The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-07-31
TIE BAOHELOR's SURPRISE.

and snow forming disagreeable sort of
conglomeration on the sidewalks, the gas
lamps at the corner fiickering sullenly
through the mist, and the wind taking one
| viciously as one came around the corner.
Not pleasant evening to assume posses
sion of new home, but necessity knows
no law, and Mr.. Barkdale put up his night
key into the red-brick house in the mid
| die of the block, sincerely hoping that his
new landlady would have common sense
to light fire in the CRATE.
as it you, sirg" Mrs. Hinman quoth,
beamingly. "there is a good fire, and its
all right"
"Ail right, eh ." said the bachelor, feel
ing the blue tip of his frosted nose to see
whether it had escaped being frozen off
entirely. "Well, / am glad to hear that
'On, yes, sir, and the other things"
"What other thingsg demanded Mr..
Barkdale.
but mrs. Hinman pursed her lips up.
Il 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 dav before.
It had been rather dark and dingy
little den by the light of the moon; but
now, softened by the coral shine of we'll
| filled crate, 1t wore quite another and a
brighter aspect.
.sVelvet paper on the walls, gilt panel
| ing, red carpet and Sleepy Hollow chair"
thought Mr.. Barkdale, glancing around,
Not so uncomfortable, after all. When /
get NV things unpacked, it will seem quite
homelike. 81
He set down his valise in the corner,
! deliberately opened il. took out PAIR OF
| Shippers and invested his tired feet there
/ IN Nart ba1 1uid off hia nvarcnaf
"Now fer q cigar" thought he.
But the brown-layered weed lwas yet in
his hand, when there was bustle, and q
| fiutter and q whisper, and merry noise on
| the landing outside, and the door flew
! open, as il by magic, to admit a dozen
blooming, laughing girls.
Mr.. Barkdale dropped his cigar, and re-
tired q step or two.
| Don't be alarmed, )" said the tallest and
prettiest of the bevy; tits only sur
prise.
"a very agreeable one, I'm sur" !" said
our friend, recovering in some degree his
presence of mind. - e
sThere's no mistake, / hope" said a
| vellow-fressed blonde. "YOur name is not
Greenfield" 2" .ft
.No mistake at all, 1 assure hyeu," said
| Mr.. Barkdale, "Of course it is not Green
field. Sit down, ladies'"
| And he pushed forward the Sleepy Hol-
low chair, a camp stool and two rheuma-
tic reception chairs, which were all the
accommodations presented by his apart
ment.
But, instead of accepting his courtesy,
the girls all fiuttered out again, ,giggling,
| and in q second, before he could realize
the strange condition Of affairs, they were
back again, bearing benches and table
i cloth, dishes, bOquets, pyramid OF mac
l caronies, pild up plates OF sandwiches, Of
frosted cake, and q mysterious something
like unto an icecream freezer. !.t.- -
The golden-tressed girl clapped her
hands.
"You incident think we are doing all
this for you, sir" she said. -
sOh," said Mr.. Barkdale, bashfully, II
-I-hadn't any such impression" 4.
| "Irs all surprise designed for Kate's
aIs it W said Mr.. Barkdale, more in the
dark than ever.
sand how do you suppose We found it
/ all out demanded the tall girl with the
black ewes and scarlet feather in her hat.
81 haven't the least idea"
1--WE found your letter to Kate, and we
girls read it. and we resolved to take you
and her both by surprise: She Is 70 be
here in half an hour. Barbars-that IS
1
| with turn of her long lashes toward the
| goldcn-haired girl, "pretends that she has
moved here; and Kate is to come and
spend the evening with Barbara. Won't
it be joker"
.Stupendous said our hero, gradually
beginning to comprehend the fact that he
| was mistaken for some one else.
"What will Kate say when she sees you
here ~ calculated another maid, merrily.
@Ahl what, indeed ?" said Mr.. Barkdale,
wondering in what words he could best
explain matters.
"Of course we shall all look the other
way while you are kissing and hugging
herr said Miss Barbara, demurely.
Every considerate of you, am sure, "
| observed Mr.. Barkdale..
"She's the sweetest girl in New York,
exclaimed the tall damsel, enthusiastically
4 az am one of her dearest friends. We
work our sewing-machines side by side at
Madame Gridard's. Hasn't she ever writ
ten about Alice Mooref'
al don't just this moment recall that
she has" s
.Oh, well, it doesn't matter" said Alice
laJust you sit down, and be good boy
while we fix the tables. Aren't those loses
beautifulg My goodness gracious, how as
tonished Kate will be