The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-12
STORY OF A SHORE.

Haggard Burnsdes having decided to
move exacted but two requirements of his
new boarding house. The rate was not to
be over S. a week and the neighborhood
had to smack of the swagger part of town
He had longingly sized up place on North
Meridian street which, he observed, neces-
sarily must feel the pulsation of swell So
ciety, and was only deferred from applying
by the remark of a friend who casually
mentioned that table d'hote dinner was
served there. To Mr.. Burnsides this ex-
preston had a challenging ring about it,
and he would not dare combat it--even so
far as to make inquiry-when Sc week
was the very most he could pay for what
he wanted. A small advertisement in a
morning paper brought him stacks of mall
one letter of which finally landed him in a
North Delaware-street boarding house,
where, he thought, he would begin to lay
the foundations of q heightened and dig
nified life. His card from a Logansport
church was deposited in one of the fashion
able churches of the neighborhood, the pas
tor had given him a glad hand, or rather
two glad hands, and in turn introduced
him to one of the elderly maidens of the
congregation. Mr.. Burnsdes noted his own
progress with satisfaction and self-gratu-
lation. He attended three successive church
socials, adding as many young women &C.
quaintances to his list, observing meantime,
however, with some trifiing vexation, that
the elderly spinster seemed to have pre-
empted his attentions, apparently asserting
that right, always presumed among women,
of priority of discovery. To make matters
more embarrassing to Haggard, whose nat
ural disposition was to distribute his popu-
larty as widely as possible, the young man
discovered that the spinster was a boarder
in the house into which he had moved. She
seemed to spring up at every corner and
turn, or haunt every room which he sought
for relief. Once he took the newest board
er, a pretty young woman who came TO
town TO study music. out on the veranda,
which looked very romantic, the vines fur
niShing a dense shade to the moonlight.
But here he found the spinster l0lling in a
hammock, and from that day on the spin
ster saw the necessity OF constituting her
self q chaperOn for the young lady.
1t were far too tedious to tell of all the
petty incidents that led up to Mr.. Burn
SideS'S desperate frame OF mind, and to
picture how unconsciously a well-intending
lady assumed the cut and dimensions of a
bogie in this man $ MIND AT last 1t
reached such a pass that he frowned when
the spinster approached; occasions that that
TO see her first, and could not dodge. Then
in a eliminating way came an utter alb
times he felt inclined to cry out in vexation
and derision
The spinster occupied apartment just
across the hallway. AT night Mr.; Burn
his stars that the apparition could not cross
that trocha of stanch pine lumber; Yet
this small satisfaction was not vouchsafed
him long for his own mean disposition be-
and he could not sleep, his mind so actively
concerning itself with this woman. who.
torturing him. Even when sleep would
come the Spinster swung right along on the
arm of Morpheus. sometimes as a vague
and contorted wrath and at other times in
her own personality, caricatured however,
by the vindict:veness of his dreams. He
concluded to change boarding houses; then
amended the conclusion by deciding 10 try
first a weeks rest at his home down in
the country
When he came back from the farm il
was late at night and he slipped up &c
his room without disturbing any one. The
house was very still. so still the tranquility
was actually palpable. In three minutes ht
was sound asleep.
just before daybreak he was awakened
by rather sonorous rasp-just like the
healthy snore all OF us have heard. The
second wave of sound came a few minutes
later and did not differ one vibration from
the first one that reached Haggard. Their
came a series which series being com
pleted. followed a third. and fourth, and
fifth.
'.Drat that Internal fool" mumbled Hag-
gard as he half rose from his bed. in q
miserable. sleep-broken mood; III thai
snoring keeps up III go crazy
He reached 10 the floor. picked up shoe
and hurled IL at the wall a gentle him
TO anybody that might be amenabe 10 sucf
a suggestion. \ breathleSs pause and the
long crescedo sound doomed up again.
I'll bet it's that woman-she's always
again. III waken her up and tell her Il
turn over on the other side, or sleep with
her mouth shut-that's what I'll do.
The annoying disturber OF the welkir
promptly returned. and this time louder, as
IL TO dare the reckless young man 10 make
his threat good.
Now this has got TO end" he exclaimed
jumping out of bed. i've a hard day: