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A NIBBLE
Fy liON. "DUCK" IIiNRICIISEN
( Copyrlght. 1u ! ) $ , lIy Unity Story I'ub.Co. )
: IB
'There'as a I'c\'otlllon ! In the affairs
of III' orlHJrt S\l.180n. \ For ton years
110 had taken his scat every morning
In the little cage at the hank , where
ho could ho found every minute of the
day UII llll three o'clorlt , and during
that time the extra chair which stood
IJY his desk UHUlllly contained sonic
one desiring to speak with the cl\shlor.
At three o'cloclt ho vacated his post ,
took It brief walk over the selfsame
route every day and reaching his
boarding house an hour later repaired
to his room , frolll which ho emerged as I
the clock struck five , dressed In what I
ho thought wan fashionable attire , and .
tonic his place lit dlnnel'
When once seated ho exchanged a.
few comlllonlllaces with his landladY
and the three male hoarders , other-
wise confining his ' attention to the food
before him. If the weather was fine ,
ho sometimes took It wall after din-
1101' , and he sometimes attended aloe-
hll'o 01' a COlleert
For twenty.flve years 1\11' Sisson find
been nut emilloyo of the bank , entering
that Institution as ahoy. lie had
gradually worked his way Ull until at
fort ' .flvo ho was the cashier of the
halll and ! In addition teas ono of Its
principal stoelholders. IIe . was a
quiet mitt , liS became the cashier of a
hllllk , and methodical In his hahlts.
'l'llough his start In life had been
II
' \1 \ I\r \ + 1\u' \
, ; . :
"MI' Herbert Sisson. "
small his growth hall been steadY.
lie ] plow all about banking , hut he
knew little else , allll especially was
ho ignorant of the Ollllosito sex. He
had never married ; 111 fact , the Idea
had never entered his heall. He never
spoke to a lady except on IJ\\slness.
and as for mingling in the ordinary
gaieties of life , thin thought was for-
eign to his malce - up.
There came a time , howovo1' , as such I
n time occurs in the life of every
man. his old landhllly died , and ho
found himself without a home , for the
people \ inheriting her property dotor-
mined to destroy the bulllling and
erect upon Its site a structure not intended -
tended to contain -hoarliing house.
It became necessary for him to seek
a new home and after looking over the
advertisements in lie newspapers , ho
repaired one afternoon to Il fashionable -
able bearding ; house Washington
street which promised to give him
what 1\(1 Ileslrell-a place to cat and
sleep vat1 in which his evenings und
hollllays might bo Imssed
Ho was politely received by Mrs.
Cuntwell , the landlady , who informed
him that she had an elegant suite of
rooms on the second floor of the os-
tabllslulI , and showed him these
rooms. The building contained sev-
eral stories and was elegantly fur-
nished. It stood on a corner and
the suite which was exhibited to his
gaze consisted at a parlor , a bedroom ,
bathroom , et c'tcra. The parlor was
lu the front , next came the bedroom ,
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Into which the bathroom opened in the
rear.
The parlor faced Washington street
Ind , looltlng frolll tHc window , he
thought might prove noisy , owing to
Its proximity to that thol'oughfaro.
'rho rates nUnod hy the landlady
were a little higher than ho had expected -
pected to III\Y and , while the bedroom -
room was roomy and comfortable , ho
thought that the parlor would prove
8uperl1no\ls for his \IfiOH.
"I hike lie bedroom myself , " said
the landlady. "Trilo , thin Whldows are
on the side street , hut they are hay
windows , as you notice , from which
\Yashlllglon street cnn bo Been , and
there Is a grate between them , which
Is very pleasant In cool woathor. If
yon Ilon't like the parlor , I can easily
divide the suite by closing the door
between and putting on a bolt that
will seclude It entirely. That will
make the price 1I1\1ch less. "
1\11' Sisson was , in some respects , a
liberal man , but ho practiced economy :
as a matter of principle , and ho was
pleased with 1\1rs. Cantwell's sugges'
t ionlie engaged the bedroom and
she agreed to have it ready for his occupancy -
cupancy the following ( day
"We have breakfast at eight , " she
remarked "and dinner at six , with
lunch for those who desire It at one
C'clocl " lIe bowed and took his
loa\'e.
The next evening ho appeared at
the boarding house to take possession
or his room. lIe canto about five
o'clocl and from that time until six he
was engaged in disposing of h4 l belongings '
longings and dressing for dlnller.
Promptly at the rInging of the hell
he found his way to the dining room ,
where ho was Introduced to the seventeen .
teen ladles and gentlemen who composed .
posed his fellow boarders , and assigned -
signed his permanent seat at the table.
better ! served than that to which ! he
was accustomed , and while the can-
The meal was better prepared and
vOl'satiou was somewhat lively , he
thought It pleasant und congratulated
himself on his new location.
Several days passed and when he
entered thin dining room one evening
ho found himself seated between two
\\'comOrs.
"This , " said 1\lrs. Cantwell , "is 1\11'
Sisson , . your neighbor on the second
floor , " and the newcomers she intro-
duced as Mr. and lrs. Anthrohus , of
whom she said , "They occupy the parlor -
101' which we examined when you
carne , but they are quiet people and
will not disturb 'on. "
1\11' Sisson bowed and looked at his
new nolghhors. 1\11' AnthrolHls , who
sat at hIs right , was a man about hIs
own age , garbed in fashionable attire ,
but evidently given to wearing some-
what flashy colors.
1\I1's. Anthrobus was much younger
than her husband , not over twenty.five , ;
, perhaps , with n heavy weight of
blonde hair and particularly rosy
cheels. Both were very Iolllo to 1\11'
Sisson and they seemed fully Informed
as to his position In business circles.
The meal passed off as" usual , with
the ordinary Interchange of words between -
tween strangers.
After dinner 1\11' Sisson repaired to
his room. The evenings were getting
cool and a bright fire was burning In
his grate. Ho thought of many things
and among others hIs new neIghbors.
Mrs. Cantwell hud Informed him quiet-
ly I after dinner that \11' Anthrobus was
a civil onglneer.
"Ho dresses well " mused 1\11' Sis-
son , "but his clothes are a little loud.
Besides , he has a look in hIs eye I
do not IIIc , and I should want some
good references before trusting burn In
business. " Then his thoughts wan-
dered to 1\lrs. Anthrolms and he found
himself saying to himself , "Sho is a
beautiful lady , and then became
ashamed of himself and tried to think
of something else.
lie finally went to bell and to sleep ,
but It was only to dream of red cheeks
surrounded by a mass of golden hair.
lie thought of the face and hair when
ho first awoke in the morning and all
day at the hank there was constantly :
before his mind the same vision which :
had disturbed him In his slcep.
Within a week 1\11' Sisson had
spoken to the possessor cl the rosy
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cheels and blond hair more than
be had spoltcn to any yoman ho had
previously mot , and one evening , when
going through a. . park \ on his way to
his hoarding house , ho countered
her in a. . quiet nook which he sometimes -
times frequented for meditation. Ho
raised { his hint and would have passed
on , hut she spoke 'to him and made
room for him on the bench on which
she waS scatod. Ho sat down by her
somewhat awkwardly , hut she soon
placed him at his ease hy discussing
matters In which he took an interest.-
'l'hls meeting was tIm first of many
in that nook In the park , and as they
became more friendly ho learned that
her married life was not altogether
pleasant- .
" ! lty husband , " she said , "thlnls of
nothing but his profession and Is frequently -
quently absent for days at a time. 1\ly
life Is lonely and when I meet a con-
genial person it seems to brighten
my whole exlstellce. "
She squeeed his hand as she said
this and looked at him In a way that
sent hIs heated blood bounding
through his veins.
At the hoarding house or In sight
of other peolllo she was cautious and
treated him liS she treated others , but
when they were alone there was some-
thing in hel' actions that led him to
think that she regarded him as even
more than a frlenl !
This went on for several weeks ,
when one evening at the dinner table
ho noticed that the scat of Mr. An
throbus was vacant.
110 has gone to St. Louis , " said
1\11'8. Anthrohu8. "lIe went this afternoon -
noon lIe has business that will keep ]
him away about a. woel "
A strange , wild thought passed
through 1\11' Sisson's mind , hut he
crushed down his emotions and finished -
ished his 1I1eal.
It was ten o'clock at night when
1\11' Sisson sat In his room before the
grate thinldng of 1\lrs. Anthrobus. lie
prepared himself for bcd , but ho was
not sleepy and , putting his bath robe
over his night attire , he again seated
himself before the fire to meditate.
'I'hero was a slight tap at the door
between his own and Mrs. Anthrobus'
room. Ills heart gave a great bound
and ho approached the door at which
hc had heard time slight tap , pushed
hack lie holt and , opening the door ,
hesitatingly peered through into what
ho regarded as a sacred proclnct. She
had also unbolted the door on her side
and stood at the entrance robed In
her dressing gown.
" 1\11' Sisson , " she whispered , "I
want to speak to you a minute. I have
had a telegram from 1\11' Anthrobus
and he starts for Denver to - niglit to
bo gone three weels. He has thought-
lessly left mo insufficient money to
meet my needs during so long an ab-
sence. Can I rely upon you to assist
me temporarily As soon as ho returns -
turns I can pay 'ou. "
"Certainlr , " said the infatuated .
hanler , promJltJr. "I would nsl you
to come In , hut I havc prepared for
retiring. "
She did not appear to hear his last
remark , for she entered his room , say
Ing : "I felt that I could depend on you ,
for I know you are mr frlond. What
a beautiful fire , " she continued , seat-
Ing herself on the sofa . before the
grate and moving her draperies to
one side to make room for him.
1\11' Sisson sat down beside her.
"lIow lovely this Is , " she said , lean-
Ing hack comfortably , so as to dIs-
close a pretty foot and anlle. "It is
so convenient , " she continued , "to be
located as wo are.Vo can have
manr a delightful talk when my hus-
band Is awa . . Don't you : think so ? "
Her golden hair was around her
neck , and as she sat beside him astray .
-
stray curl touched his face.
"Indeed , this Is pleasant , " he re-
marl\Cd , lifting the curl and kissing It.
"How foolish ; you are , ' she said , and
she leaned toward him with a strange
light in her e 'efi.
Strange thoughts went through the
mind of the banker and , spurred Into
boldness , ho threw his arm around
her neck and drew her closer. She did
not resist , but looked into his face
wIth a bright and loving ] glance Taking ] -
Ing his face between )101' hands , she
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Pressed her lips to his In along and
loving kiss and finally , releasing him ,
HilO leaned ] back on the couch , sighing
heRvll ' .
A new feeling carne over lie banker .
"I am villain , " ho muttered. "MY J
dear , ho said aloud , "how much
money will you need until ] your hus- . .
band returns ? " _ .
"Oh , perhaps a hundred dollars , " I
she replied , a strange look coming
over her face.
Sisson rose from the couch and , going .
ing to his dressing table , extracted
several bllls from a pocketbook which
lay there and , handing them to the
lady , said : "Hero Is a hundred dol.
lars. If you need any more , let me
] mow , "
She took the money and thrust it
Into her bosom.
"Now , " he said , "doar one . . Ilis time [
to go to bed. Some one may hear us.
Besides , you must leave me , 01' I may
forget mrso1f. "
lie seized her hands and pulled her
to her feot. Then , leading her to the
door between their rooms , shook hands
with her , sayIng : "Good-night , sleep In ;
'
peace " and , closing the door between
them , ho hailed it and returned to
lie couch before lie fire.
The next morning 1\1rs Anthrobus
was not at the breakfast table and
did not see 1\11' Sisson before his departure -
parture to the banI"
At dinner time the banker was not
present , and 1\1rs. Cantwell , in answer
to inquiries , said that ho had given UII
his room that dar and that an express.
man had called for his baggage.
In spite of her self-control , 1\Irs. An-
throbus colored and , going out actel
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t / A ,
There was a slight tap at the door. I
dinner , she went to the nearest tele- ;
graph ofllce and sent the following ,
message to 1\11' Anthrobns : "He nibbled -
bled , but would not bite , and has dis-
appeared. " !
1\11' Anthrobus appeared In hIs usual
place at the dInner table the next ovo- l :
ping and a few days later two more of
lie boarders at 1\Irs. Cant\ ell's home
disaplleared from public vIew. , I
Under the Roof-Tree. " ,
Domestic training for girls seems to
bo engaging the Intelligent attention '
.3'i.
In all civilized countries , says the J" :
Newark News Never were the peo-
ple of this country so Intent upon
teaching all branches of domestic sci-
ence as they are to-day , and they are
wllllllg to spend time and money so
that lie housekeepers and homemal- ,
ers of the future may be more fitting- '
Ir trained for their dli'lles. Wo learn , .
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from one of our foreign contemporaries - - -1 , '
les that this subject has been greatly
agitated of late In Switzerland , and no
expense Is spared In the equipment of
their 8'chooI8. teach - .
They everything ,
Including the proper war to lay a
cloth and set a table and washing and J
honing , so that a graduate under- X
stands the work of a house from attic
to cellar.
Indispensable.
"Don't you think women are becoming -
comIng more Interested In athletics ? "
"Why , of course. In these days or : {
bargain counter rushes it's a posltlvo
.
necessity , "
