Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-08-23
THAT COSY COTTAGE.

"Good evening, Mr.. Beavoir."
"Good evening, Miss Singer"
"The most disagreeable month in the
year, Mr.. Beavoir."
~ always did detest March, Miss Sin
ger"
And then they bowed politely and
passed each other on the stairs-he going
down to the cherries boarding house
dining-room, she going up to her cheer
less boarding house bedroom.
In the latter apartment she removed
her hat, cloak, and sedate business dress,
bathed her face and hands, brushed her
hair. and slipped into dark-blue wrap
per which had some soft lisse ruching at
the throat ano wrists AS she took UP
her handkerchief and book from the
dressing case she paused, gravely regard
ing the reflection in the mirror.
Not very youthful face that which
the glass gave back to her, for Miss Sin
ger was thirty-two il she was day.
A pleasant face though, even if little
too thin and pale for beauty. The fea-
lures were delicately cut; the eyes were
very blue, very clear, very bright; the
wavy hair, brushed back from the smooth,
broad brow, was glossy as brown satin.
"It's pity, Elsiel" she SAID to her
self, solemnly-''it's an awful pity you
are an old maid. You would so love a
home, and you do 50 hate business and
boarding houses"
She sighed, turned away, went to the
window and looked across the street, as
she had done many an evening of late, at
a bit of a brandnew pretty little house
just nearing completion
Only six roomsl What pretty, cosy,
picturesque little place it was, and cheap,
too-only three pounds month. How
she wished she could take it, Well, why
not2
She started, smiling as the query
forced itself upon her.
Why not, indeed She had fifty
pounds saved; she was earning good
salary at Wright & Dever's publishing Of
fee. Her hours were easy-from nine
till four She would have long, delight
full evenings to spend in "A home, in lit
tie room that was all her very own. Lone
ly2 Yes, she might find it a trihe lonely,
but not more so than here, where she
found no congenial spirits. She could
ask up occasionally some of the girls from
the office who were friendless as she, and
what tea and what chats could not they
have together!
And it was very strange fact that
while in the upper window of that tail,
gloomy, prison-Eke boarding house, Miss
Elsie Singer stood and gazed at the little
house with happy and dreamful sense
of possession, at the lower window, the
drawing room window, Mr.. Henry Bea-
voir looked through the drab, clustering
March dusk at the same small domicile,
with momeutarily growing resolution
to rent that house the very next day, and
take up his bachelor residence therein.
* Once on time" unused Mr.. Beavoir,
81 would have scorned the idea of living
alone. But somehow or other I've let
the years slip away from me, and now
now I'm too old and ugly to ask any girl
to marry me, OF course I'll keep a cook
good one, too. l can afford that 1t
is time l took comfort out of money, for
l have some, even if do live in second
class boarding house. There is a garden
over there. I'd cultivate that | always
was fond of flowers, especially gillyfow-
ers and pansics."
When the surper-bell rang he hurried
out into the hall, only to find Miss Sing
er tripping down the stairs in the arrest
manner imaginable.
81 had no idea it was so latel' she
said, and her voice had quite new ring
in it.
"Nor l." he answered, with cordial
smile. 81 got to thinking of flowers
of my mothers garden. Are you fond
of flowers, Miss Singer2"
They were now seated opposite each
other at the long, narrow table.
Gam II Oh, yes, indeed, particularly
fond of verbena and sweet peas"
"And gillyhowersR' veutured Mr..
Beavoir.
ooh, yes, of gillyhowers, tool"
Then ensued quite an animated con
versation. Mis- Singer made the discov-
cry that Mr.. Beavoir's mother had always
raised extraordinarily fine pansies, and
Mr.. Beavoil discovered that Miss Sing
er's father had shared his particular pen
chant for sweet peas. The talk on flori-
culture. and similar other tastes was con
tinued in the drawing-room, and when
at ten, they regretfully parted, it was
with the consciousness of having spent
their first pleasant evening in Mrs.
Barry's boarding house But alas for
the cloud which was to arise and shadow
the beauty of their budding friendship.
When, the next day, after his lunch, Mr..
Beavoir walked over to the office of Baird
& Briefly, and entered their waiting
room, he was in excellent humor with
the world in general and Henry Beavoir
in particular. A lady, seated in leatheru
chair by the window-a trim little lady,
deep in perusal of the evening paper
glanced carelessly up as he entered.
That stout, medium statured figure, in
the frieze overcoat and high-silk hat
that fair, almost youthful face, With 6
slight moustache! Surely it was--yes
indeed, none other than-her fellow
lodger!
A recollection of their pleasant chat
the previous evening required to her.
She bowed and smiled.
"a beautiful day, Mr.. Beavoir!"
''For this miserable month, yes, Miss
Singer
Then he walked round the room and
read the numerous placards whicl
adorned the wall
They were the only possible hvuse
holders present. 1t was still rather
early for furry in real estate. The
gentleman in authority here was at dln
ner. His temporary substitute was bliss
fully ignorant as to conditions.
So, when Mr.. Beavoir grew weaIf o
wandering around the room, he cam,
over and sat down beside Miss Singer.
81 hope you are not thinking of leav
ing US, Miss Singerlp
"Well, yes, l was"
'Indeedl Well, boardingis disag1 ee
able"
"Very,n assented Elsie
give been considering the advisable