Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-05-20
OUR sEcoND-TLooR LOGGER.

When John and / first began house
keeping, we were doubtful whether to
live in apartments, or to take house
and let them. We finally decided
upon the latter; for, as John remarked
lodging house keepers were such
pilferers that one never knew when
ones expenses ended like lawyers
bill, there were SO many items.
We began to fancy we had chosen
i'll, however, when the little embossed
card hung for three weeks in the little
sitting room window without getting
one application, save from an old lady
in the neighborhood, who, I am GER
tain, came only out of curiosity.
But, at the end of that period, an
elderly gentleman, in delicate health,
called to look at them, with his niece,
and decided to rent three rooms at
once.
was very glad, for they appeared
to be quiet people, and meeting John
with hearty kiss that evening, I told
him we were in luck at last.
II am pleased to hear it, my girl"
answered John. "Only take my advice;
don't be on too friendly terms with
them than need be. Keep to your
place. All persons have their little
fads and peculiarities, and when these
become antagonistic one house cannot
hold both parties The warmest
friendship with dodgers generally turns
to the bitterest dislike. Mrs. Jones,
presuming upon Mrs. Browns good
nature, borrows her electro teapot
She makes a dent in the lid and thus
strikes the first nail into the coffin of
their friendship"
stopped Johns mouth with a
muffin-a failing of his-but promised
to do as he recommended.
That, however, was not so easy. Mr..
Fortescue's niece-Miss Kathleen
Milbrooke-was such a quiet, sweet,
amiable girl, and seemed so alone, that
l was irresistibly drawn to her; and,
when we met always had little con.
versation, which, l felt sure, gave her
considerable pleasure.
Indeed, her life was terribly
monotonous. No one visited them,
and Mr.. Fortescue, confirmed invalid
and hard, austere man, was irritable
from disposition as we'll as delicate
health, and l fear, led his poor niece
so wearying an existence that, I'M
agine, when she could get away for a
chat with me she found it wonder
full relief. 8bgSEE &tF 4g5t..
Well, they had been with US nearly
! fortnight, when, late one evening, a
gentleman called to see the room we
had to let on the second floor back, land
| which he had heard Of at the stationer's
He was very good-looking, tall, with a
pale face and heavy dark beard and
moustache.
It's very foolish, / know, but have
always been mistrustful of dark boards
and moustaches. Dear Johns face is
as smooth as an egg. But the strang-
er spoke openly and fairly enough,
gave me references to his last landlady
and to the firm where he was employ
ed while, to clinch the matter, he put
down the first two weeks rent in ad-
vance, as he wished to come IN that
night -
| felt ought not to have left him,
but I was yet nervous in the part. Of
landlady, and hadn't the courage to re-
fuse. And when, in about an hour, he
returned, carrying his own portmanteau
and I, having lighted him to his room,
came back to my own, could uot
help specializing little TREMENDOUSLY
upon what John, who had been detained
in the city, would think.
John thought / had done very
!
foolish thing, and so terrified me out Of
my wits by saying our second floor
lodger was no doubt burglar, who
when we were in bed, would break
open all the cupboards and drawers
with the skeleton keys and "Jemmy
ives, that was what John called iD
which he had concealed in his port,
manteau, that / couldn't get wink O
sleep through the night. a 81
| found everything secure, however
the next morning, and our second.
J aovr iodSrr quietly waiting for hi