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


She wore, like her friend Mrs. Frazier,
plain, dress, and the baptismal name of
both was Mary.
The ladies departed early, and Mr..
Simpson and Mr.. Gray followed their ex-
ample few minutes afterwardr Mr.
Gray said the former gentleman, as he took
leave of his companion at the end of the
street, "what is that charming persons
name have forgotten it," hN ~7F
(Which charming person ? inquired Mr..
Alfred Gray, with quiet smile.
This Mr.. Simpson thought very absurd
question he, however, Replied the lady
in the plain dress Mary, Mrs. Puckford
called her." .'r
"The lady in the plain dress, whom
Mrs. Puckford called Mary, is Miss For
tescue she is teacher of music and dane
ing," rejoined Mr. Gray with demure ac-
cent 1t was too dark for Mr. Simpson to
see his eyes. tis
"Thank you sir, good night" rejoined
the enamored municipal dignitary. Mr..
Simpson was soon at home, and before an
hour had elapsed, had carefully penned,
and posted with his own hand, letter to
his friend Puckford. He then retired to
bed and dreamed dreams.
"Sarah," said Mr.. Puckford, the next
morning to his wife, after reading letter
just delivered, with perplexed expression
of countenance " did Mr.. Simpson seem to
you particularly struck with Mary Fortes-
cue yesterday EVENING""
"With Mary Fortescue? Surely not /;
why do you ask ?"
"Only that here is a letter from Simp-
stating his determination should you and
l be able to assure him, which he scarcely
ventures to hope, that she is disengaged,
to Immediately solicit her hand in mar
riage %
"Read the letter yourself. Her beauty
be observed, is, he is quite sure, her least
recommendation. Comical, isn't it P''
"Well, it is odd but she is, you know,
most amiable creature, and will make, l
am sure, an admirable wife"
"And he, too, that SO especially 1etests
red hair, or the slightest cast in the organs
of vision"
"Mary Fortescue's hair" interrupted
the wife, "can scarcely be called red; a
very deep golden color should say"
every deep, indeed-remarkably so,''
interrupted Mr.. Puckford.
"And as to the slight cast in her eyes
that no one observes after few days ac-
quaintance with her."
"I suppose we may with safe con-
science assure him she is not engaged?"
"Of course we may. It's a wonderful
match for her, and we ought do all we can
to forward it. Friday next, the list OF
March, is Alfred's birthday suppose you
ask him to dine with us on that day to
meet her. We need have only the same
party we had last evening.
This was finally agreed upon and ac.
cordngly, as seen as he had finished his
business in the city, Mr.. Puclford, previous
to returning home, called on Mr.. Simpson
He found him in a state of great excite
ment, which, however, gradually calmed
down after Mr.. Puckford's solemn assur
ance, which he gave unhesitatingly, that
the charming Mary Fortescue was certainly
: disengaged; and in his opinion, by no means
indisposed to entertain an eligible matrimo
J nial proposition. All this was balm to the
J stricken Simpson and after several fail
, ures, he at last succeeded in inditing {
formal offer of his Affection of which i'm
passioned missive Mrs. Puckford was to b,
r the bearer ; her husband undertaking tina
} she would exert all her eloquence and in
} luence to secure acceptance of the pro
D posal.
r "And now, Mr. Puckford," said Mr.
Q Simpson, "we'll have glass of wine
: and drink to the future Mrs. Simpson
health. What a charming ornament" Ii
S added, with sort of rapturous sigh, as h
s placed the decanter ON the table" what
: charming ornament she would be to thi
q fireplace p3y aituI .m nrf
0 " An odd expression that" thought MI
r Puckford, forgetting that the speaker wa
an ironmonger, and dealt in such articles
Q In fact, from the way in which Mr.. SimI
= son had been rapturizing upon Miss Fol-
n tescue's charms, doubt of his friend
r perfect sanity had sprung up in John Pucl
y ford's mind, and he shrewdly suspecte
@ that the affair would terminate in lunt
@ tico inquirendO instead of a license.
y "Do you knoT, Puckford, y said Nj
|
10 air, after the third and fourth glass"