The daily gazette., 1874-12-19
The Bachelors Surprise

fiiekering sullenly through the midst,
and the wind taking one viciously as
he came around the corner. Not a
pleasant evening to assume possession
of new house, but necessity knows
no law and Mr. Barkdale put up his
night key into the rod-brick bouse 10
the middle of the block. sincerely no.
ping that his new landlady would
have common sense to light a fire in
tho crate.
"Is 1t you, sirs" Mrs. Hmm IN ouoth
beamingly. There's good fire, and
it's all right"
All right, ehs" said the bachelor.
feeling the blue tip of his frosted nose
ing frozen of entirely. hwell. lam
glad to hear that. Have the trunks
conner"
'Oh, yes sir, and the other things "
What other thingss" demanded Mr..
Barkdale.
But Mrs. Hinman purssd hes lips
up. II wasn't to tell SIR, please"
Rather an eccentric old lad, :"
thought Mr.. Barkdale, pushing past
her to the.third story front room which
he had solemnly engaged thelday be-
fore.
Ithad been rather dark and dingy lit
tie den by the light of the moon but
now. softened by the coral shine of a
we'll filled crate, it wore quite another
and brighter aspect. ~.
velvet paper on the walls gilt pan.
eling, red carpet, and Sleepy. Hollow
chair" thought Mr.. Barkdale, ,glancing
around. Not so uncomfortable after
all When I get my things dnpacked
it will seem quite homelike."
He set dawn his valiae In the corner.
deliberately opened it, took out pair
of slippers, and invested his tired feet
therein. Next he laid off his over.
coat.
"Now for a cigar" thought he.
But tho brown-layered weed was yet
In his hand. when there was a bustle.
and fiutter, and whisper, and mer.
ry noise on the landing outstde, and
the door flew open, as II by magic, to
admit half dozen blooming laughing
girls. t.. '''
Mr.. Barkdale dropped his cigar, and
retreated a step or two.
Don't be alarmed said the tallest
and prettiest Of the bevy; "It's only a
surprise"
"a very agreeable one. ph sure"
said our recovering In some degree his
presence of mind. ..
There's no mistake, hope" said a
yellow-pressed blonde. "Your name is
not GreenfieldW
"No mistake at all, l assure you,"
said Mr.. Barkdale. "Of course 1t Ia
not Greenfield. Sit down ladies'"
And he pushed forward the Sleepy.
Hollow chair, camp-stool, and two
rheumatic reception chairs, which were
all the accommodations presented by
his apartment.
But instead of accepting his courte.
sy, the girls all fiuttered out again gig.
Cling, and in second beforeshe could
realize the strange condition of affairs,
they were back. again, bearing benches
and a tablecloth dishes, boQuets, a pyra.
mid OF maccaronies, piled upsplates Of
sandwiches of frosted. cake, and a
mysterious something like unto an ice
cream freezer
The golden-tressed girls clapped her
hands.
"You need not think that we are
going to do all this for you, SIR" said
she.
"Oh," said Mr.. Barkdale, bushfully,
"lf--l-hadn't any such an impres.
sion."
/ tits all surprise designed for Kate q
cousin"
"Is it ?" said Mr., Bsrkdalt, more lu
the dark than ever. ..#,-F.
And how do you suppose VIC found
1t all out :" demanded the tan girl with
the black eyes aud scarlet feather in her
hat. s.a-
II haven't the least idea."i
I'VE found your letter to Kate, and
We girls read 1t, and we resolved to
take you and Kate by surprise. She Is
to be here in half an hour. Barbara
that Is Barbara Morris, in the blue
merino dress, with turn in her long
lashes toward the golden haired girl,
''pretends that sho has moved hero
and Kate Ia to come aud spend the
evening with Barbara. Won't It be a
Joke ?"
"Stupendous ?" said our hero, gra-
dually beginning to comprehend the
fact that he was mistaken for some one
else.
"what will Kate say when she sees
you here ~ CALCULATED another maid,
mcrrily. al#.
"Ah, what, indeed ?" said, Mr.. Bark.
dale, wondering in what words he
could best explain Matters
"Of course we shall all look the
other way, while you are kissing and
hugging her." said Miss Barbara de-
murely,
Every considerate of you, I AIN snre, IT
observed Mr.. Barkdale.
She Is the sweetest girl in New
York." exclaimed the tall damsel
enthusiastically. 81 am one Of heI
dearest friends. We work our sewing
machines side by side at Madame Gri
dards. Hasn't she written to you about
Alice Moore ?" IS.
IL don't just this moment recall
that she has"
"Oh, well, 1t doesn't matter" said
Alice. Gust sit down, and be good
boy, while we fix the tables. Aren't
those roses beautiful ? My goodness
gracious, how astonished Kate will
be ~ 8. :, $,
"She can't be more so that am. y
said Mr.. Barkdale, sinking into the
Sleepy Hollow chair, and passing his