The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-11-04
A BACHELORS BLUNDER

pany heated term 1t occurred in al
uptown boarding house, and Franz
Richardson, handsome bachelor o.
thirty-five, was the blunderer.
On certain sultry night, Franks sec
ond floor front room, though usually
airy, was sitting. He had turned out
the gas, and was sitting with his slipper
ed feet upon the footboard of the bed
though it was long past midnight Ht
didn't care to 60 out on the front step:
at that hour, and if he should venture
into the back yard he might be mistaken
for burglar and fired upon from some
window.
The landlady was good soul, and he
enjoyed considerable freedom in the
house. but disturbance and an ex-
PLANTATION at the dead of night would be
awkward.
Presently he started up
"Why in thunder didn't think of the
roof before ?' he asked himself. al
will be capital place to smoke"
He tiptoed up the stairway to the at
tic, carrying his cigar and matches,
! while the stars peered down at him
through the skylight. He had found his
way there not a week ago, to see what
view the roof afforded of the river.
There was no one in the attic. The oc-
cupants of the two front rooms were
away, and the back room, with its
slightly sloping roof and little window,
was used for storage. He fumbled
about for a door he remembered, I'M
fastened it, and CROPPED his way up the
dark steps to the scuttle. This he open
ed readily with little noise, and stepped
out on the roof.
''I'll leave it open to let the air circu-
late" he thought as he lighted his cigar
He felt repaid at once for his trouble.
A cool breeze was wasting its refreshing
breath among the skylights and Chin
neys. He began to grow sentimental,
alone under the stars. His thoughts
strayed to the woman he had seen in
Riverside Park week ago, sitting on
one of the benches overlooking the Hud-
son. She had risen to catch a glimpse
of train as it Numbered along below,
when her picturesque broad hat had
flown off and sailed down the bank.
Frank recovered it, and returned it to
her with his best bow.
That was all; but her graceful thanks
and smiling, lovely face had haunted
him ever Size. He wished he could
meet her again and obtain an introduce
ton. Hang it all! why hadn't her elderly
lady companion said something that
would have made an excuse for his
lingering beside them, instead of regard
ing him as if he were an ogre ? He
could trust the shy, eloquent glance of
the other, he knew. ...~...
Then, as he paced the lengthy promen-
ade of the roof of his own and neighbor-
ing houses, his thoughts flew off in a
tangent to Ida Scott, now Mrs. Wyatt.
He wondered if he had ever been really
in love with Ida. He had certainly felt
a sense of relief when he found she had
thrown him over for Charles Wyatt.
She was pretty, of course, with piqn-
ancy he had admired at that time, but
she was an inveterate tease and talker,
and had made him vince on more than
one occasion by certain lack of delicacy
which he could cTitlcise now more dis
passionately.
1T would have been a great mistake,
and yet suppose should have drifted
into marriage with her if Wyatt, with
his big bank account, had not turned up
in time" he thought.
He had never met Wyatt, who was a
Chicago man. Ida had lived in that city
since her marriage, three years ago. He
had heard through a mutual friend that
the pair were coming to New York soon
on visit. He felt no little curiosity to
see them, and wondered if Ida was as
rattle tOngued as ever; and then bis
thoughts reverted to the soft-Yoiced d.
vinity of Riverside Park.
He fell into dreamy frame of mind
presently, and feeling deliciously
drowsy, stumbled down through the
open scuttle with his eyes half shut. 1t
resisted his efforts to close it, and leav-
ing it to its own stubbornness he made
his way down to his own room, as he
supposed, threw himself on the wide
bed, and was asleep in twinkling.
He was awakened to consciousness
and the fact that q strong hand WAS
grasping his arm, while a MAPS voice
demanded in no gentle tones.-
"Who the deuce are you ?'
Frank was sitting bolt upright in an
instant.
"What are you doing in my bed S' he
Numbered.
"Your bed ? That's cheeky from a
man 1 find asleep in mine!"
"Have the imps of darkness carried
me into lunatic asylum 1 wonder P''
queried Frank, glazing apprehensively
at the stout figure showing dimly
through the gloom on the other side OF
the broad bed.
you'll think you're in a worse place
If you don't get out of here pretty
quickp' retorted the other, seizing
Franks arm with a ferocious grasp.
"Charles! Charlesi' called startled
feminine voice from the shadowy lounge
in the corner.
Then the scene materialized slowly
out of the gloom to Franks strained
gaze. The furniture of the room was
different 1t all flashed upon him.
'Shades of Venicew he exclaimed.
I've come down the wrong scuttler'
The wrong scuttlel" echoed the
other man, who by this time had donned
his clothes. do they keep open scut-
tie here ?'' -''' q
II went out on the roof to smoke a
cigar" Frank exclaimed hurriedly,
wishing he had gone to smoke in Hall
fax. These houses are SO deucedly
alike" he added.
''As ! live, that's Frank Richardson's
voice! came from the shadowy lounge
in the corner.
Franks heart leaped to his throat as
he recognized the tones. Here was a
pretty how-do-you-dol He had blunder-
ed into the sleeping-room of Charles
Wyatt and his wife. What in the name
of the seven wonders had possessed him,
anyway
SIS that you, Ida-Mrs. Wyatt P'' he
asked family.