The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-05-06
0be 0im1es, Mem BLOOMFIELD, 1)a.

tremendous obligation on u |
civic dignitary worth at least twenty thou
sand pounds, by accepting him for hus-
band That was quite clear, and although |
Mr.. Simpson was too much in love to deny
such a proposition in the abstract, still it |
was, he thought, scarcely consistent with
maiden modesty to state it so very broadly.
Notwithstanding his amazement, Mr.
Simpson, as soon as he recovered his breath
continued, so wen had he studied for the
occasion, to get out a sentence OF two about
the superiority of connubial to single bless
edness. This sentiment also met with
ready acquiescence.
"Oh, dear yes" said Mr.. Frazier; "I
would not have been an old maid for the
world ~ 1f5i i..ns .4 a
"Well, " thought the astonished admirer
of feminine reserve, almost doubling the
evidence of his ears, this certainly is the
frankest maiden ever conversed with"
A considerable pause followed. Mrs.
Frazier seated upon sofa, played with
the luxuriant automatically auburn =
tresses of her nephew Alfred.
ga handsome boy" at length remarked
Mr. Simpson; "It's a pity that he hasn't
different colored hair"
GA pity exclaimed the lady; ." think
it beautiful. "And, added she, looking
the astonished man somewhat sternly in
the face, l should be we'll pleased if all our
children had hair of the same color"
This was a climax t! Simpson leaped to
his feet as if impelled by the shock of a
galvanic battery. "Our children" Well,
after that But / must be dreaming"
thought the fastidious ironmonger, as he
wiped the perspiration from his teeming
forehead; "Laboring under some horrid
enchantment." Dreaming indeed, and to
be swiftly and rudely awakened. The door
opened, and gentleman entered whom
Mrs. Frazier Immediately introduced with
=" Mr. Simpson my husband, Mr. Fra
zier."
The blow was terrific. Simpson stag
gered back as if he had been shot. He
glared alternately at the husband and wife
for a few seconds; then, pale as his shirt
collar, tottered to a chair, and sinking into
it, calculated with white lips, "Oh p
"What is the matter, sir; you look i'll ?''
said Mr.. Frazier.
The bewildered man made no reply. His
brain was whirling. "Who on earth, then
have / been courtingp
A loud knock at the street door some
what aroused him. "My sister, dare
say" exclaimed Mrs. Frazier
Her sister Possibly his Mary might be
the brunette; and yet-there were but three
females present on that fatal evening, be.
sides Mrs. Puckford, that he distinctly re-
menbered, and perhaps-vain hope the
door opened and the brunette and two
gentlemen entered--"Mr. and Mrs. Holland
and Mr.Alfred Gray"
An illusion was now over He Rober
Simpson, wealthy tradesman, respected
fishmonger and common councilman, wal
the betrothed husband of red-haired dam
sci, with decided cast, with whom, more
over, he had never exchanged a sentence
His first impulse, as the certainty of hi
miserable fate flashed upon him, was tt
strangle Alfred Gray, out of hand as th,
author of his destruction, when fortuhatel,
another rap-tap arrested his fell intent.
"Miss Fortescue at last" cried Mrs
Frazier, as if announcing glad tidings.
"ohr calculated the accepted suitor
falling nervously back into the seat iron
which he had just risen" Oh"
, He was seized with sort of vertigo; ant
what occurred, or how he behaved for
, considerable interval, he never distinct,
remembered. He was, however, soon seat
, ed at the table by the side of his affianceC
bride, Mr. Puckford saying grace. Thi
, was the actual state of affairs; but poo
Simpsons impression at that moment was
! that he had been led out to sudden exc
cution by an enormous Jack Ketch, witt
red hair and .fiightful squint, and that hi
, friend Puckford was the chaplain reading
! the funeral service. Gradually, however
his brain cleared, he grew more collected
Q and considering the suddenness of the shoe
he had endured, rallied wonderfully, and h
was enabled to address few words G
/ course to Miss Fortescue, in almost
l cheerful voice and manner. The lady
: answer was uttered in the gentlest, sweet
est tones he had ever listened to, and MI
/ Simpson was a connoisseur in voices, TIL
a conversation continued became general
Q and the dinner, commenced so inauspic
! iously, passed off, considering all things rt
: markably WELL After dinner, Miss Fortei
o,,o har friands who oraatlv aetaaua