The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-12-31
A Bachelors Surprise Party.

side walks, the gas.lamps ut the corner
nlekerlng sullenly through the mlst,and
the wind taking one vlciously as one
turned the corner.
Not II pleasant evening to assume
possession of q new home but necessity
knows no law, and Mr.. Barkdale put up
his night-key into the red brick house In
the middle of the block, sincerely hop
ing that his new landlady would have
common sense enough to light fire In
the CRATE.
at Is you, sir ?" Mrs. Hinman quoth
beamingly. "There's good fire, and
It's all right"
"All right, ell 2" said the bachelor,
feeling the blue tip of his frosty nose, to
see whether II had escaped being frozen
Off entirely. Well, Pm glad to hear
that. Have the trunks come ?"
"Oh yes, sir, and the other things"
"What other things ?" demanded
Mr. Barkdale.
Mrs. Hinmnn pursed her lips.
{" wasn't to tell, sir, please"
g 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 room 10y the light of the moon
but now, softened by the choral shine
of II well.iilled CRATE, it wore quite an
other and brighter aspect.
"Velvet paper on the walls, gift pan
nellings, red carpet and Sleepy Hollow
chair" thought Mr.. Barkdale, glancing
around Not so uncomfortable, after
all. When get my things unpacked it
will seem quite homelike."
He set his valise down in the corner,
deliberately opened it, took out pair
of slippers, and invested his tired feet
therein. Next he laid Off his over
coat.
Now for cigar" thought he.
But the hrown-layard weed was yet
in his hand, when there was hustle,
and flutter, and whisper, and
merry noise on the landing outside,
and the door flew open, as if by magic
to admit half dozen blooming, laugh
ing girls.
Mr.. Barkdale dropped his cigar, and
retreated step or two.
Don't be alarmed" said the tallest
and prettiest of them: sits only
surprise"
"a very agreeable one, Pm sure"
said our friend, recovering in some de-
gree his presence of mind.
There's no mistake, hope" said n
yellow-tressed blonde. Your name is
not Greenfield p''
&C No mistake at all, L assure YOU"
said Mr.. Barkdale. "Of course it is
not Greenfield. Sit down, ladies'"
And he pushed forward the Sleepy
Hollow chair, a campstool and two
rheumatic reception chairs, which were
all the accommodation presented by his
apartment.
But, instead of accepting his courtesy,
the girls all fluttered out again, gig
Cling, and in second, before he could
realize this strange condition of affairs,
they were back again, bearing benches
and q table cloth, bouquets, pyramid
of macaronies, piled up plates of sand
wiches, of frosted cake, and mysteri-
Gus something like unto an ice cream
freezer.
The golden-tressed girl clapped her
hands.
"You needn't think we're doing this
for you, SIR" she said.
"Oh" said Mr.. Barkdale, bashfully.
ell hadn't any such impression"
"It's all surprise designed for
Kate's cousin.p
g. Is it ?" said Mr.. Barlkdale, more in
the dark than ever.
''And how do you suppose we found
it all out Y'1 demanded the tall girl with
the black eyes and scarlet feather in her
hat.
{" haven't the least idea."
"We found your letter to Kate, and
and we girls read it, and we resolved to
take you and her both by surprise. She
is to be here in half an hour. Barbara
that is Barbara Morris in the blue
merino dress" with turn of her long
lashes towards the golden-h haired girl -
pretends that she has moved here
and Kate is to come and spend the
evening with Barbara. Won't it be a
joke ?" .c.u u
f" Stupendous 70 said our hero, gradu-
ally beginning to comprehend that he