Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-11-01

1leb me. Inen the uhuuWIltlnB lb 30
bad. Would you, now, Just make the
addition for met Oh 1 amt afraid of
your looking at the bill. There are no
sherry cobblers on the account, and one
does not trust muslin dresses to seaside
Vasherwomen." Mrs. Bland had hang
ing from her neck a delicate chain, and
among numerous rattling appendages
there was dainty gold pencil. With
as pretty a dimpled white hand as /
ever saw, she bent over and offered the
pencil.
The calculation was 30 simple that 1
ran it over in my mind without the use
of the pencil, and gave the total. It
differed few cents, the advantage be-
ing in Mrs. Bland's favor.
1t is trifie IN error, Mrs. Bland,
but the people ara honest. It should
bo aos 81. instead Of s28. .65."
never could ra=sop,har the fiRures:
pray set them down. It will give Mr..
Bland so much pleasure to know that I
have my bill exactly right. He is such
q strict man of business"
"Willingly," 1 replied, and I wrote
at the foot of the bill, "$2s67. Kor-
rect"
"Thanks, said Mrs. Bland. "What
a wonderful head you have for figures. +"
She scrutinized the bill closely. "And
what queer way of making sevens r.
"Oh, in the bank / am in I do little
else than add up figures for hours on
stretch. There is nothing queer about
my sevens. They do not look like ones.
In great many banking-houses in New
York that is the rule. Scientific calcu.
lators always use the crossed seven"
"Ah, indeed. If you want to see
ludicrous or 3, look at mine-such
wormy, twisting things. Look" and
Mrs. Bland drew the numerals.
"They are quite ludicrous, indeed, 4"
said. "There, make your this way,
and don't bring the tail of your below
the line, like a French g." and 1 made
the figures.
"Thanks, for the lesson. will de-
tain you no longer. must go now and
pay my bill-$28. 81, you say ?"
With bow I left Mrs. Bland, and
hurrying to the water-side, got my boat
and was off after blue-fish. / had better
luck than usual, and brought home that
afternoon some fine blue-fish and weak
fish. I had the best fish cooked for
supper, a portion of which I 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 moonlit one, Mrs. Bland fingered
on the verahda. was smoking cigar,
seated at the bottom of the steps, within
speaking distance of her.
You very kindly offered me the use
of Mr.. Bland's tackle. Now, you have
not congratulated me On my luck"
said.
II do, l do" said Mrs. Bland quick
~. with n certain amount of expansive
ness. She rose from her chair and held
out her hand, and it fairly trembled. 1
was surprised. What possible sympathy
could there exist between usa I did
not care even to have passing Irritation
with her. How the deuce had my fish
called for SO marked an expression on
Mrs. BANDS part9
Five blue fish, which would weigh
thirty pounds, not counting the weak
fish, and dab or So" said, in the
most commonplace way.
eyes, yes," said Mrs. Bland, appar-
emily absorbed.
"But I have broken my squid, my
best one, and I would really like to bor-
row hook or SO from you to make an
other. Could you really lend me some
hooks until send to New York ?"
"Willingly. Wait bere moment"
and Mrs. Bland rose and went down the
hall to her room. just then David, the
colored waiter, came in with tele-
graphic 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, "I
did not know that you could telegraph
to such an out Of : the way place as
| this?"
at aint often that it is done, sir.
The telegraph station on the road is
fourteen miles from here, but you can
get messages sent by the coach-tho'
Mrs. Bland's messages comes on horse
back, with man a-kiting."
~ wac hOAO VI OuolACoo hoH NuIbs
Bland's messages came, though now
remembered that on her hotel bill there
were quite a number OF charges for tele-
graphic messages. In moment more
Mrs. Bland was down stairs, holding in
her hand quite number of large hooks.
It was not my fault, but the lady had
taken up with the package a small fly
hook, which. as she opened the parcel,
punctured rosy first finger, 80 that q
drop of blood started. 81 am so sorry"
I said, "may not tie this handkerchief
around it?"
"What, with the hook in my finger
Pull it out. Please, no FUSS" Here
Mrs. Bland's face looked rigid, and the
wrinkles between her eyes made a series
of archings. ~
"But, but" l exclaimed, really dis
turbed, "I can't pull it out. Can you
bear the merest cut with my pen.
knife
"CanI? Nonsense of course 1 can, u
and she held out taper white finger,
and I felt my heart sink within me as
made q careful probe, and fortunately
extricating the barb, drew out the hook,
which I deliberately put in my pocket
book. "Would Mrs. Bland faint nowp'
l asked myself.
"a glass of water ?" said, anxious.
ly. "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 1 talk
There, it is all over now, young gentle
J man. I never scream at mouse, go in
to Mysteries over a caterpillar, and de-
not blink at lightning"
, "You are a very brave little woman
, then. Here, take this telegraghic mes
sage which you have dropped" and
handed the message to her.