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

tended any abs urd flatteryPv
"Not at all, Simpson didn't suppose
anything of the sort assure you"
"To be sure nothing is more contempt
able. You are good-looking fellow
very; but, Of, course, could not mean
that you, a man, are to be compared to
Mary Fortescue."
"I should think not y dryly responded
the more mystifed and bewildered Puck
ford.
Exactly you do not resemble each
other about the eyes, either in color or ex-
preston. t7 Hr
ooh r' tr rid"fai
"No as to hair, T" continued Mr.. Simp-
son, meditatively, "yours there can be no
doubt, is decidedly the lightest."
''It's coming now,'' thought Mr. John
Puckford, grasping at the same time one
of the decanters, and envying his friend
intensely. N'
Mr.. Simpson, quite misinterpreting the
the action, added quickly "Do, my good
fellow, fill me a bumper, and we'll drink
to our good-looking friends health-the
lady, mean, with the dark, silky hair,
and brunette complexion. Do you know"
continued the complacent Mr.. Simpson,
crossing his legs, throwing himself back
easily in his chair and hooking his thumbs
to the arm-holes of his waistcoat-" do you
know that if Mary Fortescue had not been
at your house yesterday evening, might
have"
What the worthy ironmonger might in
the case supposed, have done or said must
be left to the readers imagination, for on
the instant q clerk hurriedly entered the
apartment to announce that an important
customer awaited Mr.. Simpson in the
counting room below. Hastily rising, Mr..
Simpson shook hands with his friend, and
both departed their several ways-Mr.
Puckford bearing off the epistle addressed
to Miss Fortescue, and musing, as he went
upon the lovers madness, which he fully
agreed with Rosalind, deserved chains and
a dark house quite as much as any other
variety of this disease.
The next day Mr.. Simpson received a
note from Mary Fortescue, modestly and
gracefully expressed, in which, with charm
ing humility, and many expressions of
gratified surprise, the offer of his hand was
-one on condition, to be explained, but
which rested altogether with himself
gratefully accepted.
Such was the state of affairs when, on
the list of. March, Mr.. Simpson, as have
before stated, entered u brougham and di-
rected the driver to make the best of his
way to Mile End. 1t was a fine, bright and
exceedingly cold day; but Notwithstanding
the nipping, eager air, the love-lorn ironmon-
ger, as he approached the house which con-
tanned his charmer, was in state of profuse
perspiration and nervous excitement. Once
more he drew from his pocket the fairy
note and glanced over the modest, graceful
delicately, feminine expressions. "Dear
lady," he audibly exclaimed, as he finished
about the five hundreth perusal of the fa-
milar lines, "dear lady, she will be all
tears and tenderness -
About minute after giving utterance
to this consolatory reflection, Mr.. Simpson
found himself in Mrs. Puckford's presence
who congratulating him on his punctuality
and pointing to the door of the front apart
ment, said, "there is only one lady there,
and you know her." Mr.. Simpsons heart
leaped and thumped, as if desirous of burst.
ing through his green velvet waistcoat He
stepped desperately toward the door and
essayed to turn the brass handle but sc
/ profusely did the bashful mans very fingers
perspire, that they slipped round the knoll
without turning ID The second trial, with
the help of his cambria handkerchief, was
more successful, and the lover was in the
presence of the lady.
5 Certainly it was she Mrs. Frazier, the
. hapless Simpsons Mary Fortescue, wai
3 there in bodily reality But the grateful
\ humility, the tears and tenderness" PR
S figured by the charming note "Oh, AL
fred Greyp'
:. The unruffled ease, the calm, reserved
S politeness with which Mrs. Frazier received
!. him, chilled his enthusiastic fervor won
: derfully.
: His perspiration became cold one, ant
S in few moments he felt as if enveloped il
: coatings and leggings of Wenham LAX
ice. Recovering as speedily as he coul'
: fromithe shock Of this unexpected recep
tion, Mr., Simpson stammered forth some
:. thing about his extreme good fortune il
g having obtained a favorable response from
o so amiable a person, etc.