The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-05-06
Simpsons Proposal.

nVe, was SJlll Dacnelor ana noU only I'M
appropriated, but, as word run or reported,
unpromised at perfect liberty, in fact, to
bestow himself, his very desirable stock in
trade, business premises, and freehold
houses in the Poultry, upon any fair lady
fortunate enough to engage his affection,
and able to return it.
Not that Mr.. Simpson was, by any
MEANS insensible to female fascination he
was, unfortunately for his peace of mind,
somewhat too susceptible an ardent adj
mirer of beauty in all it's hues and vari-
cites, 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 constitu-
tional timidity he was quite unable to over
come, had, however, sufficed, during that
gentleman's lifetime to prevent rash i'm
pulse from eventuating in rash deed. He
was Also / must mention, extremely fas-
tidious in his notions of feminine delicacy
and reserve and his special antipathies
were red hair, or any hue approaching to
red, and obliquity in vision of the slightest
kind. Such was the Mr.. Robert Simpson
who, about two o clock on the afternoon of
March the 1st, 1s47, stepped richly and
scrupulously attlred, into a brougham,
specially retained to convey him to dine at
his friends Mr.. John Puckford's modest,
but comfortable establishment at Mile
End, where he was, by express arrange
ment, to meet his expected bride. Before,
however, relating what their befell him, it
will be necessary to put the reader in pos
session of certain important instances
which had occurred during the three pre-
vious days.
On the evening of the preceding Tuesday
Mr.. Simpson finding himself at the East
end Of the town, and, moreover, strongly
disposed for a cup of tea and quiet gossip,
resolved to "drop in" upon his new ac-
quaintance, John Puckford, hoping to find
him and his wife alone. In this, however he
was doomed to disappointment for he had
scarcely withdrawn his hand from the
knocker, when he was startled-Mr. Simp-
son was as have before intimated, sing
ularly bashful person in the presence of
the fairer and better half of creation-by
the sound Of female voices issuing in ex-
uberant merriment, from the front parlor
There was company it was evident, and
Mr.. Simpsons first impulse was TO fly. AS
the thought crossed his mind, the door
opened, and Mr.. Puckford, who chanced
TO be in the passage, espying him, he was
fain to make virtue of necessity, and was
speedily in the midst OF the party whose
gaiety had so alarmed him. That the in
PRODUCTION was managed in the usual way,
have no doubt, but the names, however
distinctly uttered, seem to have made no
impression upon the confused brain Of the
bashful visitor, 80 that, when, after the
lapse of a few minutes, he began to recover
his composure, he found himself in the
presence Of three ladies and one gentle.
man of whose names, as we'll as persons
he was profoundly ignorant. The ladies
were two Of Mr.. Pucl1ford's married sisters
and Miss Fortescue, a young lady of re-
duced fortune, at present occupied as {
teacher IN a neighboring seminary. The
gentleman was Mr. Alfred Gray, a bachelor
like Mr.. Simpson, but nothing like so old
and scarcely SO bashful. Mrs. Frazier, th,
eldest of the two sisters, charming lady
like person, Of, you would say judging from
appearances, twenty-tbree or twenty-fou
years of age, seemed, after some oscillia
tion between her and Mrs Holland, who's
fuller proportions, dark hair, and brunett
complexion, contrasted not unfavorabl
with the lighter figure and fair features t.
her sister-to engross Mr.. Simpsons Who'll
attention, and to arouse after awhile all hi
conversational powers, which, by the way
were by no means contemptable. MI
Simpsons time had come, ere a coupl
of hours had fled, the hapless ironmonge
was hurt past all surgery; had fallen def
perately in love with a married lady, an
the mother of three or four childrenl o
the only single female present, Miss Fol
tescue, Mr.. Simpson had bestowed but on
glance ON entering the apartment ths
had been quite sufficient to check any d'
sire for more intimate perusal of features
The lady combined his two antipathies
her hair was decidedly red a strong cas-
TO use mild form, detracted from the III