Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-23

six and twenty, and during the passing of
these years; his life had been decidedly un-
eventful Having been always under the
guidance Of his mother, a very estimable,
but, nevertheless. very worldly lady, Mr..
Thomass life had passed without a single
incident arising to break the monotOny Of
his peaceful existence.
Mr.. Thomas was possessed of a short,
dumpy figure, little head inclining to
badness, aud a round, boyish face, upon
which hair had refused to do duty. although
by constant attention aud a great deal Of
solicitude, he had managed to eongregate
few of these hirsute adOTnmeuts upon his
upper lip ia the form of a noustache. OF
this he immensely proud, and spent
most of his spare time in viewing their
rather slow advancement by means of the
glass.
Mr.. Thomas Boolerby's business was that
Of a salesman in large dry goods house. a
position he had held since FIRST leaving
school He looked forward to the day
when he might perhaps embark in the
gents furnishing line on his own account
In this laudable desire he was warmly
seconded by his very estimable mamma, aud
many we're the long discussions held in the
little back parlor Of the Booierby home be-
tween Thomas and his mother on this very
interesting subject. But, alack and alas, the
best laid plans are sometimes thwarted by
the veriest trihes.
Into the vacant house on the Boolerbyis
right there moved a family Of the name Of
Diggs, who had one grown daughter by the
name of Emmerliue, and hereby hangs
tale.
Miss Emmerine Diggs was connected
with church choir in the neighborhoOd,
and It was her custom to practice her music
every morning and evening, accompanying
herself on the piano Such trills and rills
Off you'll excuse the expressiOn) that came
forth from the Diggs's home we're never be-
fore heard IN that quiet neighborhood
There was nothing selfish about the young
lady either Perhaps she thought that such
music as she distilled should not be kept
rniser-like from the public, and so instead
of drawing the blinds las some vocalists
humanely do she would open all the win
dows and then, sitting down to the piano,
IN full view Of the heartless neighborhOod,
she would strike a few opening bars, and
throwing her fair head back, would assault
the evening or the morning air whichever
il chanced to be- in true operatic style.
Persons IN the ueighbOThOod made all
manner Of fun Of Miss Rmmerline's efforts;
especially the female portion did; but this
ladys behavior for as regular as clock
work every morning and evening Miss EN-
merline could be found distilliug sweet
music to an unappreciatiye audience
Although Miss Emmerline's eudeavors
were generally ridiculed, she had one
ardent admirer ia no less person than Mr..
Thomas Boolerby.
Though Mr.. Thomas had never been
formally presented to this interesting young
lady, in fact the mere mention Of such a
probability would have served to put that
little gentleman's heart in a state of palpi
tation, he had seen her, nay, he had heard
her heavenly voice. and he was enraptured;
and never did lady have a more faithful
knight than Miss Emmerline Diggs had in
little Mr.. Thomas BoOlerby
And now a sudden change became appar-
ent in Mr.. Thomas. No more we're his
thoughts upon the gents furnishing line
This topic which had formed the basis Of
many delightful conversation IN the little
back parlOr Of the BOOlerby home now be-
came perfectly distasteful to the little fell
low, much 20 the surprise and cousterna-
tion of his fond mother All his thoughts
now we're upon Miss Emmerliue, and vocal
ism.
He became a subscriber to several musical
come great singer. These directions the
little fellow studied carefully, often sitting
up late into the night, in his endeavOrs to
master the many complications.
There was one song which particularly
appealed 10 Mr.. Thomas humor. This be
purchased in sheet music form, il being
called. Love, Look at Thy Adorer" He
had managed to learn the words by heart
and. by a good deal Of improvising, he had
fashioned some sort Of an air to it, There
was only one objection to that style of
music Mr.. Thomas found, and that was
sometimes he had a great many words left
after he had finished the tune Another
time he would have too much air and not
enough Of words. These triiing accidents
changed the appearance Of the song con-
siderably, aud we're peculiarly disconcert-
ing to Mr.. Boolerby. for the reason that
every time he sang this touching ballad it
appeared to be different from the time be.
fore. But he reasoned that the words were
there, aud that was something.
All this time Mr. Thomas practiced in the
privacy Of his own room not even letting
his mother become aware Of his new am
biton. Perhaps Mr.. Thomas knew his
mothers strong points; but we will not
anticipate
Along about this time, Mrs. B0olerby and
Mrs. Diggs became acquainted and Mrs.
Diggs, becoming sociable, told Mrs Bool-
erby how proud she ought 10 feel of Mr.
Thomas. Upoa tits Mrs. Boolerby told
Mrs Diggs how proud she should feel in
the possession Of such talented she had
previously designated said daughter as a
plagued 'screecher") daughter. as Miss
Emmeriine. 'euGuy" was
This fierce, complimentary cauuonadiug,
soon brought the two LADIES' on an even
more friendly footing. And Mrs. Diggs
asking Mrs. BOolerby to cali. and Mrs.
Boolerby dying almost for chance TO in
spect the Diggs furniture, theu and there
called. eKcusing her appearance, with the
plea, that she wasn't fixed To which
Mrs. Diggs' replied "6ddlesucks." Mrs.
Booierby was presented to all the Diggs'.
including the fair ensiaver Of her son
During the highly entertaining converse.
ton whieh followed, Miss Emmerline meu-
toned the fact to Mrs. Boolerby Of her