Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-12-17
THE ROMANCE OF A FLAT.

Mr.. Ogglesby Poster smoothed out
his cards, and with great deliberatior
laid them before him on the table
leaned back in his chair and gazed in
tently at his wife.
well, I never! You've gone end
trumped my ace on the second hand
around, - he cried.
Mrs. Ogglesby Possiter's fine eye
brows arched perceptibly.
"Oh. how stupid of mel" she ex-
claimed Really, my dear, l wasn't
. thinking when did it,
1t is but just that in payment for SC
charming a partner you should waste a
few trumps, said Lieutenant SWash
CALAMITY.
This compliment rather conciliated
Mr.. Poster, for he picked up his hand
and said: My wife can play good
whist, but when she gets talking, her
game is Northumberland She
1T is your lead" interrupted l, with
glance at my fair opponent
She played TWO OF hearts, ana
Swash followed with a three. Then
my wife entered the game by yentur-
ing from the corner where she sat at
some fancy work: DO go On. Mrs. Pos
sitter. You were saying that your cous-
in. Jack Dimly YVES not acceptable to
Mr. Pyn as a sCn-in-law.
Mr. POssiter sighed, and his wife, al
ter following suit on my lead OF clubs,
took up the thread Of her tale.
"TO me there is a great deal that is
romantic about a fiat, commonplace
things though they generally are.
know when l was first married IL
seemed to me as if | was in a fairy pal
ace when every morning there came a
low Wi sJle at the speaking tube, and
then a rattle in our dear little kitchen,
and | would run cut ana just throw
open a little door, and there before ne
was everything for breakfast-a scut-
tie of coal milk. eggs and bread. 1t
was as though some genii, some inYlsi-
bic spirits, were serving me. just
used to dote-'
My dear" exclaimed the fair story
telers husband. rs he for Il moment
stopped dealing, "if you can find me a
fiat house where they have genii as
janitors, III move at once
"Of course. I know you have to tip
them. but, Ogglesby, you are so prosa-
ic.. You have no romance at all
know the janitor did it all, but then
there was no reason why | should al
ways-oh. | beg pardon; it is my lead.
Anyway. Jack Dimley and EFangeline
Pyn had the loveliest adventure, the
most romantic
There you 90, leading spades when
I signaled for trumps,' cried Mr. Posi-
ter. thumping the table testify.
Dear. how stupid l saw you
frowning and thought you wanted a
black card"
q played q six spot, then a two on
Nj Dockboys lead" retorted Possiter.
You made the same mistake two
hands ago. when the lieutenant led the
three of spades
you shall have trumps the very first
chance 1 get" said his wife, Il don
see why YOU always interrupt the
game. Ny lead? There. Well when
MIR. Pvn found out that Eyangeline had
made M her mind to marry my cousin,
Jack Dimly, in spite Of his poverty he
determined to use every means IN ms
power. to keep them apart, and to ac-
compIish this he had virtually to Keep
his dauef n prisoner. He took fat
on the sixth floor of house so as to
have her high up as possible, and re
moved the fire escape to cut out that
means of exit. He kept no servant for
fear that if he had one she might enter
into collision with his daughter. He
n -er let Evangeline out Of his sight
except at night, and then he locked the
door and slept with the key under his
inflow. What does my cousin, Jack
H,mlv do? Does he give up in despair
BY no means. My cousin, Jack Dimly,
inherited from his ancestors, my an
cestors, too, at least one Of their good
qualities. He had grit. He never
vent into anything except with vim
and determination, whether in love or
in sports Or
In debt" ventured Mr.. Possiter,
shutting his cards nervOUsly.
"Ogglesby. how could you?' said his
wife. reproach fully. What Have
I revoked? Dear, dear! There, lieu
tenant. Just put this heart on that
trick and give me back my spade. Now
it's all right, and you needn't score
three. As | have said already, my
cousin. Jack Dimly, did not know the
meaning of the word surrender-not
he. For a time nothing was seen of
him. and TO Mr.. Pyn everything seemed
TO be going pleasantly. Nothing was
heard of the detested young man, and
the old gentleman had almost decided
that his own determination had won
the day. when a slight incident aroused
his sleeping suspicion. While pokirE
about the kitchen one day he happened
TO open a small door and before him,
on the dumhwaiter, lay box of candy.
Of course, he called Eyangeline, and Of
course she denied ell knowledge Of it
and suggested that it belonged to some
other family on the same shaft. He
whistled down the tube. Yes. thank
you. Mr.. Dockboy, you may deal for me.
The iauitor, my genus, answered. 1t
was a mistake. The box was intended
Tor the family two floors te'ow. so down
it vert. But LAT box OF candy BE-