Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1875-03-25
The Bachelors Surprise.

rain and snow forming a disagreeable
sort of conglomeration on the side
walks, the gas lights at the corner
Pickering sullenly through the mist,
and the wind taking one viciously as
one came round the corner. Not a
pleasant evening to assume possession
of new home; dut necessity knows
no law, and Mr.. Barkdale put up his
night key into the red brick house in
the middle of the block, sincerely
hoping that his new landlady would
have common sense enough to light
fire in the CRATE.
is it you, sir P Mrs. Heman quoth,
beamingly. There's good fire, and
its all right
tAll right, eh said the bachelor,
feeling the blue tip of his frosted nose
to. see whether it had escaped being
frozen off entirely We'll, Tn glad to
hear that. Have the trunks Gomez
sOh, yes, sir, and the other things
what other things 2 demanded Mr..
Barkdale. e
But Mrs. Herman pursed up her
lips. 4 was not to tell, sir please
Rather an eccentric old lady,
thought Mr.. Barkdale, pushing past
her to the third story front room,
which he had solemnly engaged the day
before.
It had been rather dark and dingy
little den by the light of the moon,
but now, softened by the coral shine
of well filed CRATE, it wore quite
another and brighter aspect.
velvet paper on the walls, gilt pan
neling, red carpet, and a Sleepy Hol-
low chair thought Mr. Barkdale,
glancing around. Not SO uncomfort
able, after all When l get my things
unpacked, it will seem quite home
like
He sat his valise down in a corner,
deliberately opened it, took out a pair
of slippers, and invested his tired feet
therein. Next he laid of his over
coat.
Now for cigar thought he.
But the brown -layered weed was yet
in his hand, when there was hustle,
and fiutter, and a whisper, and a
merry noise on the landing outside,
and the door. few open, as if by mag
ic, to admit half dozen blooming
and laughing girls.
Mr.. Barkdale dropped his cigar and
retreated step or two.
Don't be alarmed saia the talest
and prettiest of the bevy, it's only a
surprise
"A very agreeable one, I'm sure,'
said our friend, recovering in some
degree his presence of mind.
There's no mistake, l hope, said 8
yellow tressed blonde; your name is
not Greenfeld?'
No mistake, assure you, said Mr.
Barkdale 'Of course it is not Green
field. Sit down, ladies'
And he pushed forward the Sleepy
Hollow chair, a camp stool and two
rheumatic reception chairs, which were
all the accommodations presented by
his appartment
But, instead of accepting his cour,
tesy, the girls all futtered out again
giggling, and, in second, before ht
could realize this strange condition o
affairs, they were back again, bearing
benches table cloth, dishes, bouquets
pyramid of maccaronies, piled W
plates of sandwiches, a frosted cake
and mysterious something like unto
an ice cream freezer.
The golden tressed girl clappcd he
hands.
You needn't think we are doing al
this for you, SIR she said.
'Oh,' said Mr.. Barkdale, bashfully
'I-I-hadn't any such impression
Its all a surprise designed TO
Kate's cousin
1T is,' said Mr.. Barkdale, more il
the dark than ever
'And how do you suppose we fount
it all out demanded the tall girl will
black eyes and scarlet feather in he
hst.
7 haven't the least idea
'We found your letter to Kate, ant
we girls read it, and resolved to tax
you and her by surprise. She is to b
here in half an hour. Barbara-tba
is Barbara Morris, in the blue merin,
Dress with turn of her long lashe
toward the golden haired girl, 'pre
tends that she has moved here, an
Kate is to come and spend the even
| ing with Barbara Won't it be
Joker
'Stupendous,' said our hero, gradr
ally beginning to comprehend the fac
that he was mistaken for some on
else.
What will Kate say when she see
you here p calculated another nader
merrily.
'Ah, what, indeed said Mr.. Bark
dale, wondering in what words b
could best explain matters.
'Of course we shall look the othe
way while you are kissing and hug
ging her. said Miss Barbara, demurt
".
Very eonsiderate of you, I'm sure
remarked Mr.. Barkdale.
She's the sweetest girl in st. Louis
exclaimed the tall girl, enthusiastIca
| lly. Il am one of her dearest friend
3 We work our sewing machines sid
J by side at Madame Grillard's Hash
she ever written to you about Alit
Moore?
IL don't, just at this moment, r
t call that she has p
a sOh, well, it doesn't matter, sa
E Alice; just sit down and be goc
] boy while we fix the tables. Aren
n those roses beautiful? My goodnes
gracious, how astonished Kate wi
be!'
She can't be more surprised than
e am said Mr.. Barkdale, sinking in
g the Sleepy Hollow chair, and passil
e his handkerchief vaguely across
i forehead. Well, its mere matter
fate; I can't see how I'm to expla
W myself, and yet, perhaps, ] ought
IS explain. Ladies'
Hush sh sh,sh = cried the six prt
tY girls all in Kissing chorus kat,
n coming; Bessie has brought her.
it Hush-sh-sh! Don't say word, \
nj Greenfield. The golden. haired cir
y hand was clasped promptly over |
% mouth. Alice Moore grasped his al
= n