Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-07-07
A Romance In A Flat.

A Romance In a Flat.
1t was Christmas Eve, and very cold.
All day long the snow had been coming
down heavily, and all day long north
easter-bitter enough to make one "wilt in
ones tracks," as Huckleberry Finn says
had torn round the corners of the streets,
cut into peoples faces, and upset the
equilibrium of great and small. Miss
Warden had ventured to the window once
or twice to see whether the sky ever in
tended to clear, till at last, finding matters
hopeless, she thought it the best policy in
the present state of the weather to remain
within the friendly shelter Of her rooms,
and secure the services of the lively daugh-
ter of the charwoman ON the fifth floor for
the necessary purchase of bread and meat.
Lighted by the fire, and bright brass
lamp, the kitchen looked very spick and
span, and as she put away her knitting
and The Daily News, preparatory to max
ing the toast for the afternoon meal, a
wintry smile fickered across her faded
face at the comfortable appearance of the
little fat.
ssDear," said Miss Warden, as she brush
ed up the hearth and put tho kettle on to
boil, II wish my mother could look up and
see me doing everything for myself; am
afraid it would give her pain though
What bang! Whoever can it be ?''
''The bang came from the knocker orna-
menting the outer door, which 'sgave" on
the outer stairs. Before the vibration had
died an excited voice from outside came
booming up the letter-box.
s'Maria; let me in at once ~
Maria's agitatcd feelings preventing her
from undoing the latch as quickly as she
might have done,. the voice again called
out:
"Don't pretend you're out, because can
see yeu."
At last the door was flung wide, and a
short, stout woman with rosy cheeks and
eyes dancing with excitement burst into
view; her neat black bonnet was crooked,
her cloth Jacket was buttoned wrong, and
her skirt, trailing on the ground on one
side was looped very high on the other.-
She brushed past her hostess into the
kitchen, and then, seating herself close to
tho fire.
"Maria Warden, said said, s'he proposed
at o'clock this afternoon What's more,
he wants to be married at once %
Now every one must know that we'd
ding is always a subject Of the most lively
interest. The bride in question was Bella
Manners, Miss Warden's cousin, of a GER
tain age, corresponding, let us say, to the
end of October. Both ladies were streak.
ed with gray, both complained of rheuma-
tism, both used spectacles for every occu-
patton of life that required eyesight; bat
while Maria was quiet and gentle, and dis
trustful of herself and her powers to please,
Bella was loud, and giggly and boistsrous,
and admired her own attractions prodigi-
ously-more, perhaps, than did any one
else in the werld.
sMy goodness gracious what do you
mean?" was Miss Warden's amazed answer.
Greatly proposed? To you? Who is he !?
What is he?
II must have my tea," gasped Miss
Manners. 81 am dying for it. Yes, I'll
stay here, if you like but I'm too shaky
to be of any use, SO I'll sit still and watch
you get it ready Three pieces of toast,
please and plenty of butter and lots of
milk, if you don't mind. I hope shall be
able to bear up, but it's all very trying
were quickly dried, and then. with her
eyes fixed on her Cousins astonished face,
she continued the wondrous tale.
"You know my friend with the white
bob curls, whom you thought like the
queen of the French, Marie-Ameely p
She has brother who saw me when was
in my twenties and-well, admired me very
much; however, he lost sight of me alto
gether and married some one else who died
last year. A fortnight ago met him in
my friends front drawing room, and he
looked SO oddly at me didn't know what
to do. suppose it must have been-er-
love at first sight, for have only seen him
six times since then; and he's quite in
fatuated, head over heels, they say. To-
day. after luncheon at his sister 's-small
leg of mutton and apple tart-he begged to
speak to me alone, which he did; and I
knew no more than the dead that that he
going to offer himself, but he has, and I am
very glad ~
The tune the inspector was playing up
stairs changed to the "lIarch Of the Men
of Harlsch," gust of wind shook and
ratified the window frames, while across
Miss Warden's mind fitted rosy little
remembrance of half proposal she once
had from clerk who was under her father
fellow and his wife live on ESQ years."
and how Miss Warden's mother had an
swered the question by coming quite sud-
dening in the little Clapham conservatory
and rsmarking, "Go to the piano, Maria.
Mr.. Routh, the last bus to town
leaves in fifteen minutes" Poor Bobbie
He went to the bad after that, they said.
And how terrific the bad is to an old
maid
Swell, am delighted, she said solemn
ly. "And I hope you'll be very, very hap
py. Do you remember Aunt Fanny had a
perfect horror of marriage? It's a girls
own fault, she often used 10 tell me, if a
man is impudent enough to propose to her;
but don't think that's true exactly"
81 know I'd perfect horror Of Aunt
Fanny" replied Miss Manners, taking an
immense wedge of toast. '.She was always
singularly rude to me. But now must
talk about my trousseau. I've small
sum laid by in my linen drawer, as
you know, which I've often told you was
to be spent in burial fees by my executors.
Happy can use it for something more
cheerful. AS I came along made up my
mind I'd have travelling gown from Rcd
fern, and a rich black silk trimmed with jet
for best land I look particularly we'll in high
bonnet: wish were few years young
er, so that l might wear wreath and veil.
Not that couldn't have been married over
and over again long ago, but I've always said
'No'-(More tea, please. )-I want truly
pious husband; some one who will not
make an idol of mo. 4 love- used to be
answered, I am wrong, and know shall
be punished; but, love, you are first in my
thoughts Now Robert-did tell you his
name is Robert Robert-er-Jones !;
but there are some good Joneses; it's Lord
Somebody's family name, and he's related
to them-loves heaven, and then I come,
which is exactly what it should be-"
"What does he do? Is he we'll off ?"
81 don't know that I'm bettering my
self, for like my apartments, and a man
is bother, always wanting his linen
mended, and extra cooking and that y
But he would have me. He has a
little house near Albany street. and two
servants; no children, and I am thankful
to say, for that would vex me; should
hate grown-up sons and daughters to tussle
with. Then he is professional man. He's
dentist; and tho case of teeth that is