Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-02-22


sort of eonglomeration on the side walks.
the gaslights at the corner Pickering
sullenly through the mist. and the wind
taking one viciously as one came round
the corner. Not pleasant evening to
assume possession of 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 new landlady
would have common sense to light fire
in the CRATE
lis it you, sir ?" Mrs. Heman quoth.
beamingly. There's good fire. and
it's all right"
"All right, eh ?' said the bachelor.
feeling the blue tip of his frosted nose
to see whether it had escaped being fro
zen off entirely. ''Well, am glad to
hear that. Have the trunks come ?'
"Oh, yes, sir, and the other things"
What other things ?" demanded Mr..
Barkdale.
But Mrs. Heman pursed up her lips.
81 wasn't to tell, sir please"
Rather an eccentric old lady," Mr..
Barkdale thought, pushing past her to
the third story front room, which he had
solemnly engaged the day before.
1t had been rather dark and dingy
little den by the light of the moon; but
now, softeDed by the coral shine of
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, glancing
around. mot so uncomfortable. after
all. When | get my things unpacked,
it will seem quite homelikc."
He set down his valise in the corner,
deliberately opened it, took out a pair
of slippers, and invested his tired feet
therein. Next he laid off his overcoat.
'Now for cigar" thought he.
But the brown layered weed was yet
in his hand, when there was hustle,
and futter, and whisper, and mer-
ry noise on the landing outside, and the
door flew open as if by magic, to admit
half-a-dOzen blooming, laughing girls.
Mr. Barkdale dropped his cigar and
retreated a step or two.
don't be alarmed" said the tallest
and prettiest of the bevy; Its only a
surprise"
"A very agreeable one, I'm sure, !"
said our friend, recovering In some de-
gree his presence of mind.
There's no mistake, l hope said a
yellow -treesed blonde. Your name is
Mott Greeufield?"
mo 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, q camp stool and two rheu.
matte reception chairs, which were all
the accommodations preseRted by his
apartment.
But instead of accepting his courtesy
the girls all huttered out again. giggling
= and in a second, before he could realize
this strange condition of affairs, they
: were back again. bearing benches and ;
d table cloth. dishes, bouquets, pyramid
of maccaronies, piled up plates Of sand
: wiches, Of frosted cake. and mysteri
i Gus something like unto an ice-crean
: freezer
The golden tressed girl clapped he
= hands.
C "lou needn: think we are doing al
IS this for you, sir, she said.
e "Oh," said Mr. Barkdale, bashfully
"i-I-hadn't any such impression
! Its all q surprise designed for Kate
4 cousin"
;! lis it ?'' said Mr. Barkdale. more i
er the dark than ever.
''And how do you suppose We fouu
:. = it all out ?" demanded the tall girl wit
n the black eyes and scarlet feather in he
ID hat.
s. 81 haven't the least idea .
1--WE found your letter to Kate. an
!, VIC girls read it. and we resolved to TAX
IA you and her by surprise. She is to /
tn here in half an hour Barbara-that
IT Barbara Morris, in the blue merir
dress. with turn of her long lash,
ne toward the golden haired girl. pretend
~ that she has moved here. and Kate is
come and speed the evening with Ba
bara. Won't it be joke o.
''Stnpendous p said our hero, grad
- ally beginning to comprehend the ia
M that he was mistaken for some one ell:
lst What will Kate say when she Sc
you here p calculated another mai
he merrily.
IN ..Ah. what indeed % said Mr. Bar
=" s dale, wondering in what words he cou
inc best explain matters.
ar .Of course we shall look the 9th
ian way while you are kissing and huggi
&c; her." said Miss Barbara, demurely.
az ~ Very considerate Of you. am sur,
lis observed Mr. Barkdale.
up '.She's the sweetest girl in New Yorl
our exclaimed the tail damsel. enthusiast