New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-09

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most of the ground fOors of these houses
we're let as Offices, and thought it quite
possible that the upstairs might be laid Oul
in true palatial STYLE I had romanced 81
much about the establishment in which
now found myself that, like many Others
who stray from the truth, at last firmly
believe in my own lies. D-v
LOOK" said johnson, when we got in
side, you don't often see q door like this
It's ali oak came down one night when
there was no one about, and tried it. I'll
lay q level tenner there amt such another
door in London"
The door was certainly very well in its
way as a street door; but as l had long
been imported from q town famous for it's
medieval architecture, and boasting q
cathedral thousand years old, built when
strong street doors were almost as valuable
40 they are likely to become under the
regime of Colonel Henderson, l could not
! for the life of me see what johnson had to
| rejoice about A few stops further on l be-
| gan to divine the secret.
"You could almost drive coach and four
| up these stairs" when we had reached
| the first floor, and we're about to enter on
the second story-"they're oak. too; and
look at the banisters-did you ever see any
thing like thems-they'd bear the weight of
regiment of soldiers. And here's panel.
ing! should like to know where there's
any more like it. never see any,"
My heart began to sink rapidly. But with
the destruction of my hopes the desire for
dinner grew afarningly.
We were gradually passing up to the top
of the house, and still he found fresh beau
ties, and seemed never tired Of dilsting upon
them. But was anxious to reach the goal,
and pushed on, though sadly. GG hG4
"There, now. you can see right over Gray's
Inn gardens" I've were at the summit of his
abode). II don't think there's finer pros
poet in the world than from here. Talk
about tho country! Well, / lived 1t Peck
ham for three years. but give me this in
preference to any provincial neighborhood.
! Come along; know my little lady will be
glad to zee you"
Ihad bean paying but scant attention to
his prattle, having been endeav0ring to OBJ
stain . Whit of the dinner preparations:
and though soup, fish and entrees had
gradually fallen from the mental pro-
Qramme, was in that state when the Odor
Of Q steak and onions, or the smell of q
good Irish stew, is Paradise itself.
We entered q fairly sized room, not ovsn
burdened with fnrniture, and, though the
weather was cold, not provided with more
fire than could be squeezed into corner of
the CRATE. Worse than all there was no
perceptlble preparation for dinner.
"Stufi!" I sOliloquized; ''this is large
house; the meal is being arranged in come
other room; that bright CLEAN of hope! is
the reason why Mrs. johnson is not here to
receive u.s." Again'I listened to the voice
Of pluto"
"Tbst's q nobby glass on the chimney
piece. gave q bran ney f'.pun note for Il.
Everything's good here. l bought these
curtains at Wholesale house, and if you're
Q Judge you can tell what l paid for EN-"
And 40 he went on through the catalogue
of his furniture, just as though it were
quite as good as in my widest dreams
had pictured it. Or better.
At last the room door opened and l
turned eagerly, expecting to hear the sum-
mons for dinner, but my luck to follow my
host in his expressions, was dead out, and
the youngster l had seen the day before
bursu in.
"Hallo, Tommy. give dadda a kise, and
then go and shake hands with Mr.. Chelt
man"
Horror the child's hands were covered
with the residum of a slice of bread and
treaCle, portions of which were also left on
his face, and as he was not at all bsshful,
but climbed up on my knee (leaving his
landmarks, by tho way. and, in his efforts
to kiss mo, gradually secured his face upon
mine, my situation was not to be envied.
"Where's mamma. Tommy"
"CleaniDg herself, pa SHE'S got all her
best things out, and she's been at it ever
since dinner"
homely beetsteak or the Irish stews Alas (.
rs my hopes Of fsOd became fainter my
hunger increased tenfold; and had the junior |
Johnson been but properly washed, could |
have devOured him.
Said "Pluto," 81 60 and fetch my little |
lady" 't-f
Another half hour passed, and gradually |
sank into q doze. during which Tdreamed |
that, seated at . banquet, obsequious wait |
ers Wed in placing dishes before me, but |
that some unseen power prevented my par
taking of them. Tantasis-like aAr, but
soon voice arose and dissolved the dread
."Allov me, Mrs. johnson, Mr.. Cheltman;
Mr.. Cheltman, Mrs. johnson"
Istarted up and mumbled out something
about great pleasure. But what sight
met my eyes! had never suspected John
son of being a joker-anything but that
little lady" in its literal sense, more espe-
tally as he was q little man, with little
voice, and a little mild manner. A tall,
,aunt woman, dressed in heavy black vel
ret, stood before me, and in deep sepulchral
ones said l was welco me under her humble
oof. She plunged at my hand, then dropped
as if she did not care at all about it, and
tridiDg across the room like LADY Mac
'eth" or q female hlppopotamus, impress
vely seated herself, and said, as though
he were giving out verse from the prayer
'oOk:
Tommy, you naughty boy, l have warned
on, that you should not make yourself 60
irty. Go out of the room, slr, and make |
ourself tidy. have not forgotten your
onduct Of Friday. Exit Tommy, howlipg
turning to me, hope, sir, you like our sit
alton. It is airy, light, comfortable, and
This was said in SO defiant manner that
was obliged to reply that thought it was
dness showed itself in my face, for, toss
1g her head contemptuOusly, she almost
hOutod:
"Some folks are never satisfied. They
ever know what they want should like
, have the handling of lot of these con-
persons. I'd tame their proud
somschs for them. Jeffery, where is yes
,rdsy's paper9"
Had this fierce matron but known how
umbled my interior had become, even she
,uld not have failed to be satisfied As it
as, on my agreeing with her views, she ap-
cared Modified and relapsed into silence.
ilent she remained for nearly an hour, ex- !
opt that now and agsin she would look up
ON the police reports, to which she seemed
uch addicted as . kind Of light refresh
ent. to express dreadful Wishes about Ger G
i'm criminals: why not burn the brute
liver I'D have him tIampled to death ?
ith wild Irish laborers!' "The vixen! I'd
sp her face for hertz, Such were few of v
e mildest escapes from her safety valve
uriBg oil this time Pluto remained quite q
IL, fascinated by his wife's glance, which 3
sited him whenever he moved. no matter q
~ algatly. Once. when he was about to !. q
AXE remark, she seemed to impale him >,
lth her eye, and his mouth closed u though O.
worked with q spring. 2.