The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-25
A BOARDING-HOUS ENGAGEMENT.

house had what might be called superior" air.
Mrs Harrington Williams herself was the wild
ow of country parson of good family. From
him she derived an unusually valuable collec-
ton of pictures, furniture, and household effects
generally, including quantity of old-fashioned
plate bearing the Harrington Williams crest
and pair of massive silver candelabra, which,
on special occasions gave her dining room dis
tinguished air, beyond the ordinary style OF
boarding houses.
Although, however, the house was nearly al
ways full, and the guests mostly of a good pay
ing class, the business did not return large
profit The expenses of an establishment of this
kind, especially when conducted with such lib
crafty as Mrs. Williams's, are necessarily high
Added to this, Mrs. Williams was incumbered
by three daughters the youngest of whom was
now eighteen, and neither she nor the young
ladies had much notion OF economy. After three
or four years, therefore, at the Virginia House,
Mrs. Williamss position had begun to cause her
some anxiety.
The Misses Williams were stylish, cookbook
ing girls. They added immensely to the attrac-
tions of the Virginia House, and secured an I'M
failing supply of bachelor boarders of a pecu-
larly profitable kind. IN the course of sea
sen they would have half dozen promising
frtatons among them; but somehow they had
never yet got beyond Irritation This was
disappointment to Mrs. Williams, who,
| when she condescended to start boarding
house, had been greatly influenced by the
| prospect of finding an opening in life for her
| girls; and the disappointment specially keen
| in the case Of Miss Bertha the eldest. and, In
| point of looks at least, the flower of the flock.
| Bertha, indeed, had made one conquest When
Messrs. Filey e. Tapeham were professionally
engaged IN the settlement of the Rev. Harrlng-
| ton Wiiliamss affairs Mr., Frank Bartlett their
managing man, had been much smitten by Miss
| WilliamsS charms and had SubSeUuentIV,
| two occasions spent his summer holiday at Vlr-
| ginia House But though a good-looking fellow
and promising solicitor Bartlett was far from
| being eligible part either in the eyes OF MISS
| Williams or her mother. There were obvious
reasons for encouraging him up to certain
point but the young lady took good care that
| that point was never passed.
| Some little excitement was consequently
caused among the Wllamses when, toward the
end of August, letter received, dated from
| irst-rate West-end club, inquirine whether
| accommodation could be at provided for
| Mr.. Stuart Romney Romney and one servant.
An answer in the affirmative was promptly dis
| patched, and a couple of days later the three
! Misses Williams, from the shelter of a conven-
| lent curtain at upper window, beheld MIR.
| Stuart Romney- Romney drive up, accompanied
| by highly respectable man servant and an
| enormous pile OF luggage. The new arrival
turned out to be gentleman like man OF two or
three and thirty, with KEEN dark eyes and fairly
good features, rather spoilt by low forehead,
across which his hair was brushed fiat. His
manners were at first somewhat distant and re-
served This, however, wore off on closer ac-
quaintance and after few days he was unani-
mously voted decided acquisition to the house.
From the first there was naturally good deal
| of speculation as to who Mr.. Romney Romney
was 1t happened that there were they staying
at Virginia House two maiden ladies named
| Horncastle sisters of prosperous banker in the
west of England Miss Horncastle, being not
only wealthy, but coming of a county family on
her mothers side, was looked up to as rather an
a1fh of al
Sultation with her sister, Miss Emilia, she had
discovered the possibility of their new acquaint-
ance's connection with certain family of Derby
shire Romnevs. Mr.. Romney- Romneys answers
to a few questions delicately put to him on the
subject confirmed this theory; and when, after
this, Mrs. Williams reported that her new
guests dressing and travelling paraphernalia
were not only lavishly mounted in silver
but emblazoned with deerhounds head
and the motto 'Prisca phideS," the matter was
settled beyond much doubt Miss Horncastle
was particularly gracious to the newcomer, and
in his honor the two old ladies even went so far
as to display from time to time various install
ments of their family jewelry, hitherto reserved
from the gaze of all but select circle of female
friends upstairs.
But the most satisfactory thing was that from
the first MIR. Romney- Romney paid obvious at
tention to Miss Williams. 1t at once
noticed that he generally coutrived to have Ber
tina for partner at lawn-tennis, and that more
frequently than not he was at her side when he
walked with the ladies upon the Lees of an after
noon evening, when music was going on
in the drawing-room after dinner And it was
quite certain that these attentions met with no
encouragement from any quarter.
About week after Mr. Romney RoInney's ar
rival Mr.. Frank Bartlett came down for his an
nual holiday. Within the last few weeks Bart
lett had been admitted to a partnership in the
firm of Filey & Tapeham, and he now arrived
with some hope of inducing Bertha to share his
improved lot. 1t did not, however, take him
long to discover the state of the case. Had he
haau WANTING in tha DatI1ra1 pnadjnpSg of a
in his condition to detect rival, he would have
been quickly enlightened by the changed de-
meanor of Miss Williams and her family Hith- |
ePto he had at least been treated with consider !
ate friendliness; now, no doubt owing partly to
the inopportune time of his arrival, he found
himself received with marked GOODNESS.
1t was natural. therefore that Bartlett should
not take very cordially to Mr.. Romney- Romney.
This, however, was not due solely to jealousy.
Before he had been many hours in Folkestone |
an idea crossed his mind that he had seen his
rivals face before-he could not recall when or
where, but the idea became more confirmed
every time he looked at Mr. RomneyRomney,
and working on his natural prejudice, caused
him to entertain vague suspicious as to that gen
tleman's antecedents. After he had been a
couple of days at Virginia House his doubts
took more definite shape and plan occurred to
him for setting them at rest, for assistance in
which he determined to apply to Kate Williams
Kate and he had always been on friendly terms
and. from one or two chance expressions, he sus-
pecJed that she was by no means charmed with
her brother-in-law in prospect
Kate" he said, taking the bull by the horns
81 want to ask you a question about Mr.. Rom
ney-Romney Vino is hel What does your mother
know about HING
GAS much as she knows about most people
who come here" Kate replof. HE gave a
good reference, and he pays his bill regularly.
Come, Frank you may not be fond of him, but
you can't deny that he is gentleman"
Gentleman or not, said BARTLETT "there is
something about him that puzzles me. Don't
Taught am perfectly serious, and have come
to you. because want you help"
my help" asked Kate, in surprise
eyes, want you to get me his photograph, l
have a notion that have met him before, and l
should like to ask my partner, Tapeham, if he
relnemhers him.