Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-01-17

Thought he said twenty -nine," he

"Thought he said twenty-nine," he
muttered. "The key is twenty-one."
"Then open twenty-one with it, 1
said. 1 don't care for the number OF
the room.
"No, sir--to be sure, sir" said the
waiter, and passed along a few steps
further.
"Twenty-one," he said and, unlock
ing door, pushed it open.
"Shall 1 bring you anything, sir, he
said.
"I answered no, and he left me, hav-
ing put the candle on my bureau.
"The hour had come. AS Ishut the
door, heavy sigh escaped me. Alas!
that life had become so woful thing to
me that I should desire to be rid of it,
"I In the dim light of my one candle,
I paced the floor, and thought bitterly
of the girl I loved SO dearly.
"It was in the days of curtained
beds. The bed in this room was hung
with dark chintz SO were the windows.
Over the bureau was looking glass,
with the portrait of lady in puffed
sleeves and high comb, at the top, by
way of ornament. There were four
stiff chairs, and brass shovel and
tones stood guard beside the CRATE. I
fancied myself lying dead on the bed
amidst ali these belongings, and felt
sorry for myself. Then took my pis-
tolls from my portmanteau, and leaving
the door unlocked, for why should 1
put the landlord to the trouble of break
ing it open, 1 lay down Oh the bed,
drew the curtains, took pistol in each
hand, and, as true as l now speak to
you, had the muzzle of each to tenn
pie, when some one opened the door,
and There, now, Jessie, said a voice;
told you, you didn't lock it.
L did, said another voice; and sent
the key to the Office by the chamber
maid
81 laid the pistols down, and peeped
through the curtains. There were two
ladies in the room. One, an old lady
in brown front of false curls; the
other, my cruel lady-love, Jessie Gray.
For u moment I fancied I must be
dreaming.
"Sure its the right number?" asked
Jessie.
Twenty-one-yes," said the other.
" And here's my band-box. Oh, dear!
I'm sleepy
81 am not, said Jessie, 6" wish l
was, aunt"
You didn't sleep wink last night" :"
said the aunt. "Nor you haven't eaten
your meals to-day. You'll go in de-
cline if YOU go on that way. l II see
Dr. Black about you Tomorrow"
81 don't want DR.. Black to be
called" sighed Jessie, " I'd rather die. :"
What's the matter?' p cried the old
lady. "You are not yourself. You
don't eat or sleep, and cry perpetually.
What ails you?'
elm miserable" said Jessie.
Why" cried her aunt.
"Oh, aunt" said Jessie, "it's all
your fault. You told me over and over
again that girl must never Jump at an
offer; that a man must be refused at
least once or he'd not value girl. And
l liked him SO! And oh, he liked me !!
And when he asked me I felt so glad (!
But I remembered what you said, and
oh, how could could, I do ?-I said,
Oh, dear, no! and he left me without
word. And I'm so sorry!-oh, so
sorry, because love him, aunt"
/" You little goose!' cried the old la
dy.
" AS for me, you can fancy how 1
felt. I had no thought of suicide now.
My desire was to live and ask that
question of mine over again. 1 pock-
eted my pistols, and crept down on the
other side of the bed I stepped to-
ward the bureau and blew out the cam
die. The faint red light of the fire
was still in the room. As dashed out
at the door heard two females scream
but l escaped in safety.
" met the waiter on the stairs.
" Found out the mistake, SIR" he
said. "Just coming to rectify it,
Don't mention it, I said. I'm very
glad-that is, it don't matter. Here is
something for your trouble, andI gave
him q five dollar bill.
"He said thank ye, SIR but I saw
that he thought me crazy. He was
confirmed in his opinion, when, as 1
passed to he door OF my own room, /
cried:
" Heaven bless twenty-one! It's
lucky number!
" But l never was saner than I was
then, and never half SO happy.
"Of course proposed to Jessie the
very next day, and need not tell you
that he answer was not 'Oh, dear, no.
and that's why call twenty-one my
lucky number.
81 A California Snowman is wan
dering around the country illustrating
the execution of the Modoc captives by
means OF puppets. The agony of the
hanging is worked up in most skillful
manner.
- A sensible gentleman lately re-
fnCnA IN oo1olrok k, H., ,:1,.. I