Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-10-30
THE BACHELORS SURPRISE.

A chill December evening, will
the rain and snow forming a disagree
able sort Of conglomeration Oh tn
sidewalks, the gas lamps at the cor
ner tilckering sullenly through th'
mist, and the wind taking one vic
iously, as one came round the corner
Not pleasant evening to assume
possession of a new home, but neces
sity knows no law, and Mr.. Barkdal'
put up his night key into the rec
brick house in the middle Of thu
of the block, sincerely hoping tina
his landlady would have the common
sense to light fire in the CRATE.
''Is it you, sir?" Mrs. Hinnan quotl
beamingly. "There's good fire
and it's all right"
"All right, eh?" said the bachelor
feeling the blue tip of his frosted
nose, to see whether it had ESCAPED
being frozen off entirely. "Well
Pm glad to hear that. Have thu
trunks Gomez"
ooh, yes, sir, and the other things.
"What other things?" demanded
Mr.. Barkdale.
But Mrs. Hinnan pursed her lip
up, 81 wasn't to tell, sir, please
''Rathcr an eccentric old LADY,
though Mr.. Barkdale, pushing pas
her to the third story front room
which he had solemnlv engaged tn,
day before.
1t had been dark and dingy littl'
den by the light Of the moon, bu
now, softened by the coral shine of
well filled CRATE it bore quite anothc
and brighter aspect.
"Velvet paper on the walls, gil
panneling, red carpet and sleep,
hollow chair" thought Mr.. Barkdale
glancing around. "Not so mcom
Portable after all. When l get N,
things unpacked it will seem quit
home-like.''
He set down his valisc in the COZ
ner, deliberately opened it, took on
Il pair Of slippers, and invested hi
tired feet therein. Next he laid OF
his overcoat.
''Now for a cigar" thought he.
But the brown-laycred weed wa
yet in his hand, when there was
hustle, and tiu.tcr, and Il whisper
and merry noise on the landing
outside, and the door flew open, as
by magic, to admit half dozel
blooming laughing girls.
Mr.. Barkdale droppedhis cigar, an
retreated step or two.
'Don't be alarmed" said the tai
est and prettiest Of the bevy; 'its onl
a surprise"
"a very agreeable one, I'm sure,
said our friend, recovering in som
degree his presence of mind.
There's no mistake, l hope," sal
a yellow-tressed blonde. "Yor
name is not Grccnfield?"
"No mistake ut all l assure YOU
said MIR. Barkdale. ''Of course it
not Greenfield. Sit down ladies'"
And he pushed forward the sleep
hollow chair, a camp stool, and tw
rheumatic reception chairs, whic
were all the accommodations presen
ed by his apartment.
But instead Of accepting h
courtesy, the girls all futtered o,
again giggling, and in u second, b
fore he could realize this strane
combination of affairs, they .wel
back again bearing benches and
table-cloth, dishes, bouquets, a pyr
mid Of maccaronies, piled-up plates
sandwiches, of frosted cake, and
mysterious something like unto :
an ice-cream freezer.
The golden-trcsscd girl clapped h
hands.
"Y ou needn't think we are doil
all this for you, sir" said she.
"Oh," said Mr.. Barkdale, bashfi
ly. d hadn't any such impre>
ion."
''It's all a surprise designed f
Kate's cousin.''
SIS it?" said Mr.. Barkdale, more
the dark than ever.
'And how do you suppose v
found it all out?" demanded the t;
girl with the black eyes and scarf
feather in her hat.
81 haven't the least idea"
5 1--WE found your letter to Kat
and we girls read it, and we resolv,
to take you and her both by surpris
She is to be here in half an ho,
+ Barbara, that is Barbara, Morris
the blue Merino Dress" with tll
. of her long lashes toward the golde
3 haired girl-'pretends she has NOV
here, and Kate is to come and spe1
the evening with Barbara. Won't
be u joke?"
0 "Stupendous!' said our hero, gla6
ally beginning to comprehend t
. mortifying fact that he was mistak
for some one else.
"What will Kate say when S
l. sees you here?" calculated anotl
maid merrily.
g "Ah, what indeed" said Mr.. Bal
dale, wondering in what words
could best explain matters.
"Of course we shall all look
other way while you are hugging a
kissing her." said Miss Barbara, {
murely.
7 every considerate of you l ;
! sure" observed Mr. Barkdale.
J ''She's the sweetest girl in N
York." exclaimed the tall damsel. ,
Enthusiastically. 81 am one Of ]
dearest friends. We work our sc
ing machines side by side ut Madal
S Grillard's. Hasn't she ever writ
to you about Alice Moore?"
"I-I don't this moment Just rec
that she has"
I. "Just You sit down and be go
, boy, while we fix the tables. Are
those roses beautiful My goodnes