-
atbies; her hair was decidedly red; and a
strong cast. to use a mild term. dctracted
from the uncommon brilliancy 81 her mind
CHANGING eve. She took yery slight part in
the conversation; and that little, 50 abb
sorbed was Mr.. simpson, VAS by him ut
terly UNDECIDED. She wore, like her friend
Mrs. Frazier. a plaid dress, and the hariis'
NAL name CT both was MARY.
The ladies DEPARTED carly. and Mr.. -imp.
son and Mr.. Gray followed their example a
few minutes afterward. Mr.. Gray" said
the former gentleman, az he took leave 81
bis companion at the end Of the street, .'whai
is that charming PERSONS name? | have
forgotten it,"
(which charming person." inquired Mr.
Alfred Gray, with n quiet smile.
This Mr. simpson thought very absurd
question he, however, replied-'.the lad,
in the plaid dress; Mary, Nrs. Puckiorf
called her,
1.-THE lady in the plaid dress, whom Mrs
Puckford called Mary, is Miss Fortescue
she is a teacher of music and dancing, /.
rejoined Mr. Gtay with demure accent. II
was too dark for sir. Simpson to see his
ewes.
.'Thank you, SIR; good night" rejoine(
the enamorcd municipal dignitary. MIR. Slmp
son was soon nj ionie, and before an houi
had elapsed. had careful i renned, ana posted
with his own hands, a letter Ia his sriens
P,lckford. He then retired In bed, anu .irea,n
dreams.
SARAH" said Mr.. PHcklort, the next morn
S..n To his wife afIer reading a letter lust de