The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-02-12
LIFE IN A FLAT.
BY EMMA A. oprER

When the HarriSons decided to move
from their pretty, suburban-lookins
cottage in the upper part Of the city
into a flat downtown, because it would
be nearer to Mr.. Harrison's business,
several reasons why they Should not
have decided were Immediately discov-
cred.
Mrs. Harrison WAS certsin that there
we're no ministers downtown who could
compare with Doctor Rsrron. and that
she shouldn't enjoy them if there were.
Ollie. the elder daughter. WAS afraid
that Charley Matson. who lived around
the corner. could not continue to call
1--WE evenings in 3 week. As WAS his
present habit: and her father WAS fear
inl that the rather small parlor Of their
new abode would not take the place of
heir pleasant little porch for smoking
and Eliminating on warm spring ere-
1ings.
But Jessie. who va. barely on, of
school. was eagerly enthusiastic CON
serning the fist. She was positive tbs.
IT all the charming places to live. = fat
must be the most charming: and she
could hardly wait TO gel into one.
Had ii not been for Jessie's consag;-
,us good spirits the Harrisons would
have been inclined =: the end of their
ir>t week of tiat-life. TO move back up
own w.;hou. further ado.
They had begun TO despair Of ever
A,>on:ng acclssomed TO > fat Mr..
Harrison. beng forsesiui. WAS freshly
startled every evening when the door
opened by appa7eI; magic in response
q his ring. Blu, Jessie. by repeated
explanations. convinced him that. 50
.a- from being spiritual manifestation.
wss ;he direct reS,il. Of small has
sandie attached TO the kitchen wall.
Ollie. whose hour of rising wsS no.
Il the earliest. wa< disturbed ever,
morning ty the whistle Of the iani.or
sp the dumb waiter shaft. and the con-
s=suen; sending down o. Ashes on the
-ss.: ct the gin. But Jessie grew slo-
.u-as over the extreme 3es:raNlisv of
his arraaseMsnt.
Mrs Harrison whose tastes xeae
.use:- was S1nores 81 meeting peoa,e
z The hall snss hearing th=a % The
.:aics- BGs Jesse 6-:ea.s=,s 1aese sight.
,sc sounds Is bang remarkably psaes-
Al. .na s..ssaha+
Sbe hsg@1, however. ha.i oae ca1se Of
!is1Hrsznc-s. SIZE drew OLE close 70
be haa ds,.- Ole morning. with her
niger raised
''Iherelisen" she whispered. 1T Is
he genf3emsn on the foor above. Its
iast the same every morning"
A quick step was coming down stairs.
A, their foot il paused. while feminine
7oice called down Sweetly:
''Good-by, W:lly. Be home carlyle
sure
And manly voice responded cheer
suilv:
III be on hand. Gocd-bv..a and the
hall door closed upon the speaker.
They 60 through With all tina. every
day.' said Jessie di>g,stedly. And
once or twice I've heard Linn call her
dear actually. If there's any,
thing l abhor. it IS the public demonstra-
lion Of young married couples" she con-
eluded with shudder.
She stepped to the window hastily.
closed the blinds, and peeped through
the shutters.
Yes. he doesn't look more than
.wenty-four," she announced. They
probably haven't been married long.
But that's no excuse-not the slightest.
Willy for that immense thing" she
added. scornfully. as she watched the
tall figure to the corner.
That afternoon Jessie went up town
10 call on several of 1.-The girls. and re-
turned at 4, having had the best kind of
! time.
She had gone first to Mamie Dukes,
and Mamie had gone over to Cora
with her, and they had all
gone on to Myra Sellwin's, where Jes-
sic had entertained them with a vivid
of the flat. and amused them
with slightly exaggerated account of
the doings of the amoro,ls couple on the
second floor,
She had in fact represented Mr.. San
derson-Sandcrson was the name in the
slit over the letter box-as being in the
habit of shouting ''By-by, Tootscy,
up the stairs as lie departed,
and receiving the mystic response Of
''Nicey picey-oozy booty goozy.
But the statement had not been fully
credited.
She was smiling over the recollection
of her afternoons jollity rs she stood in
tie vestibule waiting the response to
her ring.
Whether the gentleman on the Sec
ond floor. who assembled the steps at the
moment, regarded her musing half
smile US intended in some degree for
or whether he was charmed out
of all sclf-restraint by Jessie's fresh.
young face and her pretty, fall costume,
was not clear; but he lifted his hat
hesitatingly.
The motion was very slight and most
but Jessie raised her chin
and regarded the young man with chill
ing hauthingess.
What business had he to bow to her?
He was extremely prcsumptuous; he
was impertinent. If that was the habit
of people in flats nothing could be hor-
rider.
Had she not been determinedly re-
gartling one tan-colorcd kid hand, where
it rested on the door knob, she would
have seen that Mr.. Sandcrson's frank
face had shown a quick distress and
confusion, as he noted the effect of his
inlpulsive act; but she did not look up.
Some three minutes had passed BY
this time since she had pulled tho bell
and she jerkcd it again, impatiently.
A silence of three minutes more, DUR
ing which Jessie's frown deepened,
Then MIR. Sanderson, with rather a
timid II beg your pardon!' reached
across her to his own bell and pulled il.
Another pause.
The door did not open; there was not
even demand through the speaking
tube Of "Who is it?" There was pro.
found silence.
The situation was somewhat en-
barassing. Jessie bit her lip, and look
ed down at the tip of her shoe.
Then she raised her eyes to find MIR.
Sandcrson's fixed upon her. There
was no help for it; they smiled, and
rather broadly.