The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-25
His Own Purchase,

| ne had been literally homeless Now ne
was proceeding to nome OF his own.
THE first road TO the left beyond the
| bridge" unused Mr.. Markleman 10 him
! self, and the first house you come TO IS
| the one. The directions are plain enough,
| L am sure
He paused half hesitatingly in front Of a
| low wicket gate, hanging by one hinge,
| from which a shrub-grown path wound up
through untrimmed woods to one
story dwelling.
| 'Nonsensei' he muttered to himself;
| ut can't be that shed of place. "A de-
sirable cottage was what Gibbs said.
situated in the midst Of charming
! grounds And, by Jupiter, this is the
| spot
He swung open the gilded iron gate OF
pretty little Enclosure, where the gravel
| ed paths shone in the twilight, and ever
greens skirted the path like tall old monks
wrapped in green serge cloaks. The cot
tage beyond-a low-eved picturesque af-
fair, with verandas on every side ex-
actly met his preconceived ideas Of the
desirable country residence" painted in
such glowing terms by Moses Gibbs,
Esq, real estate and insurance agent"
His countenance expanded into broad
smiles as he pushed open the door and
entered a pretty room on the left of the
| cast rudy reflections through the whole
room, and a cushioned armchair stood
close to the velvet rug.
Gibbs told me there was some furni-
ture IN the house, and an old woman left
in charge" thought Markleman. sitting
down in the easy chair and expanding his
chilled fingers to the CHEEKY blaze; but
L hadn't any idea of such sung quarters
as this"
As Mr.. Markleman sat there, basking In
the warmth and coziness of the scene, the
| door of the adjoining room opened and
two ladies came in, their faces glowing
with the frosty air.
why, Lizzie!' cried the shorter one,
stopping suddenly in the act of laying her
hood on the table, there is some one in
the parlor!''
Nonsense" said Lizzie, who, although
she had seen eight or nine and 20, was ex-
ceeding fair to look upon. THE cat and
the crickets may be there, btu who on
earth besides?"
But 1 tell you I saw him." said Sue,
gripping her cousins arm with a sort of
nervous terror. "A great, big, tall man IN
your easy chair, sitting staring at the
fire"
"Fiddlesticksi' cried Lizzie. And she
marched courageously into the room
where sat our hero.
Mr.. Markleman stared equally hard at
her. Mr.. Moses Gibbs, real estate and
insurance agent, had mentioned an old
woman. His ideas of old age must have
been singular in the extreme. But he re-
covered his self-possession almost imme-
diately
81 suppose you are Mary Ann" he said
affably.
mo. SIR" said Miss wyman, still sorely
puzzled I'm I.izzie''
80, Lizzie, eh? Well, it's just the same.
I dare say you didn't expect me just
YETI"
NO, sir, I certainly did not" said Liz
zie, beginning to wonder whether or not
she was dreaming.
Things look nice and comfortable here,
Lizzie, my girl, and now the best thing
of supper-sausage or broiled ham, or
something Of that sort; and be quick
about it for I am half famished And,
Lizzie, you must send the other girl out
for any little trif1e you want in the culin-
airy department. OF course, though" he
added as he drew out bill and extended
it, grand siegneur fashion, toward the
astonished damsel, It shan't expect TO
keep two girls as a regular thing, al
though I must hunt up man to take care
of the horses. Now run along and make
haste"
Lizzie Wyman retreated back upon Sue
Barring with the money in her hand, scar
let with suppressed mirth.
Sue" she cried, the instant the door
was safely closed, 81 see 1t ALL"
THE man is an escaped lunatic, isn't
he? Dear, dear, we shall all be muir
deredr' cied Sue, growing hysterical.
Nothing Of ten sort" said Lizzie. ener-
getically. HE has only made dreadful
blunder. Can't you see, Sue, it's the old
bachelor who has taken the place next
door,"
"O." aspirated Sue, with the sparkles
Of amusement beginning to come into her
eyes.
"But, Lizzie, what are you going to do?''
'To cook him the best supper I can
and afterward explain him his mistake in
the politest manner possible. Poor feI-
low, he is rather handsome, I think.
And the two girls hustled about with
skillet gridiron. and coffee strainer, while
Mr. Markleman sat viewing the fire and
wondering what Gibbs could possibly have
meant talking about IAN old woman"
"Why, she has got cheeks like peaches,
and hair as thick AND brown and glossy as
my ownr' he told himself. "Old, indeed,
It won't be such bad fun to have a SER
want girl like that fitting about the house.
She ought to have extra wages on ac-
count Of her good looks"
Afterward he found himself seated be-
fore a table whereupon was spread rich
repast
And he straightway proceeded to do the
best Of practical justice to ii. Lizzie Wy
man composedly watched him the while.
"A nice supper, Lizzie" said Mr.. Mar
kleman. refolding his napkin, and placing
it on the table ere he drew out cigar
from his pocket case.
Tn glad you liked it. sir" said Lizzie,
smiling, "and I hope that when you be-
come my neighbor at Laurel Cottage you
will often drop in TO such another"
''Eh," cried Mr. Markleman, starting
back "Ain't this Laurel Cottage? Am
not in my own house,
mo. sir" Miss Wyman answered de-
murely ''You are in my house, and 7 am
Elizabeth Wyman. your future neighb0r:
happy TO make your acquaintance, even
after this rather unusual fashion
sT-Tbeg your pardon. Miss wymsn." ne
gasped. turning scarlet and pale IN
breath. Il don't see how I ever came 70
make such ridiculous mistake What
donkey YOU must have taken ne fori'
''TU 90" he uttered. making a dive tow
ard his hat and dropping the unsmoked
cigar on the floor. with a countenance q
such misery that LiZzie's womanly pity
came 20 the rescue.
You viii do no such thing, Nj Markle-
man" she said. MY brother will be here
presently. and you shall stay and spend
the evening az your own mistake"
so Mr. Markleman staid ntn Tom Wy
man came home from the city on the
evening train: and. as he afterward sad,
he never spent a plesssuter evening n
his ufe.'-New York Daily News
Curiosities of Tahgae.
Referring 20 that sign Of the production