The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-11-02
MRS. BLAND.

had the advantages of quiet and seclu-
sion. 1t was an uut-of-the-way place on
the Sound, which | believed then | had
almost discovered. There was a modest,
countrified hotel, where food and mos
quitoes might be had at minimum of
cost. With two weeks holiday and an
exceedingly moderate amount of money
to devote to my pleasures, after due con-
sideration, | had selected Ripping Beach
for my fairing. AS third clerk in the
bank, my vacations were few and far be-
tween, and | had determined to make the
best of the occasion. When Mr.. How
land, the assistant teller, whose business
1t was to pay the employees their salaries,
had given me my check, he had casually
asked me where | was going, and expa-
tiated on the charms of Ripping Beach,
and its being one of the lost places on
Long Island.
Visitors at the Beach House were,
though goodish people, not congeniai. |
was Indifferent, however, to society.
Boatmen and fishermen were my boon
companions. | had been week at Rip
pling Beach when | became acquainted
with Mrs Bland. This lady was late
arrival How | came to talk with Mrs.
Bland | can hardly tell. | rather think
that, hearing the lady express desire to
see a city paper, / gave her Times, and
in this way some commonplace CONVEX
sation had commenced. 4 certain pleas
ant way the woman had, fairly we'll
bred manner, a disinclinatiOn to indulge
in tittle-tattle with the rest of the
boarders, made her society rather agreea-
BILE then otherwise. Mrs. Bland was
diminutive, had a graceful figure, and
dressed in quiet taste. Though Mrs.
Agnes Bland was fully 80, she impressed
me with a certain childishness of ex-
preston, in which vague description |
trust | am not paraphrasing Mr.. Bret
Harte. The lady's eyes were of pale
blue, without fxity of glance. No one
would ever have been rude enough to
even attempt to stare Mrs. Bland out of
cOuntenance. 1t would have been APP
parently, too easy thing to do. With
having evasive eyes, they seemed sub
dued and the least bit furtive. An i'm
mense volume of fair, blonde hair which
she wore in one big braid, added most
essentially TO her charms. For any trait
Of tixity of purpose in Mrs. BANDS
regularly oval face, the only indication
of it was a slight wrinkle of the fore
head between the eyes. Such burrows
had, however, no permanence. You
might see such little winrows on child's
face when some passing matter for a
brief moment had enraged its scattered
wits. Conversationally, Mrs. Bland was
fairly amusing. Educated she was not;
but having a good amount of intuitive
perception, her remarks were clear and
defined. 1t was the day after | mad
given her the paper, when | said to Mrs
Bland, Has your budget failed to reach
you? 1t is one of the annoyance of an
out-of-the-way place. Mails are dilatory,
or come in patches"
"What do you know about my mail?"
asked Mrs. Bland, the little wrinkles
roughening her forehead
Why, Mrs. Bland" | replied, eff
you do not receive many letters, at least
you have famous collection of news
papers coming to you every day-at
least a Dozen
How do you know that?"
The only grocery man in the little
town, who sells me fish-hooks, is the
postmaster. l 90 there early in the
morning, before the mail is sent to the
hotel The grocer generally runs the
whole mail, before me, into a bushel
basket, prior to handing me nv occa-
sional correspondence. see Mrs. Agnes
Bland on ever so many journals. Have
| the honor of addressing lady CORE
Spondent-a literary woman?"
Nonsense! what an ideal My hus-
band sends the papers to me. 1t is a
delicate attention on his part. In read
ing them time passes away during his
absence" Then there is a Mr.. Bland, |
said to myself
4 expect Mr. Bland will be here in a
few days. | hope you will like him. He
is great fisherman. Now, notice you
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 here every
season, do you not?"
No; this is the first time in my life.
Good morning, Mrs. Bland, and thanks
for your offer"
Good morning, sir; but excuse me a
moment Would you kindly look at
this bill of mine the office clerk has sent
me? | am an idiot about accounts.
Here are some items which | have nc
doubt are correct, with express charges
on some trunks and things paid for by
the office, and the string of figures puz.
zles me. Then the handwriting is SO
bad. Would you, now, just make the
addition for me? Oh! | amt afraid of
your looking at the bill. There are no