The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-06-15
FORTY SEVEN.

"Forty-scVcnY Your quite sure that's
the number of his room, Ncllyw
"Forty-seven, Trimmcrs Buildings"
said Nelly Clifford, and buzz of uniycr-
sal whispering succeeded this piece of in
formation, for 1.-THE girls" which collec-
tive noun comprehcnded about dozen
merry, bright-cyed beauties, were deter
mined to give their unknown Southern
cousin a surprise" on the occasion of his
return from some distant medical univer-
sity, where he had Just graduated with all
the honors of war, TO settle in bachelor
quarters in Trimmer's Buildings.
So Nelly Clifford got the key of Number
Forty-seven from dirty-faced old woman
who did for the wretchcd bachelors of
Trimmcrs Buildings, and she and Abby
Fortescue decorated it with flowers and
evergrccns and an ancient United States
flag which she had rummaged ont of her
fathers garnet. Kate Fuller baked glori-
Gus big plum cake, with welcome" in
frosted capitals on its snowy top. Lizzie
Alcott picked a hundred oysters, and her
black-cyed sister prepared a dish ofchicken
salad which would have made a profess
sional cook turn green with envy. And the
end of it all was that the gloomy, dusty
little den was transformed, for the time
/. being, into perfect fairy bower, with
Java canvas tidy covering the worn
leather easy-chair, n bright fire of Liver
pool coal in the CRATE while fresh cut
flowers exhaled their perfume, and the
table was dressed with true feminine neat
ness and taste.
Now, | wish he'd come,n said Lizzie
Alcott, after she had arranged the last of
the polished green leaves around the
golden oranges in the centre fruit-dish
Hell not he long now" said Abby
Fortescuc, looking complacently around
upon her evenings work. 'And won't
he be delighted?"
Nelly Clifford.
Haven't you any photograph ?" said
"Hc never would send us one" said
Nelly, Strengthening tall damask rose,
which seemed little inclined to topple
down upon its brethren.
'Of course" said Sabina Selleck, "hc's
tall and dark, with delicious hazel eyes.
And of course he'll iall in love with one
Of us girsl Won'tt be nice to be called
Mrs. DR.. Bruce?'
What nonsense, said Nelly, laughing.
81 don't see" said Kate Fuller, de-
murcly, why it need necessarily be nom
sense. At all events, he's orr cousin, and
it's our business to make things rs pleas
ant as possible for him. Does that coffee
boil yet Fanny Fuller
While this cousinly task of preparation
was IN progress ut No. IL Trimmer Build
ings the express train, gradually nearing
New York, held two young medical grad
yates, with leather valises, comfortable
ftr,trimmcd oyercoats and carefully ar
ranged observation-disclosures Bruce, VI. d.,
and Harry Cavcrlcy, NJ. ID. The former
was short and blonde, and rather insig
nilicant; the latter, tall and dark, with big
black eyes and complexion worthy Of Il
Spanish Don.
II wish was you, Old fellow" said Dr.
Caverley,, with yawn which changed
into q little Sign.
"Why?" asked DR.. Bruce, who was al
most asleep.
"To have an uncle and lots of cousins
meet me. Only fancy what u dismal time
! shall have of it at numhcr-whats its
name - what-do-you-call-'em buildings
while You are being made ofhy no end of
pretty girls"
well, that's easily obviated," said
Bruce. 500 home with me for tonight.
I'll insure you quite as hearty a welcome
as will be extended TO me, old icllowr'
Thanks, no, declined Cavcrley, rather
regretlully, an try to be content with
the goods the gods deal out To me.
So, when they arrived at the Grand Cen
trail depot, DR.. Bruce took cab to No.
Fessendon street, where his uncle lived,
and Harry Cayerlcy proceeded straight TO
No. AZ Irimmor's Buildings, which he had
concluded to lease, in conjunction with
his friend and college mate, Norman
Bruce.
He put his lntch-key into the door, eX-
pccting to find Cimmerian darkness and
solitude within. To his amaZement, the
door flew open before he had time To turn
the kcy-the light and brilliance, and
scent of roses boiling coffee and fried
oysters, struck on him like vision; and
the flock of bright-haired blooming girls
tvh N ,r1t m
think vaguely OF a lot of Pcris Just broken
ont Of Paradise
"lIallo!n thought he, Us the dimpled
arms were flung miscellancOusly around
| his neck and the fresh kisses rained on
him. Am | dreaming or am ] really
awake? And if the latter, what the deuce
does all this mean' It's pleasant, but it's
pcTpleNing.'
Didn't tell you he was tall and dark"
triumphantly whispered !Sabina Selleck to
Really, ladies' ,tan,mcred our con
fused hero, u ddn,,! expce,et-n,
"Of course, you didn't said Kate
Fuller.
"Wc meant to surprise you, said Nelly
| Clifford, demurely.
Were all your cousins" added Lizzie
Alcott.
But persisted Harry Caycrlcy, II
| think there must be some mistake"
"Nonc in the least said Nelly, arbi-
| tralily, Now sit down here at the head
of the banquet, and mind you do justice
TO everything
And Harry Cavcrley could but obey
| But he thought that if this was the general
| method of welcoming homeless young
| men to New York, what Il paradise ii must
| be for bachelors!
"All the same there is a mistake some
| where" he thought, vaguely, as Sabina
| Sellock, u rose checked little blonde,
| nestled down beside him, and expressed
| her determination to hear everything that
| had happened to him tor the past year"
Because we're cousins you know"
| said the blue-eyed enchantress, "and there
| should be no secrets between cousinsm
While tins six foot impostcr was enjoy
ing himself among flowers, fruit and
| pretty girls, the true heir of all these
| estates had gone on TO the substantial
| brick house in FcSscndcn street, where
Squire Clifford, all alone, was reading the
| newspaper by the aid of n student lamp
| and n pair of double eyeglasses. ChAnc-
| ing 10 look up suddenly he hehcd, stand
| ing mcckly before him, man with va
| lisc, whose knock he might have been
| aware Of before If he hadn't been little
| hard of hearing.
"WhO the deuce are your Numbered
| the Squire, whose mind had been dis
III l.. A Il A.