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


ran 1t over in my mind without the use
of the pencil, and gave the total. 1t
differed few cents, the advantage be-
ing In Mrs. Bland's favor.
" 1t is trife in error, Mrs. Bland,
but the people are honest. 1t should be
$2S.67, instead of $685."
never could remember the figures
pray set them down. 1t will give Mr..
Bland so much pleasure to know that I
have my bill exactly right. He is such
strict man of business"
Willingly" replied, and I wrote
at the foot of the bill, $2S.67. Korrect."
Thanks" said Mrs. Bland. "What
wonderful head you have for figures"
She scrutinized the bill closely. "And
what a queer way of making sevensl 10
ooh in the bank am in do little
else than add up figures for hours at
stretch. There is nothing queer about
my sevens. always cross my sevens.
Then 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 5 or 3, look at mine-such
wormy, twisting things. Look,'' and
Mrs. Bland drew the numerals.
They are quite ludicrous, indeed"
1 said. "There, make your 3 this way,
and dont't bring the tail of your be-
low the line, like French s." and L
made the figures.
"Thanks, for the lesson. L will de-
tain you no longer. 1 must go now and
pay my bill-$2S,6 81, you say ?"
With bow 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 cooked for
supper, 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 moonlit one, Mrs. Bland
| fingered on the veranda. l was smoking
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" 1
said.
do, I do," said Mrs. Bland, quick
ly, with a certain amount of expansive
ness. She rose from her chair and held
out her hand, and it fairly trembled. L
was surprised. What possible sympa-
thy could there exist between us
did not care to even have passing flirta-
ton with her. How the deuce had my
fish called for SO marked an expression
on Mrs. Blsnd's part ?"
{" Five blue fish, which would weigh
80 pounds, not counting the weak-fish,
and dab or so," said, in the most
commonplace way.
Yes, yes," said Mrs. Bland apparent
ly absorbed.
But have broken my squid, my
best one, and would really like to bor-
row hook or so from you to make an
other. Could you really lend me some
hooks until L send to New York ?''
Willingly. Wait here moment"
and Mrs. Bland rose and went down the
hall to her room. Just then David the
colored waiter, came in with telegraph
ic message for Mrs. Bland. She return
ed at once, and took the message, read
it under the hail lamp; then she went
to her room.
"David," I asked of the waiter, g l
did not know that you could telegraph
to such an out-of-the-way place as
this ?''
cit amt often that it is done, Sir.
The telegrah 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."
1t was none of my business how Mrs.
BANDS message came, though now 1
remember that on hotel bill there were
a number of charges for telegraphic
messages. In a moment more Mrs.
Bland was down stairs, holding in her
hand quite number of large hooks. 1t
was not my fault, but the elady had taken
up with the package small fly-hook,
which as she opened the parcel, pune
tured rosy first finger, so that drop
of blood started. 81 am so sorry" L
said NAV i not tie this handkerchief