The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-26
How old are you, my dearg' asked
Miss Couant.

-
II do not understand" said MaEgeIla.
4 am going to speak to you as a moth
er might speak, my dear. / do not ac~
cuse you, mind. But / must warn you.
Flirtations are neither wise nor proper"
Marcella looked at the landlady in won
der.
This is not a summer hotel" eontin-
ued Miss Conant. Neither is it a young
boarding house, and the requirements Of
rule imperative-no firtations.D
What unusual and outrageous thing
have / lone that you should say this to
me" she demanded. Il viii net be treat
ed SO. Tell me what you mean
"Your innocence is very creditabEe, my
child said Miss Conant, but you must
have seen that Mr.. Smith is absurdly at
~tentive to YOU"
Il have not encouraged him" And
Marcella was cold.
"And that Mr.. Craig makes a perfect
| spectacle Of himself"
4 cannot help It" snid Marcella. She
seemed Indifferent.
sAnd Viii Caruthers? Is it not true,
my child, that
"No, no, no." cried Marcella, blushing
like a rose, MIR. Caruthers scarcely
speaks to me. He seems de-de-voted to
Miss J-Jones."
Il had noticed that said Miss Conant,
forgetting her diplomacy. Il had observ-
ed it. But Miss Jones says that you
"Oh, indeed said MarceIla with fine
scorn. Il would thank Miss Jones to
keep her lover and not mention my name
The ideal"
Il did not mean offend you. child"
said Miss Conant. wr.nging her hands in
distress. Il am really quite puzzled. Ev-
erything has always been quite proper IN
my house. But something is wrong, and
l don't know what to do"
4 am very sorry said Marcella cold
IL, "but I assure you l have nothing to
do with It. | promise you not to break
your ancient and respectable rules /
shall not firt with Mr.. Craig nor Mr.
Smith, ind Miss Jones' iced not be afraid
| will try to capture her lover"
And MarceIla escaped to her room,
there to weep in bitterness and despair,
while Miss Conant was more dismayed
Than ever.
For a time after this things seemed to
mend, and Miss Conant yentured to con-
graduate herself.
Will seemed to avoid Miss Jones, N
she never saw him speak to Marcella-
But all the old familiar relations were
broken up. Messrs. Smith and Craig
greeted zach other with wonderful polite
ness in the house. but did not speak when
they met on the street.
Marcella was certainly circumspect.
She regarded all the gentlemen with a
GOODNESS that was almost contempt. She
kept mostly in her room and was not af-
fected by Miss Jones icy glare and ig-
nored Miss Beavers persistent elusive
ness.
Will wandered about the house In 81
lent and moody contemplation. He might
have been grieying on account Of bis sep
aration from Miss Jones, but he strange
LIZ refused to make up" with her again.
That astute young woman ignored him
at last and turned her sweetest smiles on
Mr.. Craig. Strange to say, he respond
ed Some old instinct seemed to revive
in the bosom of that gentleman, and he
suddenly discovered that ladies were
made for love. And Miss Jones, being
the lady most available, found herself
beloved.
"a little heaven leaveneth the whole
lump
Mr.. Smith also yielded to the dominant
force. He saw Marcella's persistent
GOODNESS and fiuttered to Miss Beaver for
sympathy, and, after a decent amount of
hesitation, she rave it.
The landlady was indignant but help
less. Her house was falling about her
ears. Her children INDUCED IN the most
open and awful spooning right under her
eyes. She was forced to spend her
evenings in the kitchen to keep from IN
terrupting some tender tete-a-tete. b
had never seen so much astonishing non
sense in her life.
Only VIII an5 Marcella seemed to es-
cape the general ~contagion.
II am glad you haven't gone crazy"
said Miss Conant. You are the youn-
gcst and far the l~oveliest one Of the lot,
and I'm glad you are not an idiot"
Marcella smiled, but did not seem to be
particularly elated.
II declare" said Miss Consnt, continu-
ing, shat it is all the most unheard Of
and unbelievable thing that ever happen
ed. Just think l have kept boarders
for 20 years and never had a love affair
in the house before. Now there seems
to be nothing else. AS If the dreadful
conduct of the boarders wasn't enough,
the cool has fallen In love with the milk
man. and ! saw the g~rocer's boy kiss the
dining room girl in the hall yesterday.
Why, my house has become a regular
matrimonial bureau"
1T is too bad" said Marcella YEARLY.
"But you, Marcella, you promised me
to dirt. and you haven't I thank you
for it,
And Miss Conant, to show her graft
tude. attempted to imprint a kiss on the
young lady's peachiike cheek. but Mar
celia burst into tears and ran away
Strangely enough, she ran plump into
the arms OF VIII C~aruthers. He had been
waiting there IN the hall for Marcella to
out
Miss Conant has given notice to her
landlord. After the magnificent triple
wedding occurs she will keep boarders no
longer.-Chieago News.
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