The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-01-18
THE STORY-TELLER.
THE SKELETON IN HIS CLOSET.

Dear what long stairs to climb, af
ter my tramp all over town Why folk.
Will persist in taking offices away UP in
the stars, l. can't see. They must be un.
commonly high-minded. 1 wish Aunt
Jemima would get her own medicine, il
she must have it, and not send me hunt
ing all over town to find her particular
female doctor, making such blunders as
l have this afternoon. I'm right now,
for this card says, Room il, Time,
building, sure enough. If l only find
Room II, I'm all right"
Miss Susie Thayne looked up the long
flight of stairs, and tucked the parcel in
Drown paper, which she carried, closer
under her arm, before attempting her
ascent: She had climbed so many flights
that afternoon in search of Miss Study,
M. d., that stair-climbing had begun to
look like quite a task. She had lost the
address Aunt Jemilna gave her, when
she started out after toothache drops for
that estimable lady, and had visited all
the principal buildings on the street in
which medical persons were apt to have
offices. At last she had happened to
meet an acquaintance who knew where
Miss Doctor Studley's' room was, and
had got on the right track, after all her
blunders.
She got up the stairs at last, and
found herself in q little hall, with rooms
on either side of it.
Here's No. lS. This one opposite
must be H." said Miss Thayne to her
self as she inspected the door-plates. Il
don't see the number, but it stands to
reason, as they are numbered across the
hall, and not one after another, that II
is opposite Is. I must be right, and I'll
go in"
The door stood partially open, and she
swung it back and entered. 1t was not
very attractive room. Papers and
books and MSS. were scattered about, in
the acme of confusion. A pair of slip
pers lay on the table, and bouquet of
flowers occupied a position in the spit
toon, which was placed on the mantel-
piece. The carpet was dusty and un-
swept. The windows We're far from
clean. The books in the cases were in
the greatest state of confusion-some on
end, some fiat, and some sideways, con-
veying the idea that they had been hav-
ing jolly time of it, and hadn't got
Strengthened out yet. Dear me" ejac-
ulated little Miss Thayne, taking look
about the premises, as she seated herself
in the one empty chair. Il never
saw such looking place before. don't
believe Miss Doctor Studley is a very
tidy person, or she'd pick up things lit
tie, and put her room to lights. It's aw-
full dirty here, an. looks like my idea of
bachelors lodgings. What slippers
Ny big enough for man do won
der if Miss Doctor Studley has feet large
enough to fill them Z And a spittoon,
made into fower-vase Dear Inc its
SO comical ~ And the amused lady be-
gan to laugh. Like enough, she
smokes"
Just then book, which had been ly-
ing in close proximity to the edge of the
table, tilted and fell to the floor. Susie
sprang to pick it up.
"' Coke upon Lyttleton,' she read
upon the back. It's law book. I
wonder if she studies law as well as med
icine. 1t can't be that I've made an
other mistake, can it, and got into law
yers office.Y 1 declare, believe l have,
for woman wouldn't endure Il room |
looking like this, I'm sure. I'll go out |
and take look at the numbers again"
Accordingly Miss Susie went out to
examine the doors again, and found out |
that she had made a mistake. She had |
supposed IL was opposite Is, when, if |
she had taken notice, she would have
found that 1t was opposite l6, the rooms |
at the head of the stairs commencing
with that number, and numbering across
the hall.
How provoking !" said Miss Susie.
as she raped at II. I'm right, now,
any way, because here's the doctors
name on the door,"
A voice said, Come in," and Susie
entered the room where Miss Elizabeth
Studley, M. D., had located herself
1t was quite different in aspect from
the room she had left The carpet was
nicely swept, and the books arranged
in their cases. The windows
were clear and polished, and there was
no sign of a spittoon, although a vase
of flowers occupied position in the CEN
tire of the little table between the win
dows
Good afternoon" said pleasant
looking little lady, not larger than Su-
sic, nor looking day older. "Sit down
and rest yourself, please you look tired"
Z" l am tired" said Susie, taking the
chair the lady offered, not at all in awe !