Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-01-01
AKISs AND DITS CONSEQUENCES;
Or, How Mr.. Pickleby Came t. be FIsgzed

Our boarding house Is not a common board
ing house, nor are our boardsrs common board
ers. / do not by this wish to convey the idea
that there is anything peculiarly uncommon
about Us or our hOuse-Only that we reside in
an aristOcratic portion of the town. and con-
slider ourselves on the whole, rather a select set
But, however select a company may be, the
fact that they are select is not an infallible
proof that nothing disreputabls can occur
among them.
This has been especially proven in our case
We have just been deeply agitsted, excited
shocked! Happily for the reputation of our
pace, the affair Of which speak had graft
tying termination.
In our boarding house resided an inveterate
old bachelor named Wigley. Mr. WigIey is
by nc means such pers IN as some people in
vsriahy represent old bachelors to be, neither
in appearance nor disposition. He is a portIy,
midde-'ged, good -natured fun-loving So
oiable fdlow, and likes the society of ladies
far bette than three-fourths of the married
men. NJ and Mrs. Pickleby are also of our
company the former, a commission merchant
is a very ,uiet and a very respectable sort of
man; exceedingly fond of his wife, and withal,
little indined to jealousy; the latter is a
beautiful md afectiOnate creature, who dotes
upon her hsband, and ism t jealous at all
One day last week, Miss Celestia Nobbs-
another OF bur boarders, aDd maiden lady of
thirty-fve r therea bouts-heard noise in the
sho leaEedover the banisters, to see what was
the cause Of IT. She dstended her stork- like
neck its utmost limit, and listened with
breatness interest.
lam so glad you are come ~ she heard
voice which she at once recognized as Mrs
PIckebys, exclaim; and the next moment
she saw that lady pass beneath her TO meet n
gentleman. Of whom she could get but par
tlai view. Then a loud kiss was given, and
Mrs. Pickleby said, in a somewhat lower tone
voice:
Come with me-come to my room-Mr.
Pickleby is at his office, and L am alone -
Then, both started to ascend the stairs, and
Miss Nobbs FASTENED to withdraw into her
room, but not before she had caught a better
glmpse OF the man who was with Mrs Pickle
by, and discovered in him, as she thought no
ether than Mr. Wigley. That gentleman had
been absent IN the country for a week, and she
1ad seen him, on his return, not more than an
hour previous, enter lis house.
Miss Celestia Nobbs is one of those pure and
immaculate beings, the chief desire of whose
hearts 1t Is that nothing sinful shall occur on
earth, and who, feeling themselves to be SPOT
less PhIlanthropically, as they seem to imag-
Inc, spend their time in prying into the affairs
Oh Other people, and debating to them the
course they should pursue.
"Ah. ha!" said the spinster. as she closed
the door OF her room, and walked. on tip-tOe to
a seat It's come to this, has il [ ALWAYS
thought there were something more than eve
rybody knew going on between the two"
She sat for half an hour in deep meditation
upon the matter, and then she arose and moved
toward the door
" Ii the wicked shameless creature thinks"
SAID Miss Nobbs to herself if she has the
falntest idea that such actions will be suffered
In this house, she will find herself mistaken.
can assure her"
She heard footsteps without, and as she passed
n hall aha hoa-
the stairs, and heard him leave the house.
Lett her, have you ~ she uttered under
her breath. Well, well, never expected to
witness such goings On-never But you re
found out-you III knOWn-both Of you -
She fastened TO the room of Miss Dobbs, on
the f0or above. Miss DObbs is q confidante of
MISS Nobbs, a few years older than herself, and
lew degrees thinner in person. Miss Nobbs
was gratlded to find Mrs. Briggs in compapy
with her friend on this occasion Mrs. Briggs.
L may as well state, H. widow lady of some
twelve years standing, who had long endeay-
Ored-it is generally believed by nearly all the
house-tO captivate and ensnare, in the mesbes
Of matrimOny, Mr.. Wigley
Miss NObbs smiled mysteriously as she en-
Tered, and carefully closing the door she seated
herself beside hor friends
:. am glad to find you together" =" she said. |
Tor have thing of the greatest Importance
to make known"
a
eager air" What isit it?''
something you'll be surprised to know
Vn' IL Is the most wonderful thing in the world
no" deceptive some people can be | never,
In all my life
breath. III "
- fhe most shamcf goinns on Won ever wit
messed, L III be sworn :" replied the excited yir
gun, In so impressive a manner that the curios-
lily OF her listeners became uncomfortable Then
Pauslng moment to let her words have full
.ehect, Miss NObbs looked solcmnly from one
to the other, and continued: will you be.
Ileve 1t, ladies, when l tell you that saw with
my own eyes Mrs. Pickleby in the hall below
with a-man1"
ou don't say, ~ uttered Miss Dobbs.
Shocking" exclaimed Mrs Briggs.
True, every word; but that isn't all. I |
heard them give kiss; and Mrs. Pickleby in
vited him to her room!''
"GracIous heavens ~ eiacuIated the listners
simultaneously. eleyating their hands in hor- |
Ior and surpr %.
les she told him she was all alone-that
nj. flckleoy was not at home-snd so, thew
went on together. Oh it's almost incredible.
such shameful conduct
lhe immodest unblushing thing,'' ex.
claimed the widow, Indignantly.
such wickedness ~ echoed Miss Dobbs
but who is it she was with ~
Mr.. Wigley"
% Is it possible ~
mrs. Briggs was stricken dumb by the an
nouncement OF the name, and for a few mo- |
menS' gave some tokens of an intention IN
s"ocn but thinking better of il she RETAINED |
.i ns Is terrible thing" said Miss Nobbs |
SSsIhesIy, ear after enjoying fully the sensation
ierrible, indeed uttered Miss Dobbs
s;s Vs W De borne, exclaimed the in
dlgnant widow, her face ASSUMING a vsrv -ps IN
soescent tint as she spoke. ''i' cru
=, II must not be borne said the snins,.,
the reputation of this house will np, sI,n,, |
sucn things to pass unnotlced,' ' a''0"
ana our own reputation" chimsd tho
rink what We should be made To sufs, >,
.Iiea the widow, "if it should become known
sn.n.', We 1--we In the midst of such in;quitous
sl characters are not to be trifed with
- exclaimed Miss Nobbs, with a defer
mined air, 3" AMI this thing must NOT be .nf.
Tered to stop here ~ su',