St. Landry democrat., 1879-05-17
NOT GREEFNIELD.

A chill December evening, with the
II n and snow forming disagreeable
SIT of conglomeration on the sidewalks,
Iii ga lamps on the corner Pickering
suleoly through the mist, and the wind
,xking one viciously as one turned the
cotner. Not a pleasant evening to as.
tume pos ession of new home; but
necessity knows no law, and Mr.. Bark
dale put up his night>key as he walked
into the red brick house in the middle
OF The block, sincerely hoping that his
new landlady would have common sense
enough to light fire in the grate.
|, it you, sir p Mrs. Hinman quoth
b'smingly. "There's a good fire, and
i.'s all right"
;;Ail right, eh ?' said the bachelor,
le ling the blue tip of his frosty nose, to
whether it had escaped being frozen
, entirely. "Well, I am glad to hear
that Have the trunks come ?'
ooh, yes, sir, and the other things"
"What other things?'' demanded Mr..
Barkdale.
Bat Mrs. Hinman pursed her lips. "I
wasn't to tell, sir, please"
" Rather an eccentric old lady,"
thought Mr.. Barkdale, pushing past her
to the third story front room, which he
had solemnly engaged the day bsfore.
It had been rather dark and dingy
little den by the light of the moon but
how, softened by the coral shine of a
wellhlled CRATE, it wore quite another
and brighter aspect.
"Velvet paper on the walls, gilt panel
in~s, red carpet, and Sleepy Hollow
cusir," thought Mr.. Barkdale, glancing
stound. "Not so uncomfortable, after
xiI. When I get my things unpacked it
will eeem quite homelike.'
lie set down his valise in the corner,
'ci berately opened it, took out pair OF
slippers, and invested his tired feet there
III. Next be laid off his oyercoat.
''Now for cigar" thought he.
But the brown-layered weed was yet
in his hand, when there was hustle and
Il tlutter, and whisper, and merry
noise on the landing outside, and the
door few open, as it by magic, to admit
hsl' dozen blooming girls.
Mr.. Barkdale dropped his cigar and
retressed step or two.
"Don't be alarmed" said the tallest
an prettiest of them, sit is only sur
prise"
A very agreeable one, Pm sure"
ssid our friend, recovering in some de-
gree his presence of mind.
there's no mistake, I hope," said
y-!'ow-tressed blonde. "Your name ID
not Greenfield 2"
so mistake at all, I assure yeu,"
said Mr.. Barkdale. "Of course it's not
,tf enfield. Sit down, ladies'"
And he pushed forward the Sleepy
Hollow chair, camp-stool and two
rheumatic reception chairs, which were
all the accommodations presented by the
apartment.
But. instead of accepting his courtesy
the girls all fluttered out again, giggling,
and in a second, before he could realize
this strange condition of affairs, they
were back again, bearing benches and a
table>cloth, bouquets, pyramid of ma.
caronies, piled up plates of sandwiches,
Of frosted cake, and q mysterious some
thing like unto an ice cream freezer
Tho golden-tressed girl clapped her
handa
6 You needn't think we are doing
tttls or you, SIR" she said.
"',h," said MIR. Bsrkdale, bashfully,
!" - hadn't any such impression"
itisall q surprise designed for Kate's
cousin"
$ it?" said Mr.. Barkdale, more in
the dark than ever.
And how do you suppose we found |
it all out?n 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
then We girls read it, and we resolved to
take you and her both by surprise, She