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

racious, how astonished Kate will

gracious, how astonished Kate will
bew
"Shc can't be more SO than 1 am,'
said Mr.. Barkdale, sinking into the
Sleepy Hollow chair, and passing his
handkerchief vaguely across his wet
forehead. "Well, it's mere matter
of fate. I can't see how I am going
to explain myself: and yet, perhaps l
ought to explain. Ladies'"
"Hush-sh-sh-sh!" cried the six pref
ty girls, all in Kissing chorus.
"Kate's coming! Bessie has brought
her! Hush-sh-sh! Don't say word,
Mr.. Greenfield" The golden-haired
girls hand was clapped instantly
over his mouth. Alice Moore grasp
ed his arm spasmodically, and the
four danced sort of bewitching lit
tie feminine war-dance about him,
while a seventh girl entered-a pref
ty, Madonna faced little creature like
a dove.
"Come and kiss him, Kate" cried
all the others. "Now don't beridicu-
lous-- for we shan't take any notice.
Here he is!''
"Kiss who?" cried Kate, standing
still and staring all around her.
"Girls, what on earth do you mean?"
"You provoking little thingl' sid
Barbara, stamping her little foot.
edo you suppose we are all fools?"
Why, of course we all know about
him! It's Mr.. Green6eld-your
cousin, Kate, the young M. D."
Kate looked around in bewilder-
ment.
"Where?"
"Why, here!"
sNothing of the sort!' said Miss
Kate, demurely.
Our hero stood up, feeling himself
uncomtortably warm and red.
'Ladies he said, 'there's some pc
culiar mistake here. | said at the
outset that my name was not Green
field"
'There!" cried the girls at once.
"There!' chorused Kate, defiantly.
didn't we tell you?" cried the
girls.
''Didn't l tell you? retorted Kate.
''Bc kind enough to let us know what
your name is, sir
'Cephas Barkdalen' said the
wrctched victim of a misunderstand-
ing.
S'But," said Miss Moore, "you said
it was not Greenfield"
"Of course 1 did!" said the puzzled
bachelor. cit isn't Greenfield and it
never will be unless l have it chang
ed by act of Legislature"
"O-h-h" cried the girls. "Dear,
dear, to be sure!'' And we thought
you were Kate's lover-and bis name
is N-o-dou-ble-t-Nott Greenfield"
"Do hold your tongues, you ridicu-
lous thingsr' said Kate, half vexed,
half laughing. "What must Mr..
Barkdale think of us all?"
"Think you are very NICE" said
Mr. Barkdale very gallantly.
Miss Barbara in the meantime had
plucked slip of paper out of her
pocket. She uttered hysterical
shrek.
"It's all my faultr' she exclaimed
at was No. 80 instead Of No. Sc
and the tail of the horrid figure turn
ed the wrong end up-that is all.
And the cake, and the flowers, and
everything"
'Stop, ladies, if you please" said
Mr.. Barkdale courteously. "Because
the surprise has come to the wrong
place is no reason why the right per
son should not enjoy it. Allow me
to give up this room to your use this
evening. l will just step across the
street, and send MIR, Mott Greenfield
over"
.eBut you must return with him,
said the girls.
And Mr.. Bardalc was not allowed
to depart until he had promised.
Mr.. Mott Greenfield a good looking
medical student, who had the "sky'
parlor' directly opposite-came
promptly on mention of the name
of Kate Kellford, and did the polite
thing in introducing Mr.. Barkdale
and Barkdalc ate of the sandwiches
and enjoyed the cake and cream; ant
coaxcd Miss Barbara to pin a little
pink rosebud in the button hole O
his coat, and enjoyed himself prodig
iously.
"Td like to be surprised like this
every night in the year" said he.
"Oh! you greedy creature sait
Miss Barbara.
''But there was one time seriousl,
mcditatcd throwing myself out of th'
window" said he, "when you toll
me to kiss Kate"
Dear, dcarw said Barbnra, ironl
cally, ''that would have been dreadful
wouldn't it?"
s'But the akwardness of the thing.
81 daresay you never kissed a pref
ty girl before" pouted the blonde.
IL never did," said the bachelor
growing bold; "but l will now, if yo'
say so.''
''But l don't say so," said Barbara
coloring and laughing. "Behav
yourself, sir"
Mr.. Barkdale went home with tn
fair Barbara, and they grew to b
very great friends, and-where's tn
use irving to conceal how it all ended
They were married at the years en-
.. with all the six surprisers for brides
! maids, Kate Kellford included. Nj
Mott Greenleaf proposes to folio,
the example. as soon as he has got hi
diploma.
: Advice to Young Men.
My dear boy, we must all 3