The Washington critic., 1888-01-28
JUST FOR A LARK.


toner, transacts u largo business at
Howard and Diamond streets, is
prosperous and possessed Of COM
Portable sum, though only "a years of |
age. He's CATCH
There was party of dozen girls
assembled last Sunday afternoon in
the parlor of Miss Laura Hartley's
home, on Lawrence street, above
Norris. All but three were under 16
years Of age, but every one took q
lively interest in the proceedings of
the conclave. Miss Hartley, the
hostess, had copy of the Sunday
Record and was reading aloud from o
two-column-and-a-half article on the
eighth page, headed eligible Bach
elors." On the organ stool was seated
Miss Fannie Toff, q young girl,
faxen-haired and gray-eyed, who has
passed the II years of her life in q
two-story brick house at Eighth and
Berks streets. 0na chair beside Miss
Abel sat Sadie Westman, who is 10
years old, and lives at Second and
Norris streets. The parlor furniture
was all hair-covered, and was fairly
hidden from sight by the Sunday
dresses of the other Kensington girls
who bent eagerly forward to hear Of
other eligible bachelors"
Nov, here's another" continued
Miss Laura. "Sadie, he's for you"
Dr. Wallace g. Bobb, 80 years of age, of No.
Qi4b North Sixth street; Is short and stout,
and has the accustomed geniality Of fat men.
He is the architect of his own greatness, and
q mi M
''I don't like doctors," decided Miss
Westman
"Well, then, how would this one
suit?"
Charles Blaich, who lives at No. 22Ie North
Second street, Is 80 years of age and has ac-
quired handsome fortune through the distri-
button of knowledge. In other words, he Is
newspaper routes, out Of the profits of which
he has built house and made extensive bank
deposits.
"He's nice. I'll write to him. Got
any paper 2'
Miss Hartley had paper. She had
enough writing materials to go around
among the dozen, and the party ad-
journed to the sitting room. Here
they linked their fingers most beauti-
fully and worked their brains to some
advantage. After few minutes Miss
Hartley read the following to her
Uneven fellow leap year proposers:
faILADEIPHIA, Ja'aSi.s-y g. 1888.
lDyAR SIR: / saw your advertisement ni'Cne
Sunday Record among those who wanted n
wife that lived in this deserted city. As am
the only girl (and you the only man, think
we would make good match.
J. am so years old, % off and 10 off and on,
light brown hair, light skin, dark blue eyes.
II suit, answer or call; r,-.
Lawrence and Hancock streets, Philadelphia,
Pa.
Then she procured envelopes, ruled
FIVE of them lightly with lead pencil,
copied off five addresses, rubbed the
pencil marks out, enclosed five copies
of her letter, and sealed the en-
velopes. The other girls had, each
nearly as many letters as she and
when they all popped out to together
to post them, they choked the mail
box. They made little bets with one
another which was going to get the
first reply, and huge amount of fun
over the escapade before they
separated.
Now, the first answerreceived was
in reply to one of Miss Hartley's let
ters. The recipient handed his note
to Daily NeioS reporter, and the re-
porter, dressed in his sprucest, at s
O'Clock last evening reached q foot
above his head to reach; the abnor-
mally high china bell-handle, and
rang. Mrs. Hartley opened the door.
The reporter handed her his card say
ing, ,,,. po.,..,,,. ,,;,...,. .oo.,.
tary, and have called, in response to
a note received by that gentleman
from Miss Laura Hartley"
"Come in, Mr.. Conwell,' said she,
''I'll call Laura. >"
The reporter seated himself on the
hair-covered sofa and waited. There
was q whispered conference in the
sitting-room, two or three minutes de-
lay. and then q pocket edition Of
womanly loveliness foated in. II was
Laura. She was II years old. She
had blue eyes, her skin was light, but
she had fibbed about her hair. It'was
dark brown and was tied in the bach
with knot of blue ribbon. But q lit
tie thing like that didn't worry the
private secretary. Not bit of it. He
has rather weakness for dark-hairet
girls, and so looking up, he started
sighed and murmured audibly:
''If were only Mr.. Powell !"
Then Miss Hartley's chief beauty
showed itself. She blushed, anc
blushed in a way that made the pri
yate secretary wish more than eve
that he and his employer could ex
3hange identity. He told her hoy
Mr.. Powell had received the note
how he smiled when he read it
how he kissed the signature, how h
put it in the pocket in the left side o
his coat. He kept that coat buttonet
for.aweek and finally yesterday morn
ing told his secretary that he could nj
longer bear the suspense. He mus
see Miss Hartley, he had said. ant
would 90 himself only busines
took him out Of town. During the re
cital she blushed and blushed again
and exclaimed, "0h, Mr.. Conwell
and protested that it was all ajok
and that she hhd never meant it. Th
secretary looked shocked.
"Not mean it!'' he returned
"Why, my dear young lady, tn,
paper said Mr.. Powell was wortl
$4,000. Instead, its $500,000 He i
already in love with you. To b.
sure he's 40, but $500, ,000."
The young lady softened just
little, but the next minute declares
that she had never had suitor il
her life, and she couldn't think Of it
really. A little persuasion, however
induced her TO change her mind, AM
she fixed next Thursday evening a
the date on which Mr.. Powell ant
two bachelor friends were to cal
and meet herself and Miss Westmal
and Miss Toff. Then the seeretar
rose to say goodbye. Miss Laur