The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-18
ACROSS THE HALL.


must have been built for boarding.
house, so admirably did it suit that
purpose, although the millionaire who
did build it would have groaned in hor-
ror at such a suggestion.
But a boarding house it was, and a
well-conducted, comfortable one, when
1, Harry Bell, engaged room on the
third floor, and brought my belongings
there. Now was fully aware that the
creme de la creme of Mrs. Samson's
boarders did not reside above the second
floor, and only what she called ';clerks,
you know, and people who cannot pay a
large board" dwelt upon the third and
fourth floors. SO I let her think what
she pleased about my income, acceded
to her demand for ';wcek always in adj
vance, and said I was medical student,
although I had graduated three years be-
fore.
"Did you get in, old fellow" Steve
Harlan asked me, the next time we met.
81 did"
''Next room?"
Engaged! Mine is across the hall. "
t'Well? Who is she?"
s'Companion to an ancient party on the
next floor below. Maid has room next
the mistress. Companion mounts another
flight of stairs. And we sit opposite each
other at the table. The ancient party
glareS at me as if 1 owed her something.
Perhaps she thinks I want to feel her
pulse. She is corpulent individual, red
in the facet and eats like a rhinoccros.
The companion looks prettier than ever
beside herr"
SCOT any names?"
"Yes. Ancient party is Mrs. Carter.
Companion is Elsie Lennox."
Then Steve whistled with SO much sig
nifcance that cried, with conviction:
"You know her2"
81 should rather think I did! Her
father failed, for goodness knows how
much, two years ago, and like Lewis
Carols baker, he softly and suddenly
vanished away from his creditors, leaving
Elsie with her aunt. Mrs. Carter is a
distant relative-cousin, or something.
Why, three years ago Elsie Lcnnox was
the belle of the season."
did not know. * .Ssfffieet fie t1es hePfwas was glad or
sorry to ofear near aH this. I had seen Elsie
Lennox in the street, had seen her enter
Mrs. Samson's several times, and her ex
quisite face and graceful figure had won
so much warm admiration that longed
to know her, to speak to her. hoping,
perhaps, to win from her some answer
ing interest and liking.
And so I applied for board at Mrs.
Samson's; and having seen Elsie's face
at a third story window, obtained pos
session of the corresponding window on
the other side of the hall.
1t was not difficult to strike up an ac-
quaintance, but very difficult, found it,
to gain more than scant courtesy from
Miss Lennox. The ancient party, Mrs.
Carter, evidently allowed no followers"
for she most decidedly snubbed me when
ever I tried to make myself agreeable.
And how did try! I offered her the
use of all my numerous magazines, only
to be informed that she subscribed her
self for everything worth reading. I
brought flowers to her, and saw them
fade in the hall, because she thought the
scent unhealthy in a room. 1 offered to
attend to any business she might have
down town, and was informed that her
agent and her maid attended to her af
fairs. And at about this stage of the
proceedings | became uncomfortably
aware that Miss Lennox was laughing at
me.
dropped Mrs. Carter then, and di.
rected my attentions to Miss Lennox; but
it was certainly the most uphill courting
ever attempted. Miss Lennox was cold
as ice, and Mrs. Carter gave her but lit.
tie leisure time, so that meeting in the
public parlor was simply a vexation. I
tried other tactics. 1 waited in my own
room until my neighbor across the hall
went down to dinner, and then stepping
over, left, just inside her door, such Of
ferings as flowers, fruits or books. I
wrote tender verses and slipped them
under her door; and once-only once
took my violin when she was singing
IN her room to her own piano accom-
paniment, and followed the air in my
tenderest strains. The emphatic bang
with which the piano was closed effect
ually prevented any repetition of that
effort.
Ihad begun to despair, when fortune
favored me. I had been reading until a
late hour, and had fallen asleep in soft
ly-cushioned chair, when quick rap on
my door awakeded me, and Mrs. Sam
sons voice asked: care you awake?"
opened the door at once.
II saw your light was burning" Mrs.
Samson said. s:You told me you were
studying medicine. Do come to Mrs.
Carter and see if you can do anything for
her before her own physician comes. l
have sent for him, but it is long dis
tancc to 60"
Just one glance at the sufferer told me
she could not wait for aid from ''long
distance" She lay in an apoplctic fit
that threatened instant death. went to
work at once, opened vein in the
throat, applied the usual remedies, and
had the satisfaction of bringing her back
from the very confines of the grave, be-
fore her own doctor arrived. All through
the quick, active treatment, had ac-
cepted almost mechanically the help of