Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-05-31
A BACHELORS SURPRISE.

rain and snow forming a disagrceable sort
of conglomeration on the sidewalks; the
gas-lishts at the corner fickering sullenly
through the mist, and the wind piercing
yiciouslv rs one came around the corner.
Not pleasant evening TO assume pos
session of new house; but necessity
knows no law.
Mr.. Barksdale put his night-key into
the door of the red brick house, in the
middle of the block, sincerely hoping that
his new landlady would have the common
sense to light ire IN the CRATE.
"Is it you, sir?" asked Mrs. EIinman
beamingly. "Thcre's good fire, and its
all right"
"All right, ell 2" returned the bachelor
feeling the blue tip of his frosted nose, to
see whether it had escaped being frozen
oil entirely. "Well I'm glad to hear that.
Have the trunks Gomez"
ooh, yes sir; and the other things"
"What other things?" demanded Mr..
Barksdale.
But Mrs. lIinman pursed up her thin
lips.
"I wasn't to tell, sir, please"
"Rather an eccentric old lady"
thought Mr.. Barksdale, pushing past her
TO the third story front room, which he
had solemnly engaged the day before.
1t had been n dark and dingy little den
by the light of the moon; but now soft
cncd by the coral glow OF well filled
crate, it had quite another and different
aspect. Velvet paper OH the walls; gilt
paneling, red carpet, sleepy-hollow
chair.
"Not so uncomfortable, after ALL" Mr..
Barksdalc thought, glancing around.
"Whcn l get my things unpackcd it'll
seem quito homc-like."
He put down his valise in the corner,
deliberately opened it, took out pair of
slippers and invested his tired feet there
in. Then he laid of his overcoat.
"Now for II cigar" he thought.
The brown weed was yet in his hand
when there came a hustle and flutter,
and a whisper and merry noise on the
landing OH the outside; and then the door
flew wide open as if by magic, and ad-
mitted half dozen blooming, laughing
girls.
Barksdale dropped his cigar and COM
meuccd retrcatng.
4, II. Il lao toI III
prettest of the bevy; sits only 4 sur
prise"
GA very agreeable one, am sure" re-
turned our friend, recovering In some de-
gree his presence of mind.
"There's no mistake, hope" said
yellow trcsscd blonde. "Your name Is
Mott Greenfeld?"
"No mistake about that, assure you,"
said Mr.. Barkslalc. "Of course 1t Is not
Greenfield Sit down ladies'" and he
pushed forward the slcepy-hollow chair,
camp-stool and two rheumatic reception
chairs, which were all the accommoda-
tions possessed by his apartment.
But instead of accepting his courtesy
the girls all futtered out again, giggling,
and in minute, before he could realized
this strange condition Of affairs, they were
back again, bearing benches, table cloth,
dishes, bouquets, pyramid of maccarO-
nies, piled up plates Of sandwiches, frosted
cake, and mysterious something that
looked like an icc-cream freezer. -..
The golden-tressed girl clasped her
hands. "You needn't think we're doing
all this for you, sir" she said.
"Oh," replied Mr.. BarkSdale bashfully,
"I-I- hadn't any such impression"
'It's all surprise designed for Kate's
cousin"
SIS it, indecd?'' said Mr.. Barksdale,
more In the dark than ever.
"And how do you suppose we found it
all out:" demanded the tall girl with the
black eyes and scarlet feather in her hat.
Il haven't tile least idca," said Mr..
Barksdale.
"we found your letter 10 Kate, and we
girls read il, aud resolved 10 take you and
her by surprise. She is to be here in half
an hour. Barbara-tiiatis is Barbara Morris
in the blue merno dress-pretends that
she has moved here, and Kate is to come
and spend the evening with her. Won't
ii be fun?"
"Stupendous.- ~ cried our hero, grad
ually beginning to comprehend the fact
that he WAS mistaken for somebody else.
"what will Kate say when she sees you
here?" cried another maiden.
"Ah, what indeed?" said Mr. Barks-
dale, wondering i'm what words he could
best explain matters.
"Of course we shall look the other way
when you are hugging and kissing"
"Very considerate of you," observed
Barksdale.
swell, you just sit down, and be good
boy, while we fix the table. Amt those
roses beautiful? How astonished Kate 4
will be-"
"She can't be more so than am - said
Mr.. Barksdale, sinking into the sleepy
hollow chair, and passing his handker-
chief across his forehead in a vague way.
"Well, it's a mere matter Of fate" he
to himself; 81 can't see Low