The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1893-03-25

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.
oh! 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 Mr. Barnet permitted him
self to be shown the front parlor and
the first-foor back room, let with it
for 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; / 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 sit
ting-room, and that is the slip-room Ia
bedroom). A young man has them
two rooms-a most quiet-be'aved, re-
spectacle 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, sir; but that amt Mr. We'll
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.
lie was distinguishing young fell
low, who stood aside for the old gem
tleman with a polite Good morning."
and d"then ran lightly upstairs.
by Jove! what queer old party it
is, Mrs. jones'" said he that evening
Looks to I the awful piece of pro-
priety you said. Ha! ha!-you didn't
tell him what amp"
Law, sir-no! He'd fly out of his
skin, let alone the house. How are you
getting on, sir?'' asked the laudlady.
"Oh, first-rate, Mrs. Jones. | 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 rarest variation, the
routine of every day. He was the most
to-be-pltied creature-a bachelor of
moderate means and no occupation.
For a whole fortnight Mr.. Barnet
busted himself trying to find what that
next-room tenant did for his living.
By dint of a 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, most properly conducted
young man." said Mr.. Barnet to him
self one evening at about the end of a
fortnight.
Alas Ior ms 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
commotion. The table and chairs
were moved about. Then the lodger
himself walked about noisily and the
deep mutterings Of his voice penetrated
to the puzzled listener below. Good
gracious! was he talking to himself,
to Mrs. Jones or to whom? Was it
possible that any other than Mrs. Jo-
No, no; the thought was too awful. It
quite took Mr.. Barnet's breath. Be-
sides, he would have heard the most
falry-lilSe footstep or rustic of feminine