New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-29
A PARTY OF FOUR.

II is OF no importance to any one why on tia
particular evening L did not go down Bond ST
TO my club, as l had done many hundred
q times before; why, instead of betalIing mysel
like sensible man to my dinner, plunged int
ErOok-St., and went incoming westward through
tho drizze. Perhaps | was tired of dining, hay
ing dined so often before, only to dine again. o
perhaps l had taken aft TnOOn tea and beer
snubbed, or wanted something out OF the com
mon TO happen, or really had no reason at al
for the freak II is of no importance. The Onl,
point is that / did go westward, and something
happened to me; formerly TO Columbus.
IL had IN unpleasant beginning near Grosveno
square little short of that place a hanson
dashed up to the pavement, and drawing NJ
sharply beside me splashcd me SO freely that
stoppcd short with a mid exclamation. Thu
words were still in the air when two pecp
jumped out Of the cab under a lamp rs j
rhanced: and, while stood glOwcring upon them
proceeded TO pay the driver The one
tall girl. dressed in mourning: the other chil(
O. twelve or thirteen, wearing the short, full
St s oI 'n nay agi purRe cloak nsihtiy edgef
by white veil Still standing. rs much from
Indignation rs TO wipe the mud from my check
i heard what followed.
Kitty" exclaimed the child. as the elder girl
held up the fare, do not ray him; let him wait
for us
Kitty shook her head Why. dear q7 she
finding another"
But you viii stay SO long" her sistcr-I con-
clnded they were sisters-pleaded and it is
Indeed will not stay long, was the elders
reply. l will stay very, vely little time
darling"
Now, said 10 myself. that girl is in trouble
and as they moved toward the square I, too,
walked on that when they reached the corner,
They were standing m-in-arm, looking toward
the inner pavement which runs round the gar
den Without intending TO listen | heard, as |
tackled round thcm-thcr umbrella acting as a
sounding board-a few moro words.
Look. Kitty" the younger was saying, there
=" Poor thing!" replied the elder girl
And that-that all heard. But the voice
was the voice of angel-in trouble. And the
rathos and sorrow that rang in the two words
set my curiosity vibrating more briskly than al
their previous talk. or even their air OF good
hfccdiDg-Out Of place in the streets after night
fall-had been able to DO
There she is again!' l said to myself. Up
70 this time had learned involuntarly what !
had Now l took the first step toward meddling
in strange business by crossing the roadway to
the garden instead Of keeping along the outer
pavement would see who was there again.
And ! did. l came %Gon her at once, short
mlddle-s%svu woman, plainly dressed SO far as i
could see, and apparently OF the lower class. She
was standing STILL her back to the garden rail
ings, her eyes straned-or did Judge of that by
her attitude Pin an intent looking toward the
houses opposite her. There was nothing odd
about her except this air of watching, and per-
haps her position; nor anything to connect her
with the two girls now lost in the gloom, but
probably not far off She did not move or avert
her eyes as / brushed close before her, but only
drew quick sigh as Of impatence at the obsta-
Gle which for moment interviewed between her
and her object
Naturally examined the house at which s:c
was looking. IL was the second from the cor
ner, large house with brightly lit porch and
heavy double doors. The rooms Oh the ground
floor and the floor above partly visible.
Upstairs the curtains had been drawn, but not
1o9v..y. in the dining-room below, they had
bottom, SO that l could see what was passing
within.
But the scene was commonplace enough. Two
servants an old man and young one, were put
ting thciinishing touches to a well-apponted din
ner table, walking round it and daintily moving
this thing and that, as all who create, though it
be but table effect. love 10 do There were
good pictItes on the walls, there was plate on
The sidcboard, and shaded lamps cast warm
there was nothing which might not be seen in a
thousand houses; nothing which should have
caused a person. unconnected with this one, to
lincer outside from curiosity
Yet stay. While | looked the men paused at
their work. The elder seemed to be speaking 10
the other with an nation. as il he were arguing
raised his hands encrccticallv while the figure of
the young man betrayed some shame ] thought.
and more obstnacy Still there was nothing
marvellous i'm this. a servants dispute and | was
moving away, pshing and rshawing when saw
few yards from me. in the same attitude and
gazing in tho same direction as the middle-aCrd
woman, my former friends-the two girls of the
cab. II was wondcriul how my curiosity set
a-thrilling again.s | vowed that here some
thins interesting afoct known to them and sus
pected by me-. bat caviarc TO stray passersbv.
And not caring whether they saw me or not or
what they thought OF me- ] crossed over to the
pavement 10 read the number Of the house.
! vas making note Of it, when one leaf Of
the doors was thrown open Violently.
Out you 60 nv lad" cried a voice.
And out accordingly, and down the steps, forci-
bly, impelled as it seemed TO me from behind,
I'm the dining-roOm. He held in helpless kind
Of way. if they bad been thrust upon him an
oyercOat and a hat. and his face wore as fYl-
ish an expression Of discontinue rs / ever sSv.
Come none Of that, Mr.. Bundl" he cried, in
weakly remonstrance as he poised himself on the
lowest step. "a do not see why / should 60
right away. will not be turned out, sir
Yes, you will, James" replied the butler,
giving him gentle push which landed him stag
gertng on the pavement. You will go or you
viii wait at table, which you were engaged to
Not, on theml' exclaimed the young, man,
with burst of excitement. Why you do not
know the minute when one OF them might turn
Hold your tongueln broke in the other, i'm
perously, or you, will get into worse trouble
than this; you mark my words"
be seemed to be weak young man and easily
cowed
Then let me get ny things"
Your things You can come and get them
tomorrow" was the contcmptuons answer You
do not 60 down into the kitchen 10 chatter To-
night, which is what you would be Mt. You are
"A mean cur, James. that is what you are,'
would not talk OF ours IN that house, if
were youl" retorted James, spitefully. People
who live III"
He did not finish. His taunt, which seemed
In noe harmless enough, seemed quite otherwise
TO the butler. The latter sprang down the steps,
swelling like q turley-cock and would certainly
have fallen upon the offender had not the young
man with a faint cry OF alarm, hed along the
ps ven, MT and disappeared in the darkness.
What is the matter, butler1" asked, as that
worthy reinounted the steps.
He eyed me sharply. "Oh, only servant that