The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-12-03
THE DETECTIVES WIFE.

MlTH TWO weeks hoiiuay ana at eN-
Wv ceedingly moderate amount of
money to devote to my pleasures, after
due consideration, had selected Rip
pling Beach for my airing. AS third
clerk in the bank, my vacations were
few and far between, and 1 had deter
mined to make the best of the occasion.
When Mr.. Harland, the assistant teller,
whose business 1t was to pay the en-
ployes their salaries. had given me my
check, he had casually asked me where
was going, and / had expatiated on
the charms of Ripping Beach, and its
being one of the best places on Long
Island.
Visitors at the Beach House were,
though goodish people, not congenial. 1
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 to Mrs. Bland l
can hardly tell. L rather think that,
hearing the lady express desire to see
City paper, l had handed her one, and
in this way some commonplace conyer-
sation had commenced. A certain pleas
ant way the woman had, fairly we'll
bred manner, a disinclination TO indulge
in tittle-tattle with the rest of the board
ers, made her society rather agreeable
than otherwise. Mrs. Bland was dimin-
utive had graceful figure, and dressed
in quiet taste. Though Mrs. Agnes
Bland was fully thirty, she impressed
me with certain childishness of ex-
preston, in which vague description l
trust am not paraphrasing Mr.. Bret
Harte. The lady's eyes were of pale
blue, without fixity 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
out having evasive eyes, 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.
If there was any trait of fixity of pur-
pose in Mrs. BANDS regularly oval
face, the only indication of it was a
slight wrinkling of the forehead be-
tween the eyes. Such furrows, had,
however, no permanence. You might
see such little winrows on child's face
when some passing matter for a brief
moment had engaged its scattered wits.
Conversationally, Mrs. Bland was fairly
amusing. Educated she was not; but
having good amount of intuitive per-
ception, her remarks were clear and de-
fined. 1t was the day after had given
her the paper, when L said to Mrs.
Bland, Has your budget failed to reach
you? 1t is one of the annoyances of
an out-of-the-way place. Mails are dila-
tory, or come in batches."
"What do you know about my mail ?"
asked Mrs. Bland, the little wrinkles
roughening her foreheard
"Why, Mrs. Bland" 1 replied, eff
you do not receive many letters, at least
you have famous collection of news
papers coming to you every day-at
least Dozen"
"How do you know that ?'
THE only grocery man in the little
town, who sells me fish hooks, is the
postmaster. L go 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 my OCCASION
al correspondence and see Mrs. Agnes
Bland on ever so many journals. Have
1 the honor of add ressing lady cores
pondent-a literary women ?"
b" Nonsense! what an idea! 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 Mr.. Bland,
said to myself.
81 expect Mr.. Bland will be here in a
few days. l hope you will like him.
He is a great fisherman. Now, notice
you carry a fishing pole to the water-side
every morning and bring back nothing
My husband has sent his fishing tackle
down, so if you want hooks or lines L
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
q nnnment ANnnld Won kindIu look nt