Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17

ti"n on the sidewalks, the gas lamps at tbs
corner hickering Sulenly throng GA the mist, AMI
TIE Wlnd takiog one vicio1sly as one came o1nd
the corner. Not pleasant evening to ass 1me
posses ION OF new home; but necessity kaows
NJ law, and Mr. Bnkds,e put up bis nisht-key
INFO tue ret-briek house In the middle OF the
blot K, sincerely hoping that his new lsnslsdy
grae.
ingy. There's good fire, aud IT'S ali right"
"Ali right, eh?" said the bachelor, feeling the
blue tap OF his frosted nose to see whether it hal
escaped being frozen off entirely, "Well Lam
glad 70 hear that. Have the trunks Gomez"
'Oh, yes, sir, and the other things"
'.Whst other things?" demanded Mr.. Bark
dale.
Bat Mrs. Hinman pursed her lips up. "I
wasn't to tell, sir, please"
"RatheT an eccentric old lady" thought Mr..
Rarkdale, pushing past her to the third-story
front room, which he had sOlemnly engaged the
day before.
1t had been rather a dark and dingy little den
the coral shine OF wel-hlled CRATE, it wore
quite another and brighter aspect.
.Nelyet paper on the walls, gilt psnellng,
red carpet, and a Sieepy.HOiiow chair"
thought Mr.. BsrkdaIe, CHANGING around mot
50 uncomfortable, after al. When 1 get NV
things unpacked, it will seem quite homelikeh
ately opened 1t, took out a pair of slippers and
Invested his tired feet therein. Next he laid of
his oVerCOat.
'N0w for a c gar. =" thought he.
But the bFown-layeTed weed vas yet ia his
hand. when there was a hustle, and tiutter,
and a whisper, aud = merry noise on the land
Ing outside, and the door flew open, as if bv
m gle, 30 admit half a dozen blooming. lau Oh
in girls.
Atr. Barkdale dropped his cigar, and retreated
a step or two.
Don't he alarmed" said the tallest and pref
{ est of the bevy; ''it's only q SURPRISE"
ga very agreeable one, Tn sure" said our
TREND, recovering ia some degree his presence
OF mind
There's no mistake, hope" said yellow
uessed blonde. ''YOur name is not Greenfeld2'
"No mistake at all, assure you - said Mr..
Barkdale. "Of course il is not Greenfield. Sit
down, ladies'"
And he pushed forward the Sleepy Hollow
chair, a camp-stcoi and two rheumatic recep-
ton chairs, which were all the accommOda lions
presented by his apartment.
But, instead of accepting his courtesy. the
gtls all huttered out again. giggItng, and in a
second, before he could realize the strange con.
diton of affairs. they were back again, bearing
benches ard tablecloth, dishes, bouquets,
pyramid of msecaronies,, piled up plates of
sandwiches, of frosted cake, and a mysterious
something like INTO an ice-cream freezer.
The golden-tressed girl clapped her hands.
lyon needn't think we are doing all this for
You. SIR she said.
"Oh," said Mr.. Bsrkdale, basbfully, IL
hadn't any such impression"
cts all surprise designed for Hates
us it?'' said Mr.. Barkdale, more in the dark
than ever.
"And how do You suppose we found it all
eyes and scarlet feather in her hat.
81 haven't the least idea"
ave found yoIr Letter TO Kate, and we girls
read II, and we resolved TO take you and her both
Ivy surprise. She is to be here in half an hour.
Barbara-that is Barbara Morris, in the blue
'neriEo dress" with a turn of her long iashes
toward the goiden-haIred girl, "pretends that
she mas moved here; and Kate Is to come and
spend the evening with Barbara. "Won't it be
jOke?"
''StupeDdOus!" said our hero, gradually be-
ha f4c hot ha
mistaken for some one else.
'What will Kate say when she sees you
WSst sas Mn meFT
matters.
"Of course we shall all look the other wav
while you are kissing and hugging her," said
Miss Barbara, demureiy.
Very considerable of you, am sure" OBJ
served Mr. Barkdale.
"Shcs the sweetest girl in New York; eX-
claimed the tall DANISH, enthusiastically. 81
am one OF her dearest friends. We work our
sewing machines side by side at Madame Grid
Alice MOore?'
"I-I don't just this moment recall that she
has"
''Oh, well it doesn't matter ,,said Alice. "Just
you sit down, and be good boy. while we fix
the tables. Aren't those roses beautiful? My
goodness gracious, how astonlshed Kate win
"She can't be more so than 1 am" said Mr..
Barkdale, sinking into the Sleepy Hollow chsir,
and passing his handkerchief vaguely across
his forehead. We'll, it's mere matter of fate;
[ can't see how am to explain myself; and yet
perhaps, ought to explain. Ladies'"
'Hush-sh sh- sh," cried tue six pretty girls,
all in a hissI chorus; Rates coming; Bessie
nas brought her. HUshsh-sh! Don't say a
word, Mr.. Greenfield. The golden haired girls
hand was ciapped promptly over his mouth.
Alice Moore graSped bis arm spasm0dically,
and the other Jour danced a sort of bewItchinS
little feminine war dance about him, while a
seventh girl entsred-a pretty, MsdOnna-faced
Little crea ure like a dove
"Come and ki-s him, Kate" cried all the
Others. NOW don't be ridiculous, for We shan't
take any notice. Here he Isl!
"kiss who?' cried Kate, standing still and
staring all around her. Girls, what on earth
''You provoking thing!" said Barbara, stamp
fools? Why, of course, we know all about him!
it's Dir. Greentield-your cousin, Kats-the
young M D."
hafe looked around in bewilderment.
"Wby, here!'
''Nothlbg of the sort!" said Miss Kate, de-
murely.
Our hero stood up. feeling himself growing
uncomfOrtably warm and red.
Ladies'" he said, "there's some mistake
here. said at the outset that my name was
not Greenfield"
''There!" cried the girls at once.
f'Fhere!" echoed Kate, dehsntly.
. Didn't we tell y ou?" cried the girls. an
kipd enough to let US know what your name is,
sir"
"Cephas Barkda' e!" said the wretched victim
of n Misunderstanding.
''But," said Miss Moore, "you said 1t was Mott
Greenfield"
"Of course did" said the puzzled bachelor.
1T isn't Greenfield, and it never will be unless
| have 1t changed by act of legislature"
"O-h-h! cried the girls. "Dear, dear, to be
sure! And we thought you were Kste's lover
and his name is N-o-double Mott Greenfield"
''DO hold your tongues, you ridiculous
things" said Kate, half vexed, half-laughing.
What must Mr.. Barkdaie think Of us?"
II think you are very NICE" said Mr. Bark
dale, calamity.
Mics Barbara in the meantime had taken a
slip of paper ont of her pocket. She uttered
hysterical shrek.
"It's ali my fault" she exclaimed. ait was
No. SO instead of No. 36 and the tail of the hor-
rid figures turned the wrong end up-tnat's all.
And the cake and the flowers and everything"
''St0p, ladies, if you please" said Mr.. Bark
dale, courteousiy. "Because the surprise has
come to the wrong place is no reason why the
right person should not enjoy it. Allow me TO
give up this room to your use this evening. /
will just step across the street and send Mr..
Mott Greenfield over"
"But yOn must return with him." said the
girls.
And Mr.. Barkdale was not allowed to depart
until he had rromtsef