Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-02-11
A DOUBLE SURPRISE.


lived Philip Manson and his sister Esth-
or. Philip had reached the mature age
of forty, and Esther was close to him.
Still each had pursued solitary path
way through life, seeking no companion
ship save that of the other, till there
was reason to believe that they would
continue to follow the same course till
they were gathered into the tomb.
Early one afternoon, Esther was start
led by a rap at the deor
She opened the door; a gentleman of
ferty-fve, carefully, nay elegantly dress
ed, stood before her.
4 beg your pardon for intruding, mad+
am,' said he,as he noticed Esther's sur
prise; but can you direct me to the
house of the late Mr. Wellfeet? have
heard that it was for sale, and from the
description l have heard of it, judge it
will suit me-
1t is the next house on the left, sir,
answered Esther.
Two days afterward Esther heard that
Mr.. Wsllfeet's estate had been purchas-
ed by a stranger named Bigelow. She
at once conjectured, and rightly, that
this was the same with her visitor. A
few days elapsed, and Esther Manson
received another visit from the gentle>
man.
I have q favor to ask of you, Miss
Manson he commenced Gt seems he had
ascertained her name). am aware that
our short acquaintance will hardly justi-
fy it, but trust time will remove this
objection. You must know he added,
smiling, that am bachelor dependent
in many respects upon my housekeeper,
who though.a good woman in her way, l
am afraid is not reliable in mat
ters of taste. As my furniture has
arrived, but has not yet been arranged, l
would esteem it a real service if you
would give me your opinion in some lit
tie matters respecting its proper disposi-
tion. My carriage is at the door ready
to carry you over.
But said Esther, a little hesitatingly,
Il do not claim to have much taste. L
fear 1 shall prove no more reliable in
that respect than your housekeeper.
Il have but to look about me, said Mr..
Bigelow, politely, to be fully satisfied
upon that point.
1t was not without little conscious
ness of the singularity of her position,
that Esther found herself riding by the
sidn of gentleman with whom she had
hardly exchanged half dozen words.
The distance, however, was but short,
and she had but little time for reaec-
ton.
The furniture, which by the way, was
new and handsome, had been arranged
after fashion, but Ester was able to
point out several changes fer the better,
with all of which Mr.. Bigelow professed
himself delighted; he, moreover, asked
her advice as to the proper place in
which to hang several fine pictures that
he had picked up in the course of his
travels.
This was accorded with some hesita-
ton.
Mr.. Bigelew would not be satisfied
without showing his new found sc>
quaintance all over the house, frsm
kitchen to garret.
When all was completed, be over
powered her with protestations OF graft
itude for her kind service, and landed
her at her own door just five minutes
before her brother came in.
Esther was rather glad of this, as she
was little suspicious that her brother
would consider her adventure rather a
Quixotic one.
To avoid comment, she did not even
inform Philip that she had ever met Mr..
Bigelow. He took frequent opPortuni-
ties to call upon ber, on some slight pre-.
text or another, but it always chanced
when her brother was absent.
Il wonder said Philip carelessly, q,
he sat by the fire one evening, whether
Mr.. Bigelow will not be looking out foI
wife before long?'
IL don't know, said Esther, and in
her embarrassment dropping half dez'
en- stitches from the stocking which she
held In her hand.
Not that l approve of marriages.
least in my own case said Philip, moi
noticing this demonstration, but it may
be different with Mr.. Bigelow. He ha'
no sister to superintend his establish