The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-18

fiSNtot, So proper! w nv,
bless you, he wouldn't have taken Mrs.
Jones room at all if she had been
youngish and the least good-loolling.
The fl rst thing lie asked her was if she
took in ladies. He couldn't dream of
taking lodgings there if
"Oh. dear no, SIR" he was promptly
assure q, with twinkle of fun in Mrs.
Jones optical organ. ~ never take no
ladies; they're too troublesome. Mine
is only for gentlemen"
On which Mr.. Barnet permitted him
\ self to be shown the front parlor and
y the hrst-floor back room, let with it
for II bedroom. Mrs. Jones marched
In, throwing back the coverlet TO show
that the bedding was spotlcssly clean;
l but her invitation to "Step in, sir, and
see for yourself had the reverse
effect, for the old gentleman, who had
pceped timidly in, backed out blushing
and stammering: "Thanll you, ma'am
/ --er--ycs, yes; / see. thank you; it's
j quite NICE
That trying ordeal got through he
4 faced round on two doors clearly be-
longing to two front rooms and in
Quired what they were and who
4 lodged there. Mrs. Jones answered:
This door, sir, next here, is sit
n ting-room, and that is the slip-room "a
\ bedroom). A young man has them
d two rooms-a most quiet behaved, re-
3jspcctablc young man he is, Sir"
\ "Ah-h'm. hone SO, ma am, hope
Il so. could not remain where nv very
next ncighbor was irrcgularly conduct
ed, you know"
"Oh, no, sir; but that amt Mr.. We'll
4 by. lie don't interfere with nobody!"
4 The old bachelor took the apart
= ments. Before long, being of course
81 ten times more curious than any wom-
&lan, lie soon managed to encounter his
Il next-room neighbor in the passage
"a He was Il distinguishing Young fell
d low, who stood aside for the old gen
~ tlemqn with II polite Good morning."
8-and then ran lightly upstairs.
III by Jove! what IL queer old party il
Z is, Mrs Jones, said lie that evening
III Looks to Il Il the awful piece of pro-
Hkpriety YOU said. lIa! ha,-you didn't
Htcll him what | am?'
Il Law, sir--no! He'd fly ont of his
JAsiiin, let alone the house. How are Won
s. Ectting ON, sir?" asked the landady.
IN 'Oh, iir:,t-ratc, Mrs. Jones. | shall
g Soon have all perfected and think the
8sntertainmcnt will he a success"
~, Mr. barnet WAS appallingly regular
8lan all he did: the routine of one da,,
'8Nwas, with the rarest variation, the
s3lroutinc of every day. He was the most
al 20 bc-piticd crcature--a bachelor of
SAfnodcrate means and no occupation.
a For a whole fortnight Mr. Barnet
} busted himself trying to find what that
III lc Xt-room tenant did for his living.
s<f by dint of IL score of devices known to
~ he curious he discovered that young
80 elby came in and out at all hours
5As all was comparatively quiet in the
R ront room in the evening he fondly
||a ook it that the tenant thereof not only
IA came home to tea, " but stayed at home
M tudying till an early bedtime.
'S$ Really, most properly conducted
'7sse3 Dung man." said Mr.. Barnet TO him
elf one evening at about the end of "A
ortnight.
s$ Alas for his premature approval;
$S$ My two evenings later it was some
What disturbed. lie heard Young
Velby come III alone; but instead of
F<8 here being only slight movements
44 verhcad there was something of a
s&H ommotion. The table and chairs
s ere moved about. Then the lotlgcr
msclf walked about noisi!y ANA the
2&Accp muttcrirgs OF his voice pcne tratcd
$50 the puzzled listener below Good
gracious! WAS he talking to himself.
I'M Mrs. Jones or to whom? Was il
ossiblc that any other than Mrs. DO
sF58 o, no; the thought was too awful 1t
S mite took Mr.. Barnet's breath Be
S3 dies, he wo;'ld have heard the most
Sfa iiry-lil1e footstcp or rustic of feminine
garments, us his door was ajar. 1t al
|$83 avs was. lay the by. Why. there was
S:638 onng Nciby going out. Yes, the door
HR& ant; and what was more, il hadn't
- 1encd again 10 that young man at ten
. clocli.
; This was really looking serious. and
L. Barnet purscd his rcspccta BILE lips
$50 he slowly retired to his dormitorv-
!f4S lltc a quarter of an hour late
. s3aS II shall just lie awake and watch. y
s| uttered the old gentlcmal as he 20.
to bed, which was next the thin
FEN l3rtition vail IF that young SCAMP
# going to-ahcm-.kccp ali sorts of
SSA proper hours-rcally. anythingmight
ppen next, and my character be com
IN t0miscd.''
s8 Bnt Morpheus was not to be so easily
IL uded and Mr.. Barnet dozcd for a
lid half hour. He was awakened by
l burst of laughter from the sitting
ls pom next his apartment. Mr. Barnet
up rubbing his eyes, utterly indig-
{4nt ut such nocturnal orgics. He had
deed actually raised his hand TO give
k angry knock at the wall, when Il
Nszf und broke on his car which made the
manning hairs on his respectable old
Il Il L 4.
silvery feminine laugh and voice