The Harlowton news., 1913-01-31
The Couple
Opposite
By r. A. mitchell

F4 I Es
Will and Edith butcher rolled into
the station on their return from their
wedding trip at 10 o'clock at night
and. taking up their hand baggage.
left the train. called carriage and
were driven to the home that had been
prepared for them by the brides par
ents. They had been away long
enough for the entire preparation Of
the house during their absence, and |
| they had never seen it. But they had |
been sent the key BY express and in
formed that the number was 81 and
4 the street Washington avenue.
! After turning into the thoroughfare
at a point where he saw a number
1 1S-the driver counted the houses he
passed-for no more numbers were
4 visible he came to- what he
thought might be 81 and stopped. The
bride and groom alighted, paid the
! fare and the carriage departed. Then
i Mr.. butcher took out the night key and.
mounting the steps Of the house before
!. him. attempted to effect IN entrance.
4 The key didn't work.
] 1t had been expected that the young
couple would return when they liked,
4 go into the house alone and manage
4 every detail to suit themselves. There
A fore there was no light in the hall, and
as the number was placed on glass
over the vestibule door light was
required to see it. The consequence
WIS that the couple We're trying to get
into house without being sure it was
theirs. Mr. butcher went out on to
the stoop and looked about him, but
since all the houses in the vicinity
were alike he didn't learn much.
II never knew one Of these fancy
little keys to work." he said "At any
rate. this one doesn't There's usually
window sash loose somewhere.
Well try that way"
After experimenting awhile he found
that one Of the windows Of the kitchen
had been left unfastened. and all he
had to do was to raise it and walk in.
Then, opening the door from the in
side. he admitted his wife. They were
: very tired. and after glance at the
, parlor and dining room, the furnishing
of which they admired, they went up
stairs. There was a bedroom on each
side of the upper hall, the door Of one
, standing open. 1t looked inviting, and,
, entering, they threw off their gar
Z ments, put on their Iightrobes and
) went to bed.
When they aWoke in the morning
Mr. butcher thought he would get up
and use the bathroom first. Opening
7 the bedroom door, he stood stock still
in astonishment. The door Of the op-
posite room stood open, and in it stood
5I man also arrayed in nightclothes
!. looking at Mr.. butcher with as much
amazement as Mr.. Dutcher looked at
him.
Y "Well, sir!' said the man,
s "Well, sir!'' repeated Mr.. butcher.
what are you doing in my house,
> sir?''
t "Your house? What are you doing
y in my house?"
AT this point the face of lady ap-
Il peared in the doorway behind the man
}, opposite and, Mrs. butcher having got
"a ~
this strange conversation, there were
L two men and two women all in ''even
IT ing dress looking at one another as Il
8 faced by some inexplicable occurrence
Then each lady, realizing that she was
: gazed upon by a strange man, gave
y little shrek and retreated from the
v foreground.
:, Il demand an explanation" said the
" man opposite, "of this unWarranted oc
e cupation Of room In my house WlLh
i out my invitation or consent
"And / demand to know who you are
u sir, and why you have come into
J. house that has been prepared for mt
4 and my wife on our return from ou
wedding trip"
= "Then you are married?'
n "Married OF course / am-We ar
" married. Do you mean to add insul
: to perjury? | see. MY house havin'
IL been unoccupied, you have taken !
G. upon yourself to use 1t for nefariou
re- purpose.
II have mind, sir, to throw you ou
- the window
IL you'd better try it.
,r The two men glared at each other
Mrs. butcher, who meanwhile ha'
gathered her wits, sang out:
w "What number is this housev'
o,. ''Thirty-six," replied feminine voic
;s opposite.
y "Oh, horrors!'' cried Mrs, butcher.
oe .Thirty-six!' exclaimed her husband
,e "Thirty-six washington avenue"
"My dear, SIR said Mr.. butcher
" much agitated, Il fear we have made
al mistake"
n. .If it's only a mistake I shall ez
~ cuse you. sir"
so Last night my wife and came t
al town from our wedding trip, and, sur
,d nosing this house to be our new hom