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

washerwomen." Mrs. Bland had hang
ing from her neck delicate chain, and
among numerous rafting appendages
there was a dainty gold pencil With
as pretty dimpled white hand as / ever
saw, she bent over and offered the pencil.
The calculation was so simple that |
ran it over in my mind without the use
of the pencil, and gave the total. 1t
differed few cents, the advantage being
in Mrs. BANDS favor.
"It is a trife in error, Mrs. Bland, but
the people are honest. 1t should be
$28.67, instead of $3.50"
al never could remember the figures
pray set them down. 1t will give Mr..
Bland so much pleasure to know that |
have my bill exactly right. He is such
strict man of business"
Willingly" | replied, and wrote at
the foot of the bill, "$28.67. Korrect."
Thanks" said Mrs. Bland. "What
wonderful head you have for figures"
She was scrutinizing the bill closely.
" And what queer way of making
seyensW
ooh, in the bank | am in I do little
else then add up figures for hours on a
stretch. There is nothing queer about
my sevens. | always cross my sevens.
Then they do not look like ones. In a
great many banking houses in New York
that is the rule. Scientific calculators
always use the crossed sevens."
"Ah, indeed. If you want to see a
ludicrous or 3, look at mine-such
wormy, twisting things. Look" and
Mrs. Bland drew the numerals.
&C FThou ORC oI1ita l1HiaroI ipIaaJ +
said. "There, make your this way,
the line, like a French s." and / made
the figures.
Thanks, for the lesson. | will detain
you no longer. L must 60 now and pay
my bill-$2S.67, you say?'
With bow / left Mrs. Bland, and,
hurrying to the waterside, got my boat,
and was off after blue-fsh. had better
luck than usual, and brought home that
afternoon some fine blue-fsh and weak
fish. l had the best fish cooked for
supper, a portion of which | sent to Mrs.
Bland, who seemed to partake of it with
relish. | was not idiot enough to think
though it was three years ago, that the
lady was especially pleased with me for
the attention, but in the evening, fine
moonlight one, Mrs. Bland fingered on
the veranda. | was smoking a cigar,
seated at the bottom Of the steps, within
speaking distance of her.
You very kindly offered me the use
of Mr.. BANDS tackle. Now, you have
not congratulated me on my luck" l
said.
do, do" said Mrs. Bland queitly,
with certain amount of expansiveness.
She rose from her chair and held out
her hand, and it fairly trembled. | was
surprised. What possible sympathy
could their exist between us? | did not
care even to have a passing Irritation
with her. How the deuce had my fish
called for so marked an expression on
Mrs. BANDS part?
Five blue-tish, which would weigh 80
pounds, not counting the weak, and a
dab or so" | said, in the most common
place way.
Yes, yes" said Mrs. Bland, appar-
emily absorbed.
Bnt | have broken my squid, my
best one, and | would really like to Dor
row hook or so from you to make
another. Could you really lend me some
hooks until | send to New York;"
Willingly. Wait here a moment"
and Mrs. Bland rose and went down the
hall to her room. Just then David, the
colored waiter, came in with a telegraph
ic message for Mrs. Bland. She returned
at once, and took the message, read it
under the hall lamp; then she went to
her room.
"David," | asked of the waiter, 81
did not know that you could telegraph
to such an out-of-theway place as this?"
1t amt often that it is done, sir. The
telegraph station on the road is fourteen
mile from here, but you can get mes
sages sent by the coach-tho' Mrs. Bland's
message comes by horseback, with man
a-kising."
1t was none Of my business how Mrs.
BANDS message came, though now | re-
member that on her hotel bill there were
quite a number of charges for Geographic
messages. In moment more Mrs. Bland
was down stairs, holding in her hand
quite a number of large hooks. 1t was
not my fault, but the lady had taken up
with the package a small fy-hook, which,
as she.opened the parcel, punctured her
rosy first finger, so that drop of blood
started. 81 am so sorry" [ said, may
/ not tie this handkerchief around it,"
What, with the hook in my finger?
Pull it out! Please, no fuss" Here
Mrs. BANDS face looked rigid, and the
wrinkles between her eyes made series
of archings.
"But, but" l exclaimed, really dis
turbed, az can't pull it out. Can you
bear the merest cut with my penknife?'
"Can [? Nonsense, of course l can, J"
and she held out taper white finger,
and l felt my heart sink with me as |
made careful probe, and, fortunately,
extricated the barb, drew out the hook,
which l deliberately put in my pocket
book. Would Mrs. Bland faint now?
| asked myself
"a glass of water?" I said anxiously.
"What for? To dip my finger in?
Ridiculous! | will put it in my mouth.
Please do not destroy your pocket hand
kerchief. You will excuse my sucking
my thumb like a baby while | talk.
There, it is all over now, young gentle
man. | never scream at mouse, go
into mysteries over a caterpillar, and do
not blink at lightning"
You are a very brave little woman
then. Here, take this Geographic mes
sage which you have dropped" and
handed the message to her..
II heard the waiter tell you, / re-
eeived ten messages day. Now you
can put that together with my dozen
newspapers p
81 cannot-dare not do it. 1t is not
any of my business, Mrs. Bland. | am
| not curious" | replied.
"Well. | am-very much so-and my