The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-27
CHAPTER 1.

NJurnber Seventy-six, DOmnick street,
North Dublin. had undoubtedly seen bet
ter davs. and was not formerly notieea-
BILE for that detestable, dirty little caro-
announcing Apartments to let winch
.nneared at fitful intervals in the fan
Right over the hall door But NUMBER
,o,,a,+v-six had no reason to give ltseit
Grand airs. or to sulk, no-and Seventy
civ had an undeniably sulky eXterior-hor
oven to pride itself on a stone staircase
,o,boranv balustrades. and superior hX-
4,ras for some of the mansions occu-
ante were fully as genteel and as much
,come down in the world as l1seh' II
Number Seventy-six Gn converslng conn
IDENTIFY with Number Seventy-seVeh) an
,.,,,, lamented that it had been called up
=, "a omen its gates to strangers, almost
.s if Il were a railway station instead OF
an aristocratic town residence, several oil
,,s inmates had never anticipated oelns
the tenants of one OF us
gloornv. dignnied, dnapidated rooms
NIa,-ertbeless. the venerable edlhce
still endeavored TO keep up appear
snces and posed as the most "seiect
lodging house in the neighborhood' II
hoasted a brass plate-name long oplt-
erated-a letter box-much frequenleo by
biIs-Venetians in the parlors, orao mo-
raan curtains in the drawing rooms, ana
remarkably pretty Liberty muslin blinds
~ the second floor front. Mrs. Cooney'
the landlady, made capital tnlhg out ol
her dodgers, thanks to Goals, extras anu
her cat. the latter a most Voraclous ana
ahle-bodied creature. The parlors were
LET to a dancing class grown up and NOISY
+he Arst floor to an old maiden lady, frac-
tious. exacting, but permanent. the sec
ana eoor front was the home of the TWO
Miss Dorans. the twin orphans of half
nav officer; they were young pretty Out
friendless. and miserably poor
Madame vouvray occupied the PACK
anartment. and hers was truly squahu
bower. where French and Irish ideas OF
cleanliness made friendly alliance, and
found ample scope for exhibition.
The upper story, or garrets, were rented
az acknowledgement a week respectively
by a tram conductor and musician VINO
when sober, played in the orchestra at
the Queens theater, and when otherwise
performed frantic fantasies in his own
quarters. All the same, he was marvel
Gus artist-a born genius.
Mrs. Cooney and suite, which consisted
OF slavey and boy, occupied the lower
regions. and thus, as will be seen, Num-
her 6eventy-six was full from attic to cell
lar.
Without further introduction, 1t may be
at once announced that the apartments
which chiefly concern us are on the sec
ond floor, front and back. To give the
former its undeniable precedence, 1t is
scrupulously clean, neat, cold and empty
and Is the residence of the two Miss Do
rams; poor girls, they have struggled hard
to be together and independent. Their
relatives had at first interested them
Selves and secured post for Dolly as
companion to an invalid lady, who SUBJ
sequently proved to be both insane and
violent; whilst Mabel taught in school
fourteen hours a day. But now they had
renounced these promising careers, and
taken their future into their own hands;
consequently, their relatives had washed
their hands of them, and all their con-
Germs. Mabel gave music lessons and play
ed at third-class dances, and made, by
sheer hard work, twelve shillngs a week.
clear of tram expenses whilst Dolly re-
manned at home, and trimmed hats and
bonnets for a shilling apiece. The pair
strove hard to keep up old customs and
lady-like surroundings; they dressed neat
~ they went to church, they bought pa
pers, aye, and flowers and chung to their
fathers sword and medals, their moth
ers guitar and watch, a few books and
photographs, and played at pitiful farce
called 1--we O'Clock tea;' indeed. they
chiefly lived on tea and bread and cheap
jams They had no fire, but then they had
their liberty and one another.
Madame Vouvray resided in the back
room on the same floor as the Misses Dor
ran. She was little old wizened person.
lively, shrill. shabby, and fantastic, with
the reputation of being "a terrible miser"
She had lived on the banks of the Liffey,
In fiattering preference to those of the
Seine, for more than thirty years, and no
one knew who she was, from whence
she came or Important item) derived her
income, or whether she had a relative in
the world. She baffled all inquiries with a
nod and a short cracked laugh, but was
extraordinarily eager and successful in
making herself thoroughly acquainted
with other peoples business, although so
ungraciously reserved concerning her own
affairs
Many were the speculations respecting
Madame" Some people suggested that
she was a government spy! Others that
she was a poisoner. This was ridiculous,
Tor II was well known that Madame would
not harm a fly. and contributed reg ularly
TO the cats home. A few were quite posi-
tive that she was a socialist and outlaw;
but the most adventurous fancy and Wild
est guess of all, was that which declared
that she had been a notable beauty, who
having seriously embroiled herself in
court lntrigues, and state secrets, had been
compelled 70 hy--or die.
Her appearance was decidedly peculiar.
She invariably wore an old black lace bon
net, a rather short plaid skirt. neat high
heeled shoes, and a circular velvet cloak
very rusty. trimmed with grimy ermine
She carried a satin bag over her arm, ana
a fringed parasol, or large blue cotton
umbrella, according TO the season. Many
and many a time has she promenaded up
and down the sunny side Of Stephens
Green with Sinking face and minclng
gait, positively as ~ the poor creature still
believed that she was fair to see She
may have been a beauty-who can say
but IA her case beauty was cruel and
had departed. leaving no trace or remains.
save a thin little well-cut nose
Madames small keen eyes were sunken.
her teeth she had not renewed-though she
had replaced both hair and complexion
She wore ginger-colored wig. ana rougod
with bold free hand. Ia spite of these
enlanVora afraur1f fFrna NOD. ....