The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-09-24
Mr.. .Warden's Caller.
iAhIAmnsing Leap year st0ry.V


ofbeing six feet high, with black, wayy
hair, and complexion as delicate as girls
if he must be struck dumb every time he
ran, a foul of French bonnet with pretty
face inside of itP Not that the will was
lacl1ing--Charley would have given all he
was worth and snug little fortune It was,
too, to be able to chatter to the girls, like
young Tompkins, who was red haired and
lively on his wits. For instance when Miss
Laura Tyler softly insinuated, with aglance
through her dark eye-lashes, 'sthat she
was sure Mr.. Warden would never be mar
ried unless some lady reversed the natural
order ofthings, and proposed to him, ;" he
hadn't even the presence Of mindto tell
that this was Leap Year, and he was quite
disengaged, but sat blushing and lstaring at
the carpet thinking what to say, until some
young miscreant or other carried the cherry
checked Laura off TO polka. And that's
the way he generally managed affairs--al-
ways thought of plenty Of smart things he
might have said, when the time for saying
them was past. .lH 2.m u
All these matters was Charley ruminat-
ing over as he stood on the marble paved
hall of his residence, drawing on a pair Of
Jouvin's gloves so as to promenade Broad
way in the height of the fashion, when
there came a resonant and peremptory ring
at the door bella ring which sounded as
though somebody outside had got hold of
the bell knob and meant to jerk away stead
lily until the door opened. Charley obeyed
the summons with his gloves half on; he
didn't know what might be the consequent
ces of longer delay. tipui. t
There stood lady, angular and vixenish
looking, with sharp nose, and thin, screw
ed up mouth. She held a band box under
either arm, and had settlement of bas-
kets, carpet bags and brown paper parcels
ranged on the doorstep before her. Charley
eyed her in silent CONSERVATION, actually not
knowing VIII at to say. The sharp nosed
damsel, however, was suffering under nc
no such embarrassment, for she immedi-
ately demanded in shrill voice: raas
Do the Warden folks live here?'' Z. ~
eyes, MAMA" said Charley resignedly.
| IaTben I ouess I'll come inn said the
lady shouldering her parcels and pushing
past our hero with an independent manner
which there was no gain saying. Mr.. War
den thought it was useless to stem the
current of events, SO he opened the drawing
room door and invited her in, as courteous
ly as possible under the circumstances, Z.
| ""Well," " said the invader, 81 guess
may as well; the sooner our little busines
is over the better. How many are there il
the family r. gO0r gTy4nJ
"She can'tbe the census taker y In
wardly calculated Charley, las he made ans
wer. " My mother and myself; but really
don't see-"'
e"You be bachelor ?'' 7 '.ie7'' y ,..
eyes" said the youth turning very red
shut ,t 1s'is srsf r.
swell" said the lady, 81 came fron
Westchester county. My name is Matld'
Ann Higgens."
No doubt" said Charley, politely, ''bu
lrealiy don't see IN what all TINS conce IN
me !" it
"Justiwait and see; i heered you wan
married, and hadn't any body to over SCI
for you, and your mother was delicate, SO
thought I'd come down and see how L,
suit.p ir n /. , s....
Ahorrible suspicion began TO dawn O
Mr.. Warden's mind he burst into col
perspira tiense 1 sIifs tSs>