The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-10-21

came the .!anltor's vile at my door.
"Fourth floors compliments to the
third floor, and will feel obliged if he
will favor with little peace and quiet
ness, long enough to write letter"
How 1 hated that woman!
So we lived for month, exchanging
constant missiles of warfare. I could
cheerfully have given up that miserable
French fiat, and gone back to boarding,
only unluckily 1 had engaged it tor a
year. The fourth floor elocutioned, and
had friends to select private readings,
whose voices were deeper than Hamlet's,
and more sonorous than that of a Char
lctte Cushman. She was charitable,
and had classes of heavy-booted girls
there twice week, to sing hymns and
learn to sew A single LAZY, indeed!
If she had been a quadruple lady she
could not have made more noise, nor en-
joyed the making of it more.
At the end of the month, however; an
accident happened which turned the cur
rent of my whole life.
I went on q picnic I don't often 60
to affairs Of that kind; but this was an
especially select affair, gotten up by my
friend Harold Webster.
l went, and there met Barbara
Wills, and fell straightway in lose with
her. She wasn't exactly too young, but
neither am land to my taste, full
blown rose is sweeter than a bud, wher-
ever you may find it growing. She was
dark-eyed, with full, cherry lips, satin
brown hair, and a complexion as fresh
as roses and ivory. We talked-our
ideas coincided exactly. 1t seemed as if
our souls were two looking-glasses, to
mirror each others"
AS I spoke I gently pressed her little
hand, and she smiled back unutterable
thinga
"Miss Willis" 1 cried, "why is it that
we have never met beforee l feel as if
we were old friends"
1 went to my friend Webster, who
was making up quadrilles on the upper
deck. We were accompanied by an ex-
cellent brass band.
Harold" said l, ~ can never thank
you enough for introducing me to that
angel.
"Do you mean Barbara Willis, said
he; "well, think she Is rather fine
girl
We grew confidential as we sat TO-
gether on the promenade deck, and
watched the moonlit ripple over the sur
face of the water.
"a bachelors life is but half a life,
Miss Willis" said l.
{" I can readily imagine that, said she
softly.
81 live in fat confessed l.
edo you?" said Barbara (the sweet
old English name was Just like herr.
"Why, how strange So do [ !"
"Isn't it dreadful |" said I.
"Horrid + said she, closing her ROSY
lips as if she meant it.
"And there's female dragon occu-
pies the floor above me, and torments
me out of my life.
"Weli, it this isn't remarkable coin
cidence," said Barbara. "There's de-
testahe old crab of bachelor under me,
who takes all the pleasure out of my ex-
istence."
"Should two lives be thus blighted9 ?"
said I, emphatically.
"I-I don't think they should"
said Barbara, looking intently at the
bouquet Of pansies that she held in her
hand.
1t was midnight when the boat land
ed. Harold Webster came up.
81 promised to see you home, Miss
Willis" said he, rubbing his hands
briskly
"You need not trouble yourself, Mr..
Webster" said l. az shall be most
happy"
l called hack; helped the divine
Barbara in, feeling more and more as if
I were walking in cloudland.
"Where shall drive tor said the
"No. 60 Ravenal street, fourth door,"
said she.
"What 2" cried I, "not the 'Fernan.
dino Flats ,"
EXACTLY" said she
"That's where live"
care you the third foor," she cried
out, breathless.
care you the fourth, counter-ques-
toned.
But you're not crab at all.
"Nor are you a dragon On the con-