Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-08-02
MIR. HALLS MISTAKE

MISS CARSON CdlD6 10 OHlCd9O D6IOT6
the great fire, or, as she always express
ed il, the great cOntlagratiOn." She
kept boarders, and the struggle she
made to at least come out even at the
end of the month gave ber face pinch
ed and worried expression which her
blandeSt smile could lot wholly oblit-
crate.
Her boardeis were live in number and
were all gentlemen.
Mr. Hall, all old bachelor of 80, had
boarded with Miss Carson for six years,
though he threatened to leave on an av-
erage of once Il week.
Mr.. Wilkins, Mr.Crane, and Mr. Stowe
were statesmen in a large dry goods
house. They occasionally presented
their landlady with gloves, handkel-
chiefs, OF the latest thing in neck wear,
liz return for which kindness she darn
ed their stockings and replaced missing
buttons.
Last, though 10y no means least, for
he was six feet tall, there WAS Mr.. Fay,
Ii young lawyer who had taken room
Immediately under the mansard roof,
and who spent most of his evenings
reading ponderous volumes that his
landlady declared made her headache
even to look at.
At first Miss Carson WAS inclined to
weave romances about Mr.. Fay. He
was so handsome. SO quiet. and rVserv-
ed. Was he somebody in disguise,
or was he suffering from an unrrquited
love? As months passed Oh. however,
and nothing startling was heard con-
cerning him, she ceased to think mach
about him, merely regarding him As II
rather unsociable young man totally
wrapped up in his studies.
Miss Carson made it IA point to al ways
show d steady sympathy with whatever
interested her bOarders.
If Mr.. Stowe told her that the White
Stockings had beaten the Bostous. or
some other thrilling item of news con-
nected with the notional idiocy, she
would exclaim. L am surprised! or.
What pityr with HI interest that was
only equaled by her ignorance of the
great American game.
But it was severe trial to the good
orthodox lady when Mr. Hall, who was
an admirer of Ingersoll, would say: 81
tell you, Miss Carson, it is only ques =
tion time when church-going will be re-
garded as mere superstition. People
will laugh over it as they now do over
witchcraft."
Miss Carson would not argue. She
would merely throw him sickly smile,
and adruitly change the subject, wishing
with gentle sigh that MIR. Hall would
marry woman who would change his
wicked views.
One cold winter evening the laudlsdy
did not appear, as MAS her usual Gus
tom, behind the colf lri at the dinuer
table. odd girl sick ~ asked Mr. Will
kins of the company in general.
No." replied Mr.. Crane; "She has gone
to the Twenty-Second Street depot to
meet little girl, her niece, who is com
ing here to live"
"If she is going 10 take child to
raise that settles it with me-" grow led
M. Hall, in a deep bass voice.
Il shall leave at the end of the month.
What is that III front of you, Stowe? a
meat pie, Of course! Meat pie Is an in
vsntion of boarding house keepers to
save scraps. Miss Carson says she new
Ell gives us hash, but she either puts it
between crusts and calls it meat pie, or
she adds onions and calls ia an 'lIiSh
stewr
~ rose by any other name would
smell as sweet" observed Mr.. wilkins.
"To-muIrow will Ue Sunday" contin-
ued Mr.. Hall" and that means goldfish
balls for breakfast. VIII somebody tell
ME the connection between goldfish balls
ard Sunday morning, that they should
appear regularly on that particular day.
Is there any creed that insists on cod
fish balls for Sunday breakfast?"
As no one volunteered an answer To
this question Mr.. Hall finished his din
ner with the remark that he hoped soon
to take his meals where he would be
served as IA gentleman ought to be, and
not be fed like Il tramp.
Miss Carsun's bUarders were rather
surprised 10 find her niece II full grown
young lady instead of the little girl they
had expected to see. 1t wunld he IA diff
icult matter to describe Flo Sheldon.
Size WAS not ii beauty. Her nose was a
trife tip-tilted' and her mouth little
100 large. though her teeth were white
and even; but her ewes were the glory
of her face. Tuey we're large, dark,
bright; they were shaded by long, curl
ing lashes; they were such alluring, pro-
vOking, bewitchlng eyes!
81 have always mentioned Flo az my
{. little niece said Miss Carson at the
table. 81 can scarcely realize
that this tall young lady is the little
girl in short dresses parted from live
years ago. All, we'll! have changed II
great deal in that time myself"
Not at all" said Mr.. Hall. with Il
sudden and most unacCountaOle attack
of politeness. 81 assure you you look az
Young as er-er-rosy as you did six
years ago. Time has not put silver
threads among the gold. or or -er-tri-
fled with your appearance In any way"