Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-10-05
THE HOUSE CLEANING.

up process of last fall.''
Mrs. Benedict slowly dropped four Jumps
of sugar into his coffee, then handed it to
him, utterly regardless of the misery in his
face.
Dreadful tearing up!-that's perfect
nonsense, Mr.. Ammidon. AS if you were
very much Inconvenience last October
while the carpets were up and the curtains
down and the painting going on. Of course
l shall clean; it's my habit, and has been
for twenty -odd years."
Mr.. Ammidon gave little groan at the
sad fate that awaited him-that awaited
all bachelors in boarding houses-in the
shape of several consecutive days of bare
floors and the odor of soap; Of cold dinners
eaten wherever it was convenient to set the
dining table; of Mrs. Benedict in a chro-
mic state of hustle and crossness, and the
servants impudent, tired ana sulky; of
wide-open doors and windows; where the
draughts tore through.
He was a gentleman, however, Mr.. Am
midon was, and so repressed his ill-temper
and disgust and mental maledictions that
house cleaning was purely malicious in
stlgatlon of his satanic majesty for the
torment of mankind.
swell be so nice and sweet and clean,"
Mrs. Benedict went on, with horrible cheer
fulness, land I've been thinking that I'll
have your rooms newly papered. Mr.. Am
midon. Pm sure you'll like that ?''
= 80
And he cut his meal short and rushed
out Of doors into the cool, fresh October
evening air.
"Ah, bah can already experience the
agonies of last fall Good Heaven the
woman must be made Of cast-iron to at
tempt such siege again. 1t is no wonder
her husband died if he suffered two attacks
Of housekeeping year, and shall die or
60 crazy unless leave her-but suppose
all women are equally idiotic.''
A groan of genuine misery broke from
his lips as he strobe along, his hat jammed
over his eyes-very unlike the handsome
gentleman he really was, with his frank,
CHEEKY face and pleasant mouth, with the
white even teeth, and the curling,
thick, dark hair, and the grave, intelligent
eyes, that nothing could ruf11e as the idea
of Mrs. Benedict's semi-annual tearing-u up
| "A courteous, refined, genial gentleman
| whom society found a puzzle because of his
| perSiStant bachelOrhOOd, when it knew of
| at least half dozen who would have jump
| ed at the faintest chance of an offer of mar
rio fropo y1,o low
why he had never fallen in loye-and whom
pretty little Mrs. Baldwin, the b1ue-eyed,
blonde-haired widow, with no incum-
| brance, a house of her own, and an income
! Of three thousand dollars year, often felt
piqued with, that he was so very unimpres-
sionable.
So Mr.. Ammidon strobe along, almost
mechanically turning corners, his pace
gradually growing slower. and then all at
once he heard the brilliant tones of piano
as some skilled hand played, and, looking
up, found himself in front of warmly
lighted, CHEEKY, hospitable house-tlle very
house where Mrs. Bessie Baldwin lived.
The contrast was so strikingly vivid be-
tween the pictures in his imagination that
he involuntarily paused-one, the picture
of the way Mrs. Benedictss boarding house
would look next day, the other of how Mrs
Baldwin's elegant little home always ap-
peared when he called there, and AS it ap-
peared now through the lace curtains
quiet, warm, hospitable, inviting.
And like a revelation from heaven it
came to him-au idea, a determination that
was so strong. SO resistless, that he walked
up Mrs. Baldwin's front steps and rand the
door-bell, wondering as he did why the
music had ceased, and where the player
had gone.
"I'll marry her if she'll have me, and
then we'll see how many times year the
house is cleaned; that is if"
Then the door opened ann the maid in
vited him into the parlor, with the infor=
nation that Mrs. Baldwin had Just run
into neighbours by the side gate, but
would be back directly if the sick child was
better she had gone to see.
MIR. Ammidon ensconced himself in the
easiest chair in the room-a great, deep,
cushioned affair was drawn up by the little
low table under the chandelier.
''Bless her pretty blue eyes Gone to see
a sick child; like that like it. What
blessing it occurred to me to offer myself
to such good hearted, cheerful, tender,
fond little woman as she is; and what a
miraculous fool have been not to have
done it long ago. Why, honestly, feel as
if 1 had been in love with her all along
and I believe have been, and never knew
it..
His handsome head leaned comfortably
against the cushions, and his well. shaped,
, well-booted feet were crossed on low ot-
toman near the fire that burned coz,ly and
brightly. He waited n--twenty-thirty
minutes, and when she had not come at the
, expiration of three quarters of an hour Mr..
Ammidon was conscious of keen disap-
point5aent that astonished himself. .
cat all events my object shall be accom-
plished, 80 far as | can accomplish it, he
thought.
And he took his gold and ivory pen. and
wrote an ardent, courteous, undeniable
eager statement of his case, asking her to
be his beloved wife, and begged an answer
: on the morrow, when she should he visit.