Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-09-19
The Bachelors Surprise.

ooil VI COIS iOllcIutlOu Ou tHe SlieWuihS,
the gas-lamps at the corners Pickering
sullenly through the mist, and the wind
taking one viciously, as one came round
the corner. Not pleasant evening to
assume possession of a new home, but
necessity knows no law, and Mr.. Bark
dale put up his night key into the red
brick house in the middle of the block,
sincerely hoping that his landlady would
have common sense to light the fire in
the CRATE.
els it you, sir?" Mrs. Hinman
quoth, beamingly. "There's good
fire, and it's all right
"All right, ell ?" said the bachelor,
feeling the blue tip of his frosted nose
to see whether it had escaped being
frozen off entirely. "Well, I'm glad
to hear that. Have the trunks Gomez"
"Oh, yes, sir, and the other things"
"What other things 2" demanded
Mr.. Barkdale.
But Mrs. Hinman pursed her lips up.
4 wasn't to tell, sir: please
/" Rather an eccentric old lady,"
thought Mr.. Barkdalc, pushing past
her to the third-stoly front room, which
he had solemnly engaged the day be-
fore.
1t had been rather dark and dingy
little den by the light of tho moon, but
now, softened by the coral shine of a
well-flled CRATE, it wore quite another
and brighter aspect.
Velvet paper on the walls, gilt pan
cling, red carpet, and Sleepy-Hollow
chair" thought Mr.. Barkdale, 2lancing
around "Not so uncomfortable, after
all. When l get my things nnpacked,
it will seem quite home-like."
He set down his valise in the corner,
deliberately opened it, took out pair
of slippers, and invested his tired feet
therein. Next he lay off his overcoat.
" Now for a cigar" thought he.
But the brownlayel Il weed was yet
in his band, when there was hustle
and futter and Il whisper and a merry
noise on the landing outside, and the
door flew open, as if by magic, to ad
NIT half-adozen blooming, laughing
girls.
Mr.. Barkdalc dropped his cigar and
retreated a step or two.
Don't be alarmed,' said the tnllest
and prettiest of the bevy; "it's only
surprise"
"A very agreeable one, I'm sure"
said our friend, recovering in some de-
gree his presence of mind
There's no mistake, I hope?" said
yellow-tressed bronde. "Your name
is not Grecnfeld?'
"No mistake at all, assure you,"
said Mr.. Barkdale. ''Of course it is
not Greenfield. Sit down ladies'"
And he pushed forward the Sleepy
Hollow chair, camp stool, and two
rheumatic chairs, which were all the
accommodations presented by this APP
partment.
But, instead of accepting his courtesy,
tho girls all tluttered outagain, giggling,
and in second, before he could realize
this strange combination of affairs,
they were back again, bearing benches
and table-cloth, dishes, pyramid of
maccaronies, piled up plates of sand
wiches, of frosted cake, and mysteri-
GUS something like unto an ice-cream
freezer.
The golden-tressed girl clapped her
hands.
You needn't think we are doing all
this for you, sir" said she.
co." said Mr.. Barkdale bashfully,
ell hadn't any such impression"
cts surprise designated for Hates
cousin"
"Is it?" said Mr.. Barkdale, more
in the dark than ever.
And how do you suppose we found
it all out ?" demanded the tall girl with
the black eyes and scarlet feather in
her hat.
1 havn't the least idea"
"We found your letter to Kate, and
we girls read it, and we resolved to take
you and her both by surprise. She is
to be here in half an hour. Barbara
Morris, in the blue merino Dress" with
turn of her long lashes toward the
golden haired giil-" pretends she has
moved here, and Kate is to come and
spend the evening with Barbara. Won't
it be n ioke?'
S'rvenlors'' eaid our hero, grad