River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-11-07
MRS. BLAND.

Ripping Beach some three years ago
had the advantages of quiet and seclusiOn.
1t was an out-of-the-way place on the
Sound. which l believed then l had al
most discovered. There vas a modest
countrifed hotel, where food and mosqui-
toes might be had at minimum of cost.
With two weeks. holiday and an exceed
inglv moderate amount of money to de.
vote to my pleasures, after due consider
alton, had selected Ripping Beach for
nv fairing. As third clerk in the bank,
nv vacations were few and far between
and | had Determined to make the best
of the occasion. When Mr.. Holland, the
assistant teller. whose business it was to
nav the employees their salaries, had given
me nv check, he had casually asked me
where was going, and had expatiated
on the charms Of Rippling Beach, and its
being one of lost places on Long Island.
Visitors at the Beach House were,
though goodish people, not congenial.
was indifferent, however, to society.
Boatmen and fisherman were my boon
companions. / had been a week at Rip
plino Beach when / became acquainted
with Mrs. Bland. This lady was late
arrival. How came to talk with Mrs.
Bland | can hardly tell. l rather think
that, hearing the lady express desire to
see a City paper, l had handed her
Times, and Ia this way some common
place conversation had commenced. 4
certain pleasant way the woman had,
fairly well-bred manner, Discrimination
to indulge in title tatile with the rest Of
the boarders, made her society rather
agreeable than otherwise. Mrs. Bland
was diminutive, had graceful figure,
and dressed in quiet taste. Though Mrs.
Agnes Bland was fully 30, she impressed
me with certain childishness of express
sion, in which vague description | trust
| am nor paraphrasing Mr.. Bret Harte.
The lady's eyes were of pale blue, with
out fxity of glance. No one would ever
have been rude enough to even attempt
to stare Mrs. Bland out OF countenan"e.
1t would have been, apparently, too easy
a thing to do. Without having evaslve
ewes, they seemed subdued and the least
bit furtive. An immense volume OF fair,
blonde hair which she wore in one big
braid, added most essentially to her
charms For any trait of tixity of pur-
pose in Mrs. BANDS regularly oval face,
the ONLY indication of it was a slight
wrinkling of the forehead between the
ewes. Such burrows had. however, no
permanence. You might see such little
winrows on a childs face when some
passing matter for brief moment had
pnoaued it's scattered wits. Converse
tionaIlv, Mrs. Bland was fairly amusing,
Educated she was not; but having good
amount of intuitive PERCEPTION, her re-
marks were clear and well defined. 1t
was the dav alter l had given her the
paper. when said to Mrs. Bland, Has
your budget failed to reach your 1t is
one of the annoyances OF an Out-o f-the-
way place. Mails are dilatory, or come
in patches.
"What do you know about my mailE
asked Mrs. Bland, the little wrinkles
xghening her forehead.
"Why, Mrs Bland" replied, "if rou
do not receive many letters, at least you
have a famous collection of newspapers
coming to you every day-at least &
dozep."
How do you know that9'
"The only grocery man In the little
town, who sells M fish-Hooks, is thu
Postmaster. l 90 there early IN the
morning, before the mail is sent to thu
hotel. The grocer generally runs the
whole mail, before me, into a bushe
basket, prior to handing me my occa'
SIGNAL correspondence. | see Mrs. Agnes
Bland on ever so many journals. Have
the honor of addressing lady correspond
ent-a literary woman9'
Nonsense! what an idea My husband
sends he papers to me. 1t is a delicate
attention on his part. In reading then
time passes away during his absence.
Then there is Mr. Bland, | said to my
self
81 expect Mr. Bland will b" here in {
few DAYS l hope YOU will like him. H'
il great fisherman. Now, notice vo'
carry a fishing pole to the water side
every morning and bring back nothing
NV husband has sent his fishing tackle
down. so if you want hooks or lines
can spare you some. You come her.
every season, do you noti'
"No; this is the first time in my life
Good morning, Mrs. Bland. and thank
for vour offer.
"Good morning, sir: but excuse me
moment. " Guild YOU kindly look at thu
bill of mine the office clerk has sent me
am an idiot about accounts. Here ar
some items which have no doubt ar
correct, with the express charges on som
trunks and things paid for by the office
ana the string of figures puzzles me
Then the handwriting is so bad. Woul'
YOU. now, Just make the addition for me
Oh! | amt afraid of you looking at tn
bill. There are no sherry Cobblers o
the account, and one does not crust mus
lin dressas to sea side washerwomen.
Mrs. Bland had hanging from her nee
delicate chain, and among numerou
rafting appendages there was dalnt
gold pencil With as pretty dimp!e
white hand as | ever saw, she Lent owe
and offered the pencil.
The calculation was so simple that
ran it over in my mind without the us
OF the pencil, and gave the total
differed few cents, the advantage bein
in Mrs. BANDS favor.
lit is trifle in error, Mrs. Bland, hl
the people are honest. IL should be SIS
81, instead of 1850
Il never could remember the tlgure
pray set them down. 1t will give NJ
Bland so much pleasure to know that II
bill is exactly right. tie Is such SUI
man of business"
"Wnlingly," I replied. and wrote
the foot of the bill, "S2S 81. korrect
Thanks" said Mrs. Bland. what
wonderful head you have for figure
She scrutinized the bill closely. "And
queer way of making sevensF
'Oh, in the bank am in [ do hii
else than add up figures for hours GA
stretch There is nothing queer abo
my savens. | always cross my scvai
Then they do not look like ones. In
great many banking houses in New Io
that is the rule. scientific calculators
WAYS use the crossed seven
aAh, indeed. If you want to see
ludIcrous 5 or 3, look at mine-su
wormy, twisting things. Look a
Mrs. Bland drew the numerals.