The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-11-11

~orner eickering suIIenly through the
mist and the wind taking one Wei
oair as one cane around the corner.
Not a pleasaut evening to assume
possession Of a new home; bat necesi-
~ Knows no law, and Mr. Barkdale
mt nm his nigbt-key into the red
brick house in the middle OF the
block. sincerely hoping that bis new
landladv would have common sense
20 lieh, a FIRE in the CRATE
is it yoa, sir,r Mrs. Human
ouotb. besmingly. There's good
fire. and IT'S sll right
aAH right, eh ?" said the bachelor,
feeling the blue tip Of bis frosted nose
20 see whether it had escaped being
frozen Of entirely. well, 1 am
glad TO bear that. Have the trunks
come ~
aOb. YES. sir. and the other things
"Wbst other thingsg" demanded
Mr.. Barkdsle.
But Mrs. Human pursed Der lipE
m. i wasn't TO tell. sir. please.
Rather az eccentric old LADY ,
thought Mr.. BarkdaIe, pushing past
her TO the ~third-story front room.
which be had solemnly engaged the
day before.
Ii had been rather a DARK aid
dingy little den by the light Of the
moon; but now, softened by the
choral shine Of q well-6lled CRATE, il
wore quite another aud & brighter
aspect
Velvet paper on the walls. gill
paneling, red carpet, and Sleepy
Hollow chair, y thought Mr.. Barkdsle
elancine around. "Not so uncom
Portable after ali. When / get ms
things unpacked, it win seem qait'
homelike."
He set down bis vslise in the cor.
ner, deliberately opened it, took out 1
pair Of slippers, and invested his tiret
feet therein. Next he laid of bis
oEercoat.
"Now for q cigar" thought be.
But the brOwnlayered weed was
vet in his hand, when there was q
hustle, and a autter, and & whisper,
and a merry noise on the landing
outside. and the door few open, as
If by magic, TO. admit half-a-dozen
blooming, laughing girls.
Mr.. Barkdale dropped his cigar,
and retreated q step or two
Don't be alarmed" said the tall
est and prettiest of the beFy; its
only o surprise
IA very agreeable one, I'm sure,f
said our friend, recovering in some
degree bis presence OF mind
There's no mistake, | hope" said
& yellow-tressed blonde. Your
name is not Greenfield ?"
No mistake at all, / assure you,n
said Barkdale. '0f course it is not
Greenfield. Sit down, ladies'"
And be pushed forward the Sleepy
Hollow chair, a camp stool and two
rheumatic reception chairs, which
were all the accommodations pre-
scented by his apartment
But, instead Of aecepting his courte.
sy, the girls all Auttered out again
giggling, and in q second, before be
could realize this strange condition
Of affairs, they were back again.
bearing benches and a table cloth,
dishes, boquets, q pyramid Of maca-
roEies, piled up dishes ofsand-wiches
Of frosted cake, and a mysterious
something like unto an ice cream
freezer.
The golden-tressed girl clsppedbeI
hands.
"You needn't think we are doing
this for you, sir,n she said.
'0b," said Mr. Barkdale, bashful
ly, "I-I-hadnt any such impress
sion.n
Its all a surprise designated fot
Kste's cousin
lis it ?" said Mr.. Barkdale, more
in the dark than ever.
And how do you suppose We
found it sll out?n demanded the cir
with the black eyes and scarle'
feather in her bat.
Il haven't the least idea
1--WE found your letter 70 Kate
and we girls read it, and we resolved
10 take you and her both by surprise.
She is to be here in half an hour
Barbara-thst is Barbara Morris, il
the blue merino DRESS" with a turn
Of her long lashes toward the golden
haired girl, "pretends that she has
moved here, and Kate is TO come and
spend the evening with Barbara
Won't it be g joke 7"
"Stupendousln said our hero, grad,
ually beginning to comprehend the
fact that be was mistaken for some
one else.
What will Kate say when she
sees you here ~ calculated another
maid. merrily.
"Ahl What indeed :" said Mr..
Barkdsle. wandering in what words
be could best explain matters.
"Of course we shall look the Other
way while you are kissing and hug.
ging ber," said Barbara, demurely.
"Very considerate of you. / am
sure" observed Mr.. Barkdale.
"She's the sweetest girl in New
York" exclaimed the tall dsmsel,
enthusiastically. Il am one of her
dearest friends. We word our sew
ing machine side by side at Madame
Grillsrd's Hasn't she ever written
to you about Alice Moore ?"
IL don'tjust this moment recall
that she has.D
Job, well, it dosen't NATTER said
Alice. Just you sit down, and be q
good boy, while we fix the table
Aren't those roses beautiful? Nv
goodness gracious, how astonished
Kate will beln
"She cant be more so than | am
said Mr.. Barkdale, sinking into the
Sleepy Hollow chair, and passing bis
handkerchief vaguely across his
forehead. well. it's q mere matter
Of fate; ! can't see how / am to ex.
plain myself; and yet, perhaps
ought 10 explain. Ladies'"
Hush sh sh sh," cried the six
pretty girls. all in a Kissing chourus
Kste's coming; Bessid has brought
her. Hush SD sbi Don't say 9
word, Mr.. Greenfield" The golden.
haired girls hand was clapped
n.nnn-Al- 49, l.. - IL