Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-04-09
The Old Miser.
I''dUerlcy.

The O.u MlStf.
1t was cobhler's shop, breaking the
row of small private houses in shabby
suburban ieet. How it came there
nobody knew. What is more, nobody
cared.
Near the door, on this particular af
ternoon, were two females, the one el-
derby, the other graceful and young
both iu the deepest mourning. In
front of it were two street Arabs, as
ragged as mirthful before it stood the
oldest being imaginable-a little old
man, about four feet high. with not
over clean face, iron gray hair, on which
rested worn skin cap, shaggy brOws,
rather bow legs, and dirty leathern
apron. In irate tones, he was address
ing the boys.
"Off with you, you young rascals
If you come playing your hopscotch
and Sally -come-ups before my window
again, Ill Il, you alive
Before the muscular fist the boys fled
hurting back derision. "Well done,
Phil-old Phil the miser Yah q
The cobbler-for he hardly merited
the more emphatic title OF shoemaker
paid no heed, but, glancing sharply
up. from under his bent brows at the
two women, asked, "And what may
you want p
We've see," began the younger,
looking timidly toward the square card
in the window, "you have apartments
to let."
"No. I've rooms--r00ms. l don't
know nothing of apartments amt
up to them-nor the rooms amt neither.
Do you want to see'em?'
"We did wish
"All right; come along !"-and the
little man swung round on his heel.
The two women, hesitating, looked
at one another.
1--WE had better see them, mother"
said tie younger, with q wan smile of
encouragement. His bark may be
worse than his bite. and all the other
places are SO dear"
Following the cobbler through the
shop, he led them up stairs to the rooms.
There were two, communicating by a
door with each other ; they were poor
ly furnished, but clean. As the women
looked at them, the cobbler stared at
them silently.
WELL" he asked, "what do you
think OF them ?"
"They will do very WE'LL" answered
the widow. "It's-only-the price y
Six dollars month-in advance"
"Six dollars a mouth r CALCULATED
the girl.
do you think it too much?"
On the contrary, it is cheap"
You know lot Of the world to say
that. How do you know 1 shan't clap
on another dollar 2"
II don't; but should not fancy you
would"
"About references" began the
widow.
Don't want any-you pay in ad.
vance and as, whenever you leave the
house, lit must be through the shop, you
can't well take the furniture without
my knowing. Is it settled ?"
~ you please here is the first
months rent"
The cobbler took it, scrawled out
receipt, nodded, and left his dodgers to
themselves. Seated again on his bench,
meditatively, he scratched his grizzled
chin, and contemplated the six dollars
in his horny palm.
Four dollars month lost to. day |"
he remarked. phil, you miser, how
could you do it ?"
The cobbler's dodgers proved very
quiet. They did not interfere with
their landlord, and he, apparently, did
not interfere with them. His rent was
paid to the day.
They rarely spoke, save exchanging
the ordinary morning and evening sal
utations when the daughter went
through the shop. The mother never
left the house. But Phil, like most
cobblers. was man of observation, and
he made such comments as the follow
ing:
,".She's a beauty, she is 4; but awful
white and sad. It's my opinion it's
hard times with them up stairs"
Then, when the girl went out earlier
and came home later, even with sad
der, more depressed expression, he
said, IN tell you what it is, Phil
she Is seeking work. and doesn't get it!'
One evening, few weeks after Mrs
Morton and her daughter rented the
cobbiers apartments, the latter entered
the shop later than usual.
The yellow lamp was faring dismally
ana Phil, boot on his knee. was bard
a. WORK. After the customary saluta.
tion, The girl was passing on, when the
cobbler voice arrested her.
say, your mothers ill, amt she ?"
ne asked, nursing his knee with both
arms.
"Yes, Mr.. Bradshaw. | am sorry N
say she has been Tor some while ailing.
ohe- she anu the young voice
'rem 6ied with tears" is very weak"
Then you must give her lots TO eat "
responded Phil, staring ont of the win. /
dow. The best thing for weak people /