The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-11-11
THE DREAM OF LOVE.

dow, his heels poised on the extreme
outer edge, and fragrant Havana per-
Tuning the surrounding atmosphere.
"And my house not let"
Petro Peterson was a stout, bald
headed gentleman of some six-and-
forty years Of age, with bright hazel
eyes and neat, compact little figure.
II don't see why Mrs. Parker want
ed to give up the house, went on Mr..
Peterson, in his unsyllabled solilo-
guy. "She says it's because the price
Of board is falling, and she can't af-
ford to keep up the establishment! A
great mistake! She's the only woman
I ever knew who could make a real
French omelet, or knew what cafe noir
Dear me, what can all that
ringing at the bell mean?"
He had just tossed his cigar out of
the window, with the intention of him
self Fastening to the rescue, when a
red-haired servant girl came up to his
apartment, breathless and eager.
What is it, Hannah?" he cried iras-
chilly.
If ye please, sir, the misthress Is
gone to market, and there's no one
to show the house."
II beg your pardon, Mr. Peterson
cried a voice as soft and sprightly as
its silver pipe in the far-off woods,
"but mamma and I have SO many
places to go to, and we thought you
wouldn't mind our seeing the house!"
It was JEANNE Cope, a brown-eyed,
dimple-cheeked little fairy, with curls
like the April sunshine, a fresh COM
plexion, and the trimmest of all imag-
Unable figures. She stood in the door
way balancing a fairy parasol on her
finger and looking with saucy artless-
ness round his bachelor sanctum,
while Mrs. Cope's matronly counte-
nance appeared in the background.
Petro Peterson kicked a stray slipper
gown over huge meerschaum stand.
VERY happy to see you, I'm sure, :"
he said, turning very red, and wishing
he had ''tidied up little before he
sat down to his matutinal cigar. ANY
thing can do for you"
"You can allow us the privilege OF
looking at your house," said JEANNE,
coaxingly. "I-that is, mamma, has
got to move, and although the rent Of
this house must, of course, be very
high, she thought, by taking a few
boarders, she might contrive to meet
expenses"
Exactly so,' said mild Mrs. Cope
Are you going to move elsewhere 2"
asked JEANNE of our hero, as she
glanced at the half packed trunks.
my land1ady is" groaned Petro
Peterson. It's awful to be at the
mercy of landlady, Miss Cope!".
'But it's all your fault" cried jean
ME with roguish sparkle in her love-
ly blue eyes.
"All my fault?''
ITO be sure-why didn't you get
married?"
Because I was a fool,' said our
bachelor, inspired by roses on Jean
MES cheek and the coral of her laugh
ing lip.
And why don't you get married
now?" pursued the relentless little
sprite.
Would you," questioned Mr.. Peter
son, gravely, "if you were II"
''Of course I would. Get married
and board with us. Mamma will give
you this room, and
my dear!" checked Mrs. Cope,
gently.
my dear madam" cried Mr.. Peter
son, still with his eyes fixed on Jean
nie's lovely face, II assure you I think
it is an excellent ideal"
And all through their journey from
cellar to French roof, while Mrs. Cope
considered the relative advantages OF
this room and that, and JEANNE flut-
tered to and fro like a graceful little
humming bird, Mr.. Peterson kept re-
volving this same excellent idea" in
his mind.
Miss Jeannie," he said, somewhat
awkwardly, as they returned down
stairs, "supposing I should-ahem-
adopt your suggestion, what would be
your fancy in furnishing suite of
rooms?"
"Let me see," said JEANNE, looking
composedly around. "I'd paper the
room in white and gold, and I'd fill the
windows with canary birds and plants,
and I'd have a blue carpet and blue
silk chairs and SOFAS"
"You like blue?"
"Very much; it is my favorite
color.'
blue it shall be, them" cried the
delighted bachelor. "Mrs. Cope, if you
should decide to take the house you
will please reserve these rooms for
me, and-and Mrs. Peterson, ma'am, at
$50 a week. -
And with tender pressure on jean
MES little white velvet hand Petro
Peterson bowed the widow and her
pretty daughter down the brown-stone
steps. Z; -
ITS as good as settled" muttered
Mr.. Peterson, rubbing his hands COM
placently. ''By Jove! she's grown to
be the prettiest girl in town. Mrs.
\ Petro Petersonit don't sound 80 very
bad after all. I'll show the young
{ slips what an old bachelor can do in
tie way Of matrimony.' -
~ 10 turned. chuckling, to enter the
A.