The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-05-01
A CHICAGO STORY.

n very cOmely young woman
opened the door, and Jones noticed
that she seemed surprised at seeing him.
She was about TO speak, when he in
quired:
lis Mrs. Jones IMP
THE good-looking little woman
smiled coqucitishly, placed her fists on
her hips, with her arms akimbo, and
said very archly
"1t looks like II, doesn't IL p
'"Then she burst into a very jolly
laugh, caught Jones by the lapel of his
coat, and pulled him into the parlor,
where she reached her two plump arms
up around his neck and said to the as.
tonished Jones:
First, kiss me.
Jones would have thought he had
struck private asylum but for the fact
that the little woman with her arms
around his neck was very pretty, with
big blue eyes and golden hair, and not
at all like a lunatic. Besides she was
holding her face upturned ready to be
kissed her as per request, and did II
with as much ardor as any woman
could ask. Then she said:
Second, tell me what brings you
out here in the middle of the afternoon,
and she pulled his head down and kissed
him again.
II reckon there never was another
man placed In such trying position as
that. Jones saw in minute that he
was mistaken for somebody else, but he
didn't know whether II was q sweet.
heart or wife he had found, and he
didn't care to take chances on deciding.
He said
"I came to see If you would rent me
room.
1.-The pretty little woman laughed
again and pushed him into q chair.
Then she sat on his knee, put her arms
round his neck, and asked, shyly:
Aren't you satisfied with youl
present quarters 2
"She hugged him real hard as SHE
said this and kissed him before he had
a chance to reply. When he got q
show he braced up to performance of
his duty and said:
"1 guess you've made mistake
I'm looking for room. You seem tc
take me for somebody you've met
before
"He said this as seriously as he could
but the fun of the thing and that pecu-
liar twist of the upper lip made him
look as If he were half laughing. His
remark threw the pretty little woman
into great fit Of laughter, but sh,
didn't let go of him. Finally she sub
dued her mirth little and said:
"'Now quit teasing me and tell mellow
much you love me, and she smothered
him again.
Jones saw that he was getting il
deep water and that he had better swim
out, He tried to take the pretty arm,
from about his neck and to disencum
ber his knee, but he didn't succeed.
"Pm not teasing you he said. q
never saw you before. Who do you
think / am p
THE arms were loosened anc
the two hands grabbed him by the
shoulders.
"Why, Fred Jones 7 said the little
woman. What do you mean by talk
ing to me like that? You know
don't like you when you tease
Fred Jones is my name,' replied
Jones, but am not your Fred. Jones
nor anybodys. I'm q single man, and
came here hoping to find room.
"The little woman bounced off his
knee and stood looking at him min.
ute, evidently in doubt as to whether
he was crazy or only just playing q
joke on her. She made up her mind
to the latter and made dive for his
neck again, and got 1t, along with an
other kiss
"'Don'i be silly, dear she said
That isn't biz funny now. 1t might
have been when you first came in, but
1t isn't any longer You never did
know when to end your jokes.
=" i see you take me for your hus
band, said Jones, as she perchcd on his
knee dgain.
"'Well, ratherl the little woman
murmured as she snuggled her cheek
down against his and tickled her most
with his mustache.
"'But am not said Jones.
up the little woman jumped again
and Jones took advantage of the oppor
tunity to get up also.
Erred Jonesp she said, and she be
gan to get man; 1iwant you to stop thi.
stupid pretense. i won't speak TO YOU
for week If you don't / told you
that II wasn't funny.
Jones took her by the arm and led
her to the bay window, the shutters OF
which were partially closed. lie then
threw them all open, squared himself
before the tempting little beauty, and
said earnestly;
Pm not joking at all. | have told
you the truth. am not your husband
and never saw you till you opened the
door and grabbed me. advertised fol
/ II room in this neighborhood and yor
answered it to "E H." Here Is the
answer and he dived into his pocket
and brought 1t out. Look me all ovel
and see If you don't realize your error
It's hardly possible that l should bt
dressed exactly like your husband. ever
if ! do look like him in every Other
respect
"The little woman was dazed. Sh,
took the letter mechanically and
looked at him, getting scared more and
more every minute. Her eyes took, II
the cutaway suit of dark stuff he wore
as though II was perfectly familiar tc
her. She looked searchingly into hi,
face and at the peculiar expression
about the left corner of his mouth, and
had got so far in protest as oh, Fred
don't frighten-' when her eye resteC
on his necl<tie and the min IL held Th,