The Portland daily press., 1895-04-10
4 HOTEL ROMANCE.

Fannie Proctor was very popular in the
family hotel, and Will Branford, or Willie,
as many styled him, was envied.
1t seemed almost certain that Willie
had captured the girl. Mrs. Williams and
Mrs. Cole thought SO, and as they enjoyed
unlimited opportunities to observe what
was going on at the hotel their Joint opin
ion carried weight with it.
These estimable women were childIess
and burdened with leisure. 1t was but
natural that to relieve the tedium of hotel
life they should spend much of their time
in the first floor parlor discussing their
neighbors within the walls and gathering
information such as satisfies motherly
or perhaps sisterly curiosity. They knew
how to worm secrets out of the pleasant
blond who officiated as clerk. Whatever
happened in the lobby and parlor came
under their placid observation They had
an indirect way of asking questions, and
all information coming to either was
shared without reserve. Mrs. Williams
and Mrs. Cole could tell if any man in
the hotel was a tyrant over his wife. They
knew the past of the quiet woman who
had been divorced. They knew which OF
the young men drank too much and came
in late. They could retail the errors Of
grammar and the social breaks of the
family which was new to the town. s.
To study their neighbors and rate them
was to Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Cole a.
constant delight. But they gossiped ami
ably and forgave the wicked young men.
They were harmless withal, for their re-
searches were prompted by nothing more
than laudible desire for more knowledge.
These two, putting this and that to-
gether, viewing one circumstance in the
light of another and basing opinions upon
their own knowledge of how matrimony
is approached, concluded that Fannie
Proctor would become the wife of Willie
Branford.
Having settled comfortably into this be-
lief, they were amazed to learn that Fan
ME had accepted Al Maynard, broad
shouldered, mice" young man, whose
characteristics had been an apparent in
difference to the charms of the young
women, passion for Is ball pool and an
undying aversion to whist and round
dances.
Albert Maynard, indeed! Had he ever
lowered around Fannie at any of the Sat
urday night dances in the main dining
room? Had he sent flowers to her day
after day and smiled at her every time he
came into breakfast? Had he come out in
evening dress and tagged after her when
she went into the parlor? Had Fannie
ever addressed him Familiarity and sent
him on errands? Had they organized thea.
ter parties and played duets on the piano.
No, to every question.
Al Maynard had not figured as posi-
BILE candidate until the engagement was
announced. Mrs. Cole remembered that
Fannie had once spoken of Mr.. Maynard
as "a big thing who always looked at
girl as if she amused him. Mrs. Will
liams recalled the fact that she had seen
them talking together a few times, but
Fannie didn't act toward him as she did
toward Willie-not at all.
AT the first opportunity they corralled
Fannie in the parlor. SIS it true?'' asked
Mrs. Williams as she took hold of the hand
on which was the ring.
''Of course it's true"
But we always thought it would be
Willie
"I'm afraid Willie did, too, but
pshawP'
Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Cole spent two
hours in Analysing that significant
"pshaw."
1t would appear that Bibbs was the only
one around the hotel who had grasped the
situation from the start. Bibbs was the
elevator boy-size, 12 years; suspected age,
16 years; self asserti ofs15 years.
The buttoned English uniform in which
they had dressed him could not hide his
largely American qualities. He was a
servant, but had no servile trait With
out attempting to be presumptuous, he
placed himself ON terms of easy equality
with every one in tho hotel He was
abashed at nothing. Elderly gentlemen,
dignifed matrons, buds and beaux-it
made no difference to him. If he believed
that a young woman's gown was becom-
ing, he told her frankly that she was
peach" or out Of sight, +" and she be-
lieved him. If the clerk had said the same
thing, there would have been vacancy.
If the porter had said it, some one would
have sent for policeman.
Bihbs was a privileged character. He
received more Christmas presents than
any one else in the hotel. If the manage
ment had removed him, there would have
been protest from every guest.
Probably he had worked into the conf
dence of so many persons that they were
in his power.
Tt was nearly midnight on the second
day after the news of the engagement had
startled the hotel Bibbs was seated out |
eide the open door of his elevator waiting
for the stragglers and two of the might
hawks were drawing him out. .
Ibid you know, Bibbs, that Mr.. May
nard is going to marry the Proctor girl2"
asked one of them.
Ibid 1 know it? haven't heard any
thing else since yesterday You've got a
smart lot Of people around this hotel. I've
been on to that for six weeks, and every
body else around here was picking Mr.
Branford. He WASH { in it at any stage of
the game. remember the day Miss Proc
tor came here with her father. I took
them up, and Mr.. Maynard went up the
next trip. He says to me, Who's the new
grip and I told him she had come to
Chicago to study music. He says to me.
She's dandy That's the first time J
ever heard him say anything about girl
in the house.
We'll, s'pose it was week after that
both of 'em got in the elevator together
Mr.. Maynard's good locker, you know,
but shy of women. He took off his hat
and kind ~ Elrned his hocl. tn bor lat