The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-04-29
Copyright, 1893, by
the Author.]

N~ George Barnet
-ccce n rio,
precise. and-ob, SO proper! Why,
bless you, he wouldn't have taken Mrs.
zones room at all il 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
'Oh! dear no, sir,'' he was promptly
ass are d, with a twinkle of fun in Mrs.
Jones optical organ. II 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
the first-floor back room, let with it
Tor Il bedroom. Mrs. Jones marched
i. 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
Pcepcd timidly in, backed out blushing
and stammcring: ''Thanls you, mi lam
-er-yes, yes; 1 see. thank you; it's
quite NICE
That trying ordeal got through, he
faced round Oh two doors clearly be-
longing to two front rooms and in
CURED what they were and who
lodged there. Mrs. Jones answered:
This door, sir, next here. is sit
ting-room, and that is the slip-rpom "a
bedroom). A young man has them
two rooms-a most quict-bc'av ed, re-
spectacle young man he is, SIR
''Ah-h'm. l hope so, ma'an, l hope
so. l could not remain where my very
next nelghbor was irrcgularly conduct
ed, you know"
''oh, no, sir; but that amt Mr. We'll
by. He don't interfere with nobody!'
The old bachelor took the apart
mcpts. Before long, being of course
ten times more curious than any wom-
an, he soon managed to encounter his
next-roOm ncighbor in the passage.
He was a distinguishing young fell
low, who stood aside for the old gen
tleman with polite Good morning.
and then ran lightly upstairs.
by Jove! what queer old party it
is, Mrs JONES' said lie that evening.
Looks to a Il the awful piece of pro-
priety you said. Hu! ha:-you didn't
tell him what 1 amp
''Law, sir-no! He'd fly out of his
skin, let alone the house. How are you
getting on, STRIP asked the landlady.
>'Oh. frst-rate, Mrs. Jones' l shall
soon have all perfected and think the
entertainment will be success
Mr.. Barnet was appallingly regular
in all he did: the routine of one day
was, with the rarcst variation, the
routine of every day. He was the most
to-be- pltied crcature-a bachelor of
moderate means and no occupation.
For whole fortnight Mr.. Barnet
busted himself trying to find what that
next-room tenant did for his living.
BY dint of u score of devices known to
the curious, he discovered that young
We]by 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
''camc home to tea. - but stayed at home
studying till an early bedtime.
Really, Il most properly conducted
young man. said Mr.. Barnet to him
self one evening at about the end of a
fortnight.
Alas for his premature approval;
only two evenings later it was some
what disturbed. He heard young
Welby come in alone; but instead of
there being only slight movements
overhead there was something of a
commotion. The table and chairs
were moved about. Then the lodeer
himself walked about noisily and the
deep rnutterings Of his voice penetrated
to the puzzled listener below. Good
gracious! was he talking to himself,
to Mrs. Jones to whom? Was it
possible that any other than Mrs. Jo-
No, no; the thought was too awful. 1t
quite took Mr.. Barnet's breath. Be-
sides, he would have heard the most
fairy-like footstcp or rustic of feminine
garments, as~his door was a jar. 1t al
ways was. by the by. Why, there was
young Wclby going out. Yes, the door
shut; and what was more, it hadn't
opened again to that young man at ten
o'clock.
This was really looking serious, and
Mr.. Barnet pursed his respecta BILE lips
as he slowly retired to his dormitory-
quite q quarter of an hour late.
Il shall just lie awake and watch"
muttered the old gentleman as he got
into bed, which was next the thin
partition wall. '1fthat young scamp
is going to-ahem--Scep all sorts of
improper hours-really, anything might
happen next, and my character be COM
promised!"
But Morpheus was not to be SO easily
eluded, and Mr.. barnet dozed for a
solid half hour. He was awakened by
q burst of laughter from the sitting
room next his apartment. Mr. Barnet
sat up, rubbing his eyes, utterly indig
nant at such nocturnal orgies. He had
indeed actually raised his hand to give
an angry knock at the wall, when a
sound broke on his ear which made the
remaining hairs on his respectable old
head stand on end with horror.
A silvery feminine laugh and voice
from that next room!
There was no mistake about it; no
disordered nightmare or half-waking
fancy in the matter. A giddy laugh
and a pretty voice, that said saucily
and very distinctly:
..Niy dear fellow, of course know I
you are dead gone on my little self, but
s(Ny RrF Cow che