A CURE FOR FAULT FINDING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 12

A CURE FOR FAULT FINDING.

About the first thing Farnsworth did upon his arrival at the Bough ton boarding house was to complain. The window shades needed repairing, the writing table was unsteady and the towels on his washstand were painfully deficient in quantity. Mrs Bough ton, affably obliging, hastened to have these errors corrected. However, her manner was less amiable when, before the expiration of another day, Farnsworth again appeared with reports of other discrepancies. It soon became clearly apparent, not only to the long suffering landlady, but to observant boarders as well, that with this eccentric bachelor the complaining habit was chronic.

His idiosyncrasies became the theme for amused comment among the boarders. There was sport for a week over the palm incident. Emma, the ihaid, related it. Farnsworth -had gone to Mrs Boughton with the l'equest that the palm which adorned his bookcase be removed altogether from the room. He objected to growing plants in his sleeping apartment. Thereupon Mrs Boughton, as gravely as possible, had informed him that the palm in question was not likely to interfere with his health, being entirely artificial in composition. It became evident that his fellow boairdei*s were included in his list of objections. His attitude towaid them was unmistakably remote. It was doubtful if he fully i*emembered any of their names, or oared to remember. Mrs Boughton understood his objection to the boarders. He had made the matter clear to her. They were mostly young people—very young people. Farnsworth classed them all under one head—“romping children.” on several occasions he had complained of the noise and needless gatherings in the parlour. The sound of the revelry penetrated to his. rooixx and clistui'bed his peace. “It is impossible for me to concentrate my thoughts upon my work,” he had stated, “with all that whisflin*

and singing and ragtime racket. X have a most important matter under consideration at present. Absolute quiet is essential to my investigations." Mrs Houghton duly remonstrated with the thoughtless ones, although she knew her effort would be futile. And now curiosity was rife concerning the “important matter” mentioned. "What was the old chap up to anyhow P Emma told of a peculiar apparatus in his room—things that lie requested her never to touch. He was making a veritable laboratory of his apartment. The boarders began to refer to his undertaking familiarly, yet mysteriously, as the “experiment.” Farnsworth continued to apply himself steadily to his task. Meanwhile ne did not forget to complain. “Confound that whistling!” ho muttered one evening as the warbling in the parlour persisted long after the ragtime choruses had died away. He sigheel impatiently. No one in the house showed any regard for his wishes. The whistling ceased after a while. Then he heard it again. This time it sounded very near. He was sure it was in the immediate vicinity. Opening his door, he listened intently, to discover, if possible, the exact location of the whistler.

"One of those impudent, fellows trying to show off,” he commented irritably, as the clear-niercing notes continued without cessation. Farnsworth finally concluded that the sound came from the hall room just at the head of the stairs.

That the whistler, whoever he might be, va,s determined to persevere in “showing off” was evidenced by ihe repeat performance of merry trills and clear staccato notes which greeted Farnsworth’s ear daily and nightly after this.

That gentleman’s patience had its limits. He resolved to make known his annoyance. However, of course, he must be polite about it. The unshot was that a little note found its way under the door of the room. It was as follows:

“Will the young man who whistles kindly refrain from a lengthy performance at night? The music is indeed highly entertaining and is thoroughly appreclaimed hy the writer, but owing to its distracting nature prevents concentration of thought upon a most important undertaking. “The writer trusts that his communication will be received in the same spirits which promnts it.”

Farnsworth was rather astonished to find a reply under his own door the very next morning. The promptness of the whistler was certainly commendable. The answer ran:

“The young man who whistles is exceedingly sorry to have annoyed Mr Farnsworth. However, as the accomplishment which he so kindly refers to is a profession and not merely a means of amusement, and as constant practice is necessary for continued efficiency in the art, the writer begs that Mr Farnsworth will permit him to exercise the liberty which he has hitherto enjoyed.” Farnsworth smiled grimly. “Smacks of independence,” he reflected, "ana proves beyond a doubt that there is no use ever complaining about anything in this house. No one has any regard for my wishes.” However, he noticed that the whistling ceased earlier in the evening after that, nor did he hear it quite so frequently. He began to think less harshly of the offender. It was a week later, as he passed the parlour on his way upstairs, that he heard the whistler’s cheerful notes again, to the accompaniment of piano and guitar. On an impulse he paused at the door and listened.

It was an unprecedented tiling for him to do. There was a little air of surprise in the room when Ins attention became observed.

• Farnsworth, with a sudden curiosity to behold the person who had caused him so much annoyance, stepped inside the doorway in full view of that individual. Then he stood still and stared—that is, he stared until he recollected himself. His amazement, was so sharp as to he almost consternation.

Instead of the young fellow whom he had expected to see, there stood a,t the piano a slim, young woman with fair and childlike hazel eyes. From her daintily pursed lips issued the thrilling notes which had become so familiar to him.

Farnsworth accepted the chair indicated by the young man nearest the door.

Of course an apology would he necessary now for his having written that blundering note. He seized his first opportunity.

“If I had only known”—he began. “Oh. but I didn’t intend that you should know,” and she laughed roguishly-

When he noticed the saucy tilt of her chin he did not wonder at the independent tone that had characterised her reply to his note.

Farnsworth formed a new hahit—that of dropping into the parlour every evening after dinner. His old habit had somehow disapoeared. In fact, his growing amiability became so marked as to cause much comment. There wore

those who smiled knowingly and hinted! of his long chats in the parlour witn the girl who whistled. Farnsworth, talking with her of his mysterious undertaking upstairs, found a ready and sympathetic listener. In fact, he had never before met anyone who listened with such complete absorption as did this maiden with the hazel eyes. It is not to he wondered at if, while gazing into those eyes, he forgot all about his scientific argument and spoke of something else. It might he remarked, in closing, that the “experiment” proved a success, and that Mr and Mrs Farnsworth, in their beautiful new home, are enjoyin tho harvest therefrom.