Year: 1879

Norm very well indeed, out then She was


forty years old. had double chin anC
easy manners, and it had not taken any
courage to make her acquaintance. But
it was very different thing to have a
dainty bud of girl suddenly settle dowr
in one of the rather worn easy chairs ot
their parlor, and as she had come withou;
warning, she was such a surprising APP
partition that she caused each one of the
boarders to scuttle back from the parlor
door, when he would have entered, and
converse in unusually low tones on the
front steps.


In the meantime Mr.. Strong paused
not to listen to the gibes of his compan-
ions but hurried up to his room to re-
arrange his dusty garb; for he was late
and the fumes of the dinner were already
mounting the basement stairs in an over
heated manner and minghng with the
still warm air of the late afternoon.


When he re-appeared the scene mad
changed. and the household was assem-
bled around the dining table As he en-
tered the dining room, Gordon, the wit
of the house, had. with Jenkins and
Smith, the other boarders, been intro
duced, and was giving the new arrival a
humorous catalogue of the sights which
Chicago offered, and which she must
make point of seeing.


Miss Bloomer was thinking, just as
Nh Strong took his seat, that i; must be
very funny indeed to drive under river
/ instead of over il. and she was thinking
/ too. that a tunnel must be rather a fright
ful place, especially a; night, which gave
/ Gordon chance to get off one of his
u.ots not altogether new to his fellow
! boardersl. to the effect that although II
was a good place for lurking robbers, they
could hardly be called highrayHeH, at
which Miss Bloomer laughed swectly,
with her big eyes as well as her pretty
lips.


Somehow Mr. Strong felt irritated with
Gordon and his old Jokes, and when he
in his turn had been introduced to the
Young lady. he chose to turn the conver-
sstion into a grave, even gloomy chan
mel. But fortunately gaycty was re-
stored by the timely entrance of belated
Jack MORN. who greeted his charming
sistcr-in-law in a boisterous and brotherly
fashion, giving her q hearty kiss and hug
when She sprang from her chair to meet
him-a proceeding which was watched
with envious eyes by the boarders, and
told her that after himself she was the
beauty Of the family, every fork was ST.
lenced in rapt attention.


Not many DAYS passed before Miss Jcs-
sic was adored by the four bachelors.
Not one would have owned that he was
doing more for her than he would cheer
fully do for any lady visiting the city for
the frst time. when each We'd with the
other in making her visit agreeable. But.
oh, MeSSrS. Gordon, Jenkins and Smith,
did YOU DO as much for quiet, plain Miss
Wyman. when she, only twelve short
months before, visited her cousin, your
landlady. in this very house: Where
then was this lavish display Of hospitality
on your part: Did she not broadly hint
that she would like TO 20 out to the
CRIB. and also see the interior Of the
shot-tower: And did she not say plainly
that she was not afraid Of horses, when
YOU. Mr.. Gordon, made a sham show of
regret that your swift trotters were not
safe for a lady to drive behind: And did
not YOU, Mr.. jenkins, trump up busi-
ness visit to St Louis rather than wait
upon the ladies to the opera: And as
for Smith. he ought to blush to his dying
dav when he recalls the f,lsehOod he con-
cocted about the pcrils of a trip out to
the crib. And when did You, Mr.. Strong,
ever lay aside your evening paper and
banter Miss Wyman to beat you at a
game of chess: Shame, shame upon you
all You know very well that YOU al
lowed that poor young lady to have dis
nal visit in the city YOU are now making
so lively for the rosy girl, with her be-
witching blue eyes.


But to resume my chronicle. For the
first few evenings Mr.. Strong was, to all
outward seeming true to his paper, but 4
close observer might often have caught
him looking over the top at the central
figure of the group around the card table.
Especially was he distrad when light,
happy laugh called him away from poll
tics and current prices, and pretty white
hand reached out with a childish petu-
lance after lost trick And he gave
up all semblance to reading when a girl
ish figure perched itself upon the piano
stool, and waited patiently while that
forward jenkins tortured the strings of
his violin and prepared to squeak out
villainouS accompaniment.


Then came an evening when ne stood
back of Miss Blonmer's chair and gave
her some useful hints in euchre- playing,
which were gratefully received. After
that he was often one Of the four around
the ever present euchre table.


About this time certain world-re-
nowned prima donna began an engage
ment at MNicker's, and one evening
Smith came home unusually early, and
spent an unusually long time over his
toilet. A little later gorgeous and ex-
pensiye bouquet arrived. and was sent up
to his room. At dinner, Miss Bloomer,
always prettily dressed, had added several
festive touches TO her dress, which, taken
with the symptoms in Smiths case, threw
the other three bachelors into high state
of excitement, and they anxiously await
| ed further deyelnnments They were not