The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-31


sure. we could see our breath whenever
We left the inglenooks, but we had hot
ga and mullins and mirth-and what
did we care? Then came dressing
time. L am so sorry said Mrs. A,
deprecatingly, but James has just told
me that the pipes are frozen upstairs,
and we cannot get any water in the
bath rooms, but you will find ewers
and basins in each room My room
was frigid. I slipped shiveringly into
my evening clothes after a shave with
lukewarm water and went downstairs.
The dining room was icy, and the
women in low necked gowns looked
nearly frozen. Fortunately, our host
rose to the occasion. Matte he said
to his wife, who locked perfectly mis-
cradle, it's play we are on a polar ex-
petition and put on our coats and he
set the example by getting for himself
a big coon coat. Amid much laughter
we all joyfuily followed his example,
and in ludicrous array of garments
returned to eat our dinner
I'VE had got about half through
when an ominous sound or dripping
was heard. Splash, splash, splash,
came the drops thick and fast through
the plaster right on the table. The
pipes in my room must have burst'
gasped Mrs. A, looking ready to cry.
The water spread over the table and
several women rose to their feet. Again
Mr.. A. saved the situation. sit down,
ladies' he called out, we will have our
dinner whatever happens. James,, he
added, turning to the butler. is there
a washtub on the premises? Yes, sir,
there's a detached one in the laundry
answered the dignified James without
smile. Have two of your men bring
it here ordered his master. While the
footmen went on their errand, James
and Mr.. A. cleared the table of the
flowers and ornaments. A second later
the water was splashing into the wash
tub set in the center of the table In
the meanwhile Mrs. AS maid tried
vainly through the telephone to get
plumber.
g Why don't you turn the water off
in the cellar?' suggested a young arch
itect, who was present. We looked at
him with unfeigned admiration What
a mindn we all exclaimed. And how
do you do that?' said the master of
the house to whom, like the majority
of householders, plumbing in all it's
branches was a profound mystery.
Matte, do you know how?' No, Mrs. A.
wass totally ignorant on the subject.
James, you must know said Mr. A. to
the butler but the latter reluctantly
admitted that he, too, had no idea how
to turn the water off. The architect
thought on general principles he could
find the stopcock, so as soon as dinner
was, over we all trooped to the cellar.
After much searching, in the most OBJ
kscure place possible, a faucet was dis
covered in what was evidently the
main from the general water supply,
but, of course, it was impossible to turn
it. Finally a wrench was obtained and
a hammer, and with the aid of both
the water supply was turned off and the
flooding of the dining room stopped.
But the sad fact remained that we had
no water at all in the house. of
course said Mrs. A., with the resigna-
ton of despair, the waterback of the
range will break and the hot water
boiler burst. Jim, you will probably
have to pay $21,0 900 to the landlord for
injuries received. But as the papers
predict another drop in the thermome-
ter we shall all probably be frozen, so
1t will not matter AS / said before
Mr.. A. was a man of resource. He
looked at his watch and rose to ad-
dress us, Ladies and gentlemen he
said, fate is against us. For the sake
of conventionality / will not expose you
to the discomforts, if not dangers, in a
house without water, and the temper
allure of the Arctic Circle. There is a
train back to town at II o'clock. l
propose to return you all safely to your
homes tonight, begging that you will
do me the favor of dining with me at
ks tomorrow evening, and that you
will promise us to finish out your visit
here on June L. His guests were OBJ
viously relieved. Under the circum-
stances it seemed the best possible solu-
ton of the difficulty. And when / got
back to my own warm rooms and a
hot bath l thanked the stars that Mr.
A. had had the courage of his convic-
tons"