Smyrna times., 1882-06-21
Pretty Miss Archibald.


ably the world at large would agree
with my niece Elinor when she says:
"Such dreadful life, auntie! How
can you bear the monotOny. to say
nothing of the annOyances? 2"
ElinOr has always eaten cream from
u silver spoon, so to speak, aud having
just married, and being consequently
surrounded by a deeper rOse-colored
atmosphere than usual, it is hardly to
be wondered at that she cannot appre-
ciate the advantages of my situation.
Bless you, child" ! say to her, it
isn't SO very bad after one gets accus-
toned to boarding-house steaks and
muddy coffee, and I've had more ex-
perience in these twelve wears than
you in the whole twenty-f0ur of your
life"
1t is true there have been such funny
incidents at No. II Blank street that
could have given Dickens points for
dozen tales better than PickWick. |
must say, however, that two years ago
this very month something happened
which more nearly demOralized the
tranquil course of affairs at No. u than
anything else.
Brother William and | had been
there for years. and were as nearly
dOmesticated as it is possible to be in a
bOarding-hOuse. William is somewhere
i'll the thirties, and always so staid and
quiet that he has the credit often addi-
tiOnal years. He comes home at night
he is a clerk on a moderate salary
and after tea drops into my room with
the evening paper to read, while knit
or darn his socks. We are neither OF
us oORversationalists, so that after we
have talked half an hour or so lie say.
goodnight and goes off to his own
room. 1t is a trifle humdrum, perhaps
but we've never been used to gayitie,
and on the whole rather enjoy vegeta
ting. Sometimes William suggests
that pipe or Il cigar would add to hi
happiness, Judging from the cOmfor
other men derive from smoking, but
say to him:
No, William, you haven't one baC
habit, and why should you cultivate
one nOW2 When man is growing
bald he is too old 10 begin smoking"
To begin my story. One night
carriage drove up to No. I2, a larg
trunk was lifted off, and girlish fgur
|
parlOr waiting for tea and saw tn
arrival. In clearinghouse there ar
so few occurrences that one cannO
help fostering a little curiosity. and
waited with some impatience for tn
new comer's appearance, But she di
not come, and as William did and tn
tea bell rang, ] proceeded to the dining
room.
The long table was nearly filed, an
tea was half over when a girl appeare
in the doorway, and no one nOticin
her for an instant said in bright an
. charming voice:
Will you give me a seat?"
Then the little maid servant Yhol
she addressed TUNED ana placed he
opposite me. | cannot begin, by an
description, to tell how pretty she wai
She had that plump, peach -blOssoI
beauty which reminds one irresistibl
of summer bloom and brightness. He
e eyes were large, brown, and appealin,
\ her hair full of little curly kna5s an
rings, and When she looked down IL
long lashes rested on her cheeks, an
made her prettier than ever. / coul
see that the eyes of the gentleme
10 were furtively directed toward her, an
/ knew they were filled with admir-
ton, but no one spoke, and l belieN
D. she did not look at any of US.
10 cut the story afseVeral days shol
we did not succeed for that length
time in making her acquaintance,
learned from Maggie, the chambe
maid, that her name was Miss Arch
bald, and that she had come to the eli
for visit, choosing No. ~ as u sto
ping place because her father hi
., known Mrs. Ford, the landlady, befO
she moved to Boston.
ID. For several days, rs | said, she can
to breakfast, dinner and tea, and ga
none of Us the chance even of sayil
Good morning" until it happens
Iat that her eyes met mine by chance, al
:" ] said 1t boldly. Then the Ice W
broken. That noon when William caI
to dinner he fingered in my room
- fore going down, and said finally:
Smith says you were lucky Il
g morning"
Smith is the bank cashier, who 5
4 at the end of the table,
2 "Why9" ASKED I, cHrtly, bFeaki
IL my thread. although ! knew W
w enough WnaG ne meant,
O., Because you have had the Fl
de chance of speaking to Miss &rchieal,
ntt lat Small honorp' said curtly.
ma Well, l don't know" said Villa
AS 1t depends on what you consider
sss ess honor" and by that knew he was
me me much interested In Miss Archibald
= the others.
All our gentlemen are Of that uno
ra tain age at which, if the follies of yOl
crop out, they are much more apparl
=. than at an earlier period. Willie
" however, seemed to be the one amC
them most favored by fortune.
. were at dinner, and Miss Archibf
nearly opposite, was screened from
by a tall glass of celery. Willii
ostensibly to help himself to that v
etable, but as | still think, to remov
from his range of vision, put his hi
out, and instead of lifting the gl
nervously overturned it In Miss Ar,
bald's plate. For the first time 81
we had known her, her face rela
into most charming smile. viii
was too much confused to do anyth
beyond asking incoherently to be
cused, at the same time growing n
and more scarlet, and Miss Arehil
said, langhinglyi
~ thank you for helping me
hoHntifully,"
William made an eTtrayagant
and smlllingly answeredl
'If ] had had the pleasure of he'll
you / should not have done it Il
awkward a manner"
After that there waa no more