The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1883-09-14
hen Que least exnects III

"Aa'amr said Juliuo, his eye
balls rolling like ivory spheres in
hIs head.
alas be been so all his lite Z"
said Cornelia.
"Bren how, ma'sm 7" demanded
old Julius.
"Crazy, of cOurse,' nodded Miss
Colebrook.
ale ain't crazy, nla'am n shouted
the ancient negro Ia desperation.
"Nor neber wasn't
"My good man. said Cornelia,
mildly, ''it is no use TO attempt TO
blind me with regard TO these mat
ters. know all about them.'
"Bless my heart,' cried old Ju.
Illus, tugging with both hands at
bis white wool, ''ifl doesn't bellebe
we's all done gone crazy togedder,
AN | is de mad,lest Oh de lot Y
"lt doesn't sigpity,' said Corne.
liza. "Only wish you TO compre-
bend thnt am not to be deceived.
| like the looks OF the house very
much. / think III take it. The
rest is-n
"But assure you, ma'am,n said
the gentleman himself, who now
appeared on the sage, leading u
magnificent stone .cOlOred English
hound 10y silken cord, sit is not
to let.n
IL will take the house, said Cor.
nelia, with a plying glance at this
modern Hamlet. Aud then she
eourtesied low aud left the place
rather glad to have escaped with
out a personal conflict with the
crazy man.
III dare say the neighborhood will
be- delighted 10 get rid OF hlm,'
she thought. "But really he was
very pleasant aud gentlemanly. l
feel very sorry for Ills unfortunate
mental infImity."
SO she went straightway down to
Mr.. Lettcm's, the real estate.agent.
"Mr. Lettem," said she, 81 have
determined to take No. SO Portland
Place. ...
"No. 90 Portland Place. repeat
ed Mr.. Lettem, fixing pair OF
ponderous silver spectacles across
the bridge CT his nose aud opening
one of u pile OF gigantic lcdgers.
Observation-Disclosures! But 06
Portland Place isn't on oMr list,
Miss Colebrook. It's o."
"Bul you sent me thcrew cried
Cornelia jumping oh her chair in a
sort OF panic.
III don't think | could possibly
have done such u thing said Mr..
Letter. "rhe house placed on our
hands by tEe landlord was No. 81;
OF that am quite certain. James p
to u long.legged, lank .face, boy,
who was teasing the cat in the
front office, "what house was that
yen put the bill on in Portland
Place this morningr
81 forgo. whether you said o. or
96 when | got there, Boss" con.
lessed he, twisting himself into all
manner OF apolo2etic shapes; $50 l
put one on both the houses"
Mr.. Lettem caught up his boot.
jack with an exclamation OF wrath,
James ducked behind the desk aud
Miss Colebrook uttered q cry OF
dismay.
"Tben," she cried wringing her
hands, tive ibeen to the wrong
house p
"No "a was the one" said Mr..
Lettem, still with vengetul eyes
fixed OH the unlucky James.
"Aud | went to 96-and asked
the respectable colored man there
all about his masters insanity
said poor Cornela. "Oh, what
shall | dot what shall | dOP
''Go back and explain matters,'
suggested the agent.
"Never,' said C0rnelia.
Aud she went away in tears, and
the agent did not let any of his
houses, for nothing could have per-
suaded Miss Colebrook to 60 back
to Portland Place. fq
1t happened that she was that
evening engaged to a little "parlor
musicap al the residence of her
friend, Mrs. Overhaugh.
"I'ln sure | can never sing 'Les
Bellies Vieunoises' after all I've
gone through today" said Cor.
nelia; "but l suppose l shall have
to try"
But the very FIRST person she saw
in the crowded drawing-room, after
she had exchanged greetings with
her hostess, was the crazy MAD of
SO Portland Place! W ui
"Do come here, Mr.. Melton,n
said Mrs. Overbaugh adiantly,
"and let me introduce yOn to Miss
Colebrook. COnney, this Is Mr..
John Melton, the artist"
Cornelia turned scarlet as he
bowed to her,
"Ob,' she cried, "can you ever
forgive me for that terrible blunder
! made this morningi Itwas the
wrong house the stupid man had
put the bill on, and ! supposed you
were the lunatig who lived iu No.
96. .hiD 9n
spray don't mention it," said Mr..
Meltont "or II you remember it ut
all remember it az merely u joke.r
But are y0p sure you forgive
mep said Misa Colebrook implor-
lngly.
WOuita sura y said MIR Maltoh