The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-07-25
She listened. There was no voice

L WOlueT, SllG lluSCd' - 4NOi
man will open the door himself"
For Dorothy, be it known, had
planned a surprise for her brother
Norman, who had come to New
York about a year since, to follow
his trade of printer.
Dorothy had longed to come, too,
but, alas, she was not man, but a
woman
But of late her stepmother had
made the family home so obnoxious
to her that she had suddenly con-
ceived the determination of coming
to New York to live with Norman,
thus severing the Gordian knot of
affairs.
"He will be glad to have me keep
house for him." she thought; and /
oh, I would go to the very top Of
Pixies Peak to get away from that
woman p
So here she was, upon that winter
night, rosy, smiling and eager, when
the door was opened at Number
Seventy-eigh Pickett Place.
ooh, Normy-dear Nomy !"
And she flung herself, sobbing,
upon the broad shoulders that
eclipsed the one CHEEKY gaslight.
"I-I beg your pardon" faltered
a deep voice, "but it isn't Normy !
Mr.. Diver hasn't come in yet. / am
Royal Brooks-his chum, you
know! You are his sister, | sup
pose-you look exactly like him.
Pray sit down by the fire and warm
yourself; it's very cold.
And Dorothy, blushing to the
very roots of her hair, obeyed.
"Will he be in soon?" she stam-
mcred.
every soon now. May give you
a cup of tea? / hatter myself Pm
rather dabster in the brewing OF
tea. We take turns in keeping
house, we fellows-Normy Diver
Bill Blake and me, and this is my
week We club together and rent
this fiat. We couldn't stand the
boarding-house business any longer
you know, Miss Diver"
And thus chatting, to relieve hel
embarrassment, he hustled around
and presently brought her n cup o.
very nice tea on a dusty japanese
tray, with two or three fossils bis
cults and a slice or two Of cold beef
Before she had finished it, Nor
man himself came in, fresh anC
breezy,
'Who have you here ?" he cried
"Hellol it's Dottyl Why, yol
, precious little pussy, how on eartI
, came you here ?"
And then Dorothy told her tale
interrupted few minutes later b!
/, the appearance of the third youn!
printer, Willoughby Blake by name
who was equally amazed anC
equally disposed to be hospitablc t
the pretty stranger.
"And So" said Dorothy. Hold
q ing tight on to Norman's hand
f ''I've come to live with you"
, "You are the dearest little lass il
all the world" said Norman, wit
S a puzzled look; "but, you see,
D won't work. There's the other feI
4 lows you know. It's share an
share alike in our house keeping a
. fairs, and we haven't any extr
room"
81 could sleep on the sofa, with
q rug over me, and give Miss Dive
my den !" suggested Brooks, cagcrl,
" "Your den is all very well for
n rough chap like YOU" said Bi
k Blake, in II superior way, "but
wouldn't do for Il young lady. L
>, offer mine, but it is only lighted b
y shaft, with Pilkins' baby cryir
all night, directly below. I'm use
f to it, but l don't think any one ell
,o could stand it."
"She could stay with Kitty ?" su
70 gestep Brooks suddenly.
y "The very ideal" shouted Bi
i shifting his knee.
h And Norman whispered to h
d that Kitty Cliff was the finance
Brooks-a bright girl, who lived
h. few doors down the street.
= "Youll be sure tolikc her, Dotty
ot said he. "And l can see as mu
m of you us if you were here
Dorthy's lip trembled.
10 "But | wanted to surprise yol
al said she. II wanted to be your !
tie housckeeper, Normy."
a. you have surprised me, Do
said he. "And next spring, VIII
Ter the lease runs out, I'll give Bla
id and Brooks notice to quit, and y
shall come to live with me-"
he He walked around with her, u
tie later, to Miss Cliff.
Miss Cliff received them witt