Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-03-29
"Wen. yes; but carpet is not furni.

thoroughly convinced of the cheapnes
of the arrangement. The cost was Ger
tainly the least brilliant part of my idea
| could not help thinking.
Before we went home to tea that after
noon we had ordered square of Turke,
carpet. a capital secondhand, full-sizet
billiard table and few leather-coveret
seats TO put around the room. The car
pet was to be made fixture the mex
day; there was no difficulty about tha
part of the business; but the table ant
morning.
1t was running things pretty close!-
Suppose Aunt Georgina and the billiar'
table were TO make their entry into tn
house at the same time: We were no
! stones throw from the Great Western
Hotel, and she was sure to come rount
directly she arriyed-she was one o
those people who must air their tongues
But no! On second thoughts, such
horrible rencOntre would be unlikely
saturday is only halliday, and the mel
would be sure to want to get their worl
over early. 1t was also extremely i'm
probable that Aunt GeOrgina would ar
rive before the afternoon. Still, in spit
of all of this, We both felt little nerv
Gus, and We talked good deal abou
it at dinner, and afterwards when we re
tired to my little snuggery of smoking
room, opposite the dining-room.
About 9 o'clock We heard the post
mans knock, and Margaret flew to ge
the letters. She brought back a posta
card from Aunt GeOrgina and we nearly
tore it in two with both trying to read i
at the same time, though there was mo-
much to read. IL shall arrive to-mOr
row morning at the G.. W. Hotel, anC
shall look in upon you some time in the
afternoon was all the informetion il
gave us.
l drew a long breath of relief.
by JOve! What a blessingw said
by the time she arrives here, our spare
room will be full-fedged business-like
looking billiard-roOm, and she will sus
pect nothing"
am sure both slept better that night
than we had all that week.
Directly breakfast was over the next
morning we began to expect our men.
had taken whole holiday-Or | should
say half one as l always come home early
Saturdays IN honor of the billiard table
and Aunt Georgina. When 10 O'Clock
struck Margaret affirmed it as her Opin-
ion that the men were not coming at all
| tried to disabuse her of this idea. But
when IL and y had struck and still
there was no signs of them began to
be alarmed myself, and Margaret walked
up and down between the back and front
drawing rooms like bear in cage or a
tragedy actress rehearsing her scene.
| had just gone to my study for a
newspaper, when, halfway down the
stairs, heard shrek from Margaret.
hurried back at once. She was stand
ing by the window "Come! Conner
was all that she could say. =
what is it, l cried, rushing to the
window. "The billiard table?"
Alasi it was no such vision of bliss
A fOur-wheeled cab had just drawn up
at our door, from the window of which
was seen prOtruding the crumpled black
face of pug and huge nOsegay of
flowers.
perhaps it is some one come to the
wrong house" said family, catching at
a straw. But the next moment this
straw was swept away from me as a
stout, fair lady in towering floral bon
net, stepped gingerly out of the vehicle,
pug in one hand and flowers in the
other. 1t was no optical delusiop. 1t
was Aunt Georgina.
In another minute she would be in
the drawing-roo What were we to do?
however, did not lose her pres
ence of mind even in this unlooked-fo
and awful crisis. In all the five years of
our married life | have never known it
to desert her
Now, Charley" she said emphatical-
ly, "what we have to do is to occupy her
and keep her in this room till the billiard
table arrives" She looked pale, but
and l felt my courage rising
by force of example.
"Supposing the table doesn't come at
ALL" | could not help suggesting, dismal
ly.
ats sure to come," she said, catching
her breath; land try not to look as if
was the matter"
"Well, and here am, You see" cried
I high pitched voice. And Aunt Georg-
ma sailed in to the room, pug dog,
lowers and all, diffusing an Overpower-
ng OdOr of patchOuly about her 81
,hOught you wouldn't mind my dropping
n to lunch" What a lucky thing this
sn't the Palace of Truth, thought to
nyself) 81 really couldn't wait any
Onger to see my dear Maggie" Here
he rapturOusly kissed my wife, "Be-
iideS," she added candidly, "they had
nothing | cared to eat at the hotel; 80
eft Hawkins there with my luggage
md came on to you straight. I've brought
'ou some flowers out of my garden. OF
course | know London florists are per-
'ection, but, after all, there's nothing
ike the real article"
One might have supposed from Aunt
ieOrgina's speech that London. florists
we're in the habit of supplying their
customers with artificial blooms. We
both murmured our thanks and our de-
light at her premature appearance, while
stopped down and patted the pug's
'road back by way of coneiliating its
mistress.
"Ah, isn't she dear creature?" cried
Aunt GeOrGina, seizing her in her arms
% kiss her. YOU'RE beauty, aren't
'Ou, my lovey-dOvey?'
The lOvey-dOvey snorted and wheezed
10 alphabetically, in answer to this en-
Tearing squeeze, that it seemed as if it
would never be able to get its breath
Igain. So Aunt Georgina deposited her
IN yelvet-covered armchair, while she
vent round the drawing-room with
Nargaret's arm locked in hers, her gold
louble eye-glass up, exclaiming at and
ldmiring by turns everything she saw,
while l followed in their wake, trying
lot to look as nervous as | felt.
Suddenly, in one of the few and dis
ant pauses in Aunt Georgina's conver-
atiOn, or rather mOnologue, l again