Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-08-25
ANOTHER'S SISTER.

Let US all pray to be deliveredf from
the sin of hasty judgment. When I
first beheld four or five modern come
dies adapted from the French Lam
guage, wherein the situations were
all due to somebody, chiefly she, en-
tering somebody else's apartments,
chiefly a he, I scoffed audiby. The
thing was absurd. out-worn and.
cheap But now that has happened
which has caused me to know a great
deal more about French comedies and
critical situations than all the most
successful playwrights put together.
In the first place, I occupied land.
still do occupy chambers which con
sist Of two rooms connected by a tiny
hallway giving on to the landing by
one door. Therefore it will be plain
to the meanest mind that once the
hall door is occupied by the enemy
the only other exit is from the win.
dow by way of the gutter-pipe-a
vertical distance of three stories
There should al ways be two. ways,
not including the window, out Of
every set of chambers.
This need had never presented it.
self to me until one memorable after
noon, when, without knock, word or
warning, a round faced. golded haired
blue-eyed maiden, in an astrakan
faced Jacket, a gray skirt and black
velvet hat, charged into my room
after the most approved fashion of all
the comedies, crying: "Dear old
joel"
My name was not, and never will
be, Joe. There was no need for ex-
plantations. Sister, and only sister,
was stamped all over the face of the
maiden. Everybody who has been
possessed of an only sister UNDER
stands the manner in which one of
the tribe enters a brothers rooms.
The maiden gave a little scream
as I turned. She apologized. Could
I tell her whereabouts Mr.. Joseph
Rupard's chambers were?
I could not, for you may live seven
teen years in chambers without know.
ing the face, life, or occupation of
any one of your fellow convicts 1
suggested that she should speak to
the h~ousekeeper, and escorted her to
the tiny hall aforesaid.
You will. observe that there was
nothing whatever in these proceed
ings to bring a blush to the thinnest
cheek.
The Imp of Perversity, who is gen.
orally playing about on the landing
for six shillings a week, met me in the
hallway, saying: "Lady and gentle
man to see you, sir."
Behind him stood two figures that
] knew, and at any other time would
have received with Joy.
The lady at my heels lost her
s%ingularly pretty head, and, whisper
ing "What shall 1 do?" bolted back
into the sitting-room.
All this was strictly in accordance
with the rules of the stage; but why
it should have taken place in my
chamber, I could never understand.
And yet I was deeply thankful that
she had not gone forth, like Una,
under the noses ofmy visitors Uncle
John-yes, it was an uncle, even as
is the case in a comedy-wouid have
laughed; and. since she was another
mans sister, that would have been
even worse than Aunt Alice's hawk
eyed inspection OF the maiden and
subsequent description of her face,
figure and dress to all her righteous
world.
received my people in the hall
way. An inspiration told me to get
rid of my coat and rumple my hair.
Desperate fear made me very wise,
most courteous and genial to excess.
ooh, so glad to see you," said i;
s'but Pm afraid you've come to a
regular camp in the wilderness. Fact
Is, my sitting-ro0m is upside down;
that fool of a housemaid has been
doing something to the fire that has
filled the place with SHUTS, and I've
made her dust everything out again.
But come into the bedroom, since
you've taken the trouble to climb all
these stairs" Even as Ispoke in the
hall. l heard the heavy armchair
wheeled up against nv sitting-room
door. and there was a sound of
emphatic busting. THANKED Heaven
that was pleased to aflict me, that it
had sent at least zone heart still
ready to play out the play"
Into my humble bedroom I led
those relatives; and my aunt, after
the manner of women, made search.
ing inventories with her eye and in.
.quired asto whether I was we'll looked
after. But it was the auntipathetic
kiss and the remark that followed
''My boy how hot you arel Aren't
you well?"-that scared my perfectly
innocent soul like hot iron. Per.
1ected crime must bring with it a
sense of ease and rest. 1t is the un-
merited imputatlon OF evil that
strains the nerves.
My aunt would fain have had tea,
sswhen the girl had finished cleaning
your rooms" The bedroom door was
Of course open. / assured my aunt
that the folly Of that housemaid pre-
vented her from finishing anything
thus side Of doomsday, and that tho