The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-03-28
1t was late In the evening. The place

IL WAS lhbo III tneeNenInB. Lie place
wore an air Of repose. Laughter and
faint chink of glasses in an inner ap-
partment told of some convivality. One
old man read his newspaper before the
fire. Nothing else was astir.
asked for room. The clerk nod
ded.
"Do you care what floor?" he ask
ed,
Shook my head.
"Number twenty.nine is empty" he
said, and tossed key to the waiter,
whom followed at once.
We reached the room by two flights
Of stairs. at the door the waiter paus-
ed.
Thought he said twenty-nine." he
muttered. "The key is twenty.one."
"Then open twenty-one with it'll
said,"I don't care for the number Of the
room."
"No, slr--to be sure, sir" said the
waiter, and passed along few steps
further.
"Twenty-one," he said. and unlocked
door and pushed 1t open.
"Shall l bring you anything, sir?'
he asked.
answered No, and he lelft me, have
ing put the candle on my bureau.
The hour has come. AS shut the
door heavy sigh escaped he. Alasl
that life had become so woful thing
to me that should desire to be rid of
1t.
In the dim light Of one candle paced
the floor and thought bitterly Of the
girl loved SO dearly.
1t was in the days of curtain beds.
The bed in this room was hung with
dark chintz: so were the windows.
Over the bureau was hung a looking
glass, with portrait of lady in puff.
ed sleeves and high comb, at the top,
by way of ornament. There were four
stuffed chairs, and brass shovel and
tongs stood guard besides the CRATE.
fancied myself lying dead on the bed
amidst all these belongings and felt sor-
ry for myself. Then took my pistols
from my portmanteau, and leaving the
door unlocked, for why should put
the landlord to the trouble Of breaking
it open. lay down on the bed, drew
the curtains, took a pistol 10 each hand,
and, as true as l now speak to you, had
the muzzle Of each to temple, when
some one opened the door, There
now, Jessie, said voice. told You
you didn't lock It,"
~ did," said another voice, "and
sent the key to the Office by the cham
Der maid"
/ laid the pistols down and peeped
through the curtains. There were two
ladies' in the room. One, an Old lady
In brown front of false curls, the
other my cruel lady-love Jessie Grey,
Fora moment fancied l must be dream
ing.
"Sure it's the right NUMBER" asked
Jessie.
"Twenty-one--yes," said the other.
And here Is my handbook. Oh, deari
I'm sleepy.
II am not" said Jessie. 81 wish 1
was, aunt"
"You didn't sleep wink last night, {"
said the aunt. ''Nor you haven't eat
ELI your meals to-day. You'll 20 into q
decline II you go on that way. I'll see
DIR. Black about you tomorrow.
~ don't want DR.. Black to he called"
sighed Jessie. I'd rather die"
"Whai's the matter?" cried the old
lady. "You are not yourself. You
don't eat or sleep, and cry perpetually.
What alls you?
"I am miserable" said Jessie.
"Why?" cried her aunt.
ooh, aunt" said Jessie, "It's all your
fault. You told me over and over again
that girl must never jump at an offer;
= that man must be refused at least
once, or he'd not value a grill And
liked him sol And, OIL he liked mel
And when he asked mel felt 80 glad
: Il said, Oh; dear, mol and he left me-
without q word. And I'm 80 sorryl
/ oh, sorryl-because i loved him,
aunt"
"You little goosel' cried the old
lady.
, As for me, YOU can fancy how felt.
1 had no thought OF suicide now. My
desire was 10 live and ask that question
over again. poeketed my pistols and
crept down on the other side Of the bed.
| l stepped toward the bureau and blew
a out the candle. The faint red light of
the FIRE was still In the room. As
, dashed out Of the door, heard two fe-
male screams, but escaped In safety.
$ 81 met the waiter on the stairs.
Found out the mistake, sir, "I'm
, very elad-that is. It don't matter.
, Here Is something for your trouble, and
gave him a Ave dollar bill.
He said, 81 thank ye, sir" but saw
that lie thought ne crazy. He was con-
trmed In his opinion when as passed
TO the door Of my room, cried:
> "Heaven bless twenty-oneP It's q
lucky numberl"
But lneyer was saner than was then,
nor half so happy.
or cour,e, proposed TO Jessie the