, 1876-03-17

OF having the mouse, ana only wanted tC
make a good bargain about it,"-and ]
continued, "If that is all you can afford
to give, it is no use for you to think any
more about it"
The lady rose from the sofa, where she
had spread herself, and shook out her
flounces in an indignant little way, while
she said, scornfully, 81 am not accustomed
to be insulted by my interiors;" and then
swept out of the house, while 1, like d
little goose that was, sat down and cried
from sheer modification, till l suddenly
remembered that there was nobody but
me to get dinner, and that | must hurry
if wished it to he ready in time.
When John came home, l told him
triumphantly that had already had two
offers for the house. Nothing wonder.
ful in that, "said he, "this is the pleasant.
est house in the neighborhood, and Of
course every one would be glad to get it
But whatever you do, don't make a bar.
gain with any one, before we have place
to go to ourselves"
81 have heard of a good boarding
place, already" said l, confidently, land
| am going to look at it after dinner
But was going to ask you, John, what
the rent of this house oug ght to bel"
Haven't you settled that yeti Well,
don't ask less than thirty dollars a month
and as much more as you can get"
In the afternoon, when l was hurryina
to get my work done, in order to go out
and luxuriating in the thought of my ap.
preaching emancipation from household
drudRery, l was again interrupted by
that door belll
A fat small-eyed, red-nosed woman
dressed in a strange mixture of colors
stood there, with a couple Of children in
funny finery.
"Are you the mistress Of the housoi'
she asked.
"Yes, do you think of renting iti"
said.
~ should like to see it first, ma'Am,
she replied
And then l had to take the trio round
into every room. 1t was slow work, fol
Mrs. Briggs was ponderous and given tc
talking, and everything in the house
seemed to remind her Of something else
that she had seen or heard of, aRd fell
herself bound 10 favor me with full and
particular account thereof. In this man.
ner heard the whole of the romantic
story Of the elopement of Mr.. and Mrs
Briggs, twenty years ago, and also the
touching events of the sickness Of several
members Of her numerous family. Then
came the history Of several Of her board
ers, who must all have been remarkable
people from her description. So inces.
SAINT was the stream Of words flowing from
her lips in fat sort of monotone, that
felt almost as If must be In q horrible
nightmare, from which / conld not wake
1t came to an end ct last, however, when
she asked what the rent was, aud I in de.
spair at the thought Of perhaps having flu.
ture meetings with her, mentioned the sum
Of fifty dollars month. She looked aghast
for moment, and then shaking her head
solemnly from side to side, said, 81 should
feel that was robbing my poor children
to pay more than the half Of that" and
then with as much dignity as she could
assume, and still shaking her head, she
left the house, and breathed freely once
more. Then l went as soon a. possible
to the address l had seen In the paper.
1t was plain, brick house in a row
with all the window blinds closed. A
neat looking girl opened the door, an6
ushered me into the parlor, opening the
shutters just wide enough for me bt
able to see the sombre gray paper.
ing, the stiff, black horse hair chairs
and the sofa of the same material, which
rested itself wearily against the wall as L
the sorrows Of life (and not merely OLD
age) had taken all the spring out Of it
The only picture which graced the WALL
was the likeness of a long-faced, sour,
looking man, with an awful choker on
framed in black, with q withered piect
of Cypress over the top. In minute ol
two the door opened, and worn looking
woman in rusty black entered.
~ have come to see the rooms, l said
rushing to the point at once, in . way
that would have shocked John had hI
been there.
"Very we'll, you can come up stairs
Mrs. - 7" and she hesitated. "Sel
kirk / put in and followed her. Thl
rooms were large, pleasant, and yer!
clean, 80 that l began to think myself IL
luck's way, and when we returned to th'
parIor, and commenced talking of terms
all was equally satisfactory.
And then, when my mind was almos
made up, Mrs. Tweezle (fOr such was be
name), laid her hand on my arm in Al
impressive manner.
"You cannot think, my dear lady, +" sait
she, "what joy experience in this mo
ment. l recognize in you . kindret
spirit, and feel that, young as you are
you will sympathise with me in my sor
rows. / can read It in your liquid eyes
and in the delicate quivering Of you
sensitive mouth. The lonely widow viii
be more to you than the mere boarding
house keeper-she will be your friend
and you will be her sweet cOnsoler."
saw she expected me to speak, but s.
fearful was l that the "delicate quiver
ing" Of my mouth would become an IRE
sistible laugh (this solemn talk had com
on me so unexpectedly that 1 merel,
shook my head condolingly.
"You see that portrait she went on
'he was my late husband, and oh th
privilege Of having been the wife of Sucl
a mani so EXCELLENT so piousl and ye
80 humble was he, that he would sit 70
days in this room, weeping over his sins
till bis largest pocket handkerchief woul'
oftentimes be wringing wet with tina
saints holy tears. Oh, the task had +
coax him to eat anythingl was teach
ing school then, but the only way
could do, was to hurry homo and cool
up something, kind of extra, so as to TAX
him by surprise as he sal, and then he'
be tempted"
"But was he in no businessi" / man
aged to ask.
/ uFIa had baan clarkfno, In a ator. t;l