Arizona republican., 1891-04-09
A HANDSOME BLONDE.

They boarded in the same house. She was a sparkling brunette, with plump, shapely figure, rosebud lips and deep red cheeks. Her raven locks fell in pretty clusters over her noble forehead, and were gathered into a massive coil, artistically braided, in her neck. Her deep, glorious eyes were resplendent with warm light, and had in their half shy expression charm which fascinated for veal or woe. She was endeavoring to enjoy her dinner, but was nervous and restless.
 He was a blonde, with quantity of mustache and whiskers close cut. He sat at a table opposite the charming brunette, and, do what he might, he could not avoid gazing at her. Every two minutes their eyes met, at which she regularly blushed, fidgeted and frowued, and he inwardly blessed the good fortune which had placed him op. posite such revelation of loveliness.
 They were, ere long, introduced, but their acquaintance seemed not to pros per. One thing and another occurred to separate them. She had other friends and needed him not; he was busy and cared not for her.
 GosSips will circulate in a boarding house-mysteriously, to be sure, but still il goes. And one day while she was, in her little room-his room was at the op- po>ite end of the hall-she overheard two of the servants discussing certain photographs. She learned they were in his room, She also learned that they We're photographs of ladies.
 Can he have another girlY" she asked herself, and then quickly answered it; "Of course he has. But perhaps he is engaged! Think of it! Is such a thing pOssibleE
 And, fully impressed with the horror of the thought, she flung her door open, There was no one in the hall; the door of his room was open, for it was the day after Christmas and he was out of town gone to see that other, perhaps. Her mother was out-noc chance for detection from that quarter. She remembered that the occupants of the other room were also away for Christtnas--no one to discover her there. Surely the coast Was clear.
 Yes, she saw it, and with rapid step walked boldly into his room. An! how she flushed at her own pretty face in the miT0r--a dainty, hand painted thing doubtless the gift of that other. But what other? She looked around and saw, not one feminine face, as she ex- pected, but many. But there was one which seemed to have the most promi- hence. This stood on the bureau, and she bent over to examine it closely.
 The upper drawer of the bureau was open a little way-all else was in good orI"r. She had been studying the photo graph, perhaps minute, rapidly and critically, when she was mortified by hearing the front door in the hall below open and shut heavily and a rapid step come hurrying up the stairs.
 She turned pale with fright, for she recognized his quick step, and never had 1t seemed so dangerously quick-never had she experienced such sensation of perfect dismay. Not pausing longer she turned abruptly to hazard run into her own room, for he had climbed but one figh: of stairs-there was yet time.
 At her bosom she wore dainty glove buttOner of oxidized silver-a pretty thing, the gift of dear friend. It had become dislodged from its resting place as she sat reading in her own room, and when the thought of those photographs came to her she rose so suddenly that she still further loosened it. While bend ing over his picture on the bureau it hung by just the slightest thread, and, when she turned quickly to fly, it fell into the partly open drawer. She heard the noise as it fell, but could not pause to find 1t at so critical moment.
 When she entered the room-his room she easily lodged around a chair which was placed little awkwardly in the center of the room, but in her eager ness to escape she thought not of that obstruction, but rushed into it, over turned the chair, which fell with a crash, and, humbled most pitsously, she sprawled full length upon the floor, a dozen hairpins flying in all directions. Alas! for her lordly dignity.
 Just at this juncture he, little wear led with the climb, reached the upper hall and swiftly approached his room. hwould be utterly false to say that he was not surprised. It would be equally talso to say that he was literally thun- derstruck,
 He paused abruptly upon the thres- hold as if spellbound. His yalise and umbrella fell to the floor, and he swayed back and forth until he was forced to grasp inc casing of the doorway lest he, loo, might fall.
 This weakness of course lasted but a moment, and as he realized the situation. S be saw the chair upon its back, the Foud girl motionless upon the floor, her a'u Tor hair dressing scattered about in Foiusion, faint smile lit his face surely this was pardonable.
 The next moment, however, his expres- aon changed, for she remained so quiet ,a"t he feared she might be dangerously nHt So he bent over her, lifted her gently to her feet, and sought to assure ue[ that no harm was done.
 Her hands were bruised, likewise her ,"ce' arms and many parts of her body, ,O' She fell heavily; but, alas! her blood @uie and went as usual, and her mind vas Derfpctly claar His arrna xuar>