Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-03-16

Sf0OrRG b6TnCb precise, and-ob, so proper! Why, bless you, he wouldn't have taken Mrs. Jones room at all If she had been youngish and the least good-looking. The fl rst thing he asked her was if she took in ladies. He couldn't dream of taking lodgings there if
 ''Ohl dear no, sir," he was promptly assure d, with twinkle of fun in Mrs. Jones' optical organ. II never take no ladies; they're too troublesome. Mine is only for gentlemen"
 On which MT. Barnet permitted him. self to be shown the front parlor and the flrst-hoor back room, let with 1t for a bedroom. Mrs- Jones marched in, throwing back the coverlet to show that the bedding was spotlessly clean; but her invitation to ''Step in. sir. and see for yourself" had the reverse effect, for the old gentleman, who had peeped timidly in, backed out blushing and stammering: "Thank you, ma'am -er-yes, yes; I see, thank you; it's quite nice"
 That trying ordeal got through, he faced round on two doors clearly be- longing to two front rooms and in- quired what they were and who lodged there. Mrs. Jones answered.;
 "This door, sir, next here, Is a sit ting-room, and that is the slip-room Ia bedroom). A young man has them two rooms-a most quiet-be'aved, re- specta ble young man he is. sir"
 "Ah-h'm. hope so, ma'am, hope so. l could not remain where my very next neighbor was irregularly conduct ed, you know"
 ''Oh, no, sirI but that ain't MT. Well by. He don't interfere with nobody"
 The old bachelor took the apart ments. Before long, being of course ten times more curious than any wom- an, he soon managed to encounter his next-room neighbor in the passage He was a distinguishing young fel- low, who stood aside for the old gem tleman with Q polite Good morning." and then ran lightly upstairs. By Jovel what a queer old party 1t is, Mrs Jones'" said he that evening. Looks to T the awful piece of pro- priety you said. Hal hai--you didn't tell him what I amp"
 Claw, sir-no! He'd fly out of his skin, let alone the house. How are you getting on, sir2" asked the laudlady.
 "Oh, first-rate, Mrs. Jones. shall l soon have all perfected and I think the | entertainment will be a success" MT. Barnet was appallingly regular in all he did; the routine of one day was, with the rarest variation, the routine of every day. He was the most l to-be-pitied creature-a bachelor of moderate means and no occupation. For a whole fortnight Mir. Barnet busied himself trying to find what that next-room tenant did for his living. l By dint of n score of devices known to the curious, he discovered that young Welby came in and out at all hours. As all was comparatively quiet in the front room in the evening he fondly | took it that the tenant thereof not only "came home to tea" but stayed at home studying till an early bedtime.
 Really, a most properly conducted | young man," said Mir. Barnet to him self one evening at about the end of 6 fortnight.
 Alas for his premature approval, only two evenings later 1t was some what disturbed. He heard young Welby come in alone; but instead ot there being only slight movement: overhead there was something of { | were moved about Then the lodgel himself walked about noisily and tho deep mutterings of his voice penetrated to the puzzled listener below. GooC gracious! was he talking to himself to Mrs. Jones or to whom? Was i possible that any other than Mrs. Jo- No, no; the thought was too awful. | | quite took Mir. Barnet's breath. Be sides, he would have heard the mos fairy-lilxe footstep or rustic of feminine garments, as his door was ajar. It al ways was, by the by. Why. there wa young Welby going out. Yes, the doc shut; and what was more, it hadn' opened again to that young man at tel o'clock.
 This was really looking serious, an, Mir. Barnet pursed his respectable lip as he slowly retired to his dormitory- quite quarter of an hour late.
 II shall just lie awake and watch,
 muttered the old gentleman as he go
 into bed, which was next the thi
 partition wall. "If that young scam
 is going to-ahem-keep all sorts c
 improper hours-really, anything migh
 happen next, and my character be con
 promised!"
 But Morpheus was not to be so eoS1l
 eluded, and Mir. Barnet dozed for
 solid half hour. He was awakened
 burst of laughter from the sitting
 room next his apartment. Mr. Barne
 sat up, rubbing his eyes, utterly indil
 nant at such nocturnal orgies. He Ina
 indeed actually raised his hand to giv Il an angry knock ut the wall, when
 sound broke on his ear which made tt
 remaining hairs on his respectable ol head stand on end with horror.
 A silvery feminine laugh and voiC ! | from that next rooml
 There was no mistake about 1t; T
 disordered nightmare or half-wakir
 fancy in the matter. A giddy laul 2 and a pretty voice, that said saucil
 and very distinctly:
 My dear fellow, of course kno } you are dead gone on my little self, b1 "Oh, my, he for shamei What will your wife say What will your wife sayr" This adaptation of an out. .of-da
 music-hall song was sung, and M \ morn RRMMNMM hMMlllTrm