The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1880-11-04
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HOUSE TO LET. .--....
"HeighOm yaWned Mr.. Ellieott, the
real estate agent, as he looked out of the
window at two old women, a market
cart, and the postman. "Times are dull
! ii-fearfully dull! Never have known
EN- stagnant so since was in the busi-
ness. A list of houses to rent and for
sale that would suit anybody, at prices
that are absolutely scandalous, as far as
cheapness is concerned, and no demand
/ for 'em-literally nOnep
i And Mr.. BlliCott lighted his cigar.
/ arranged the "TO Lets" a little more
attractiyely in the window, and shook
his head mournfully at the big ledger on
the high desk.
But just at that instant in which he
/ drew sigh, Indicative of the EXTREMIST
/ dependency, stout, middle-aged gen
I tleman, with a felt hat, an umbrella
under his arm, and square toed boots,
/ walked into the neat Carpeted Office.
The agent slipped nimbly eff his chair,
\ laid down his cigar, and assumed the
! business smile.
What can I do for yOuP he said.
rubbing his hands, and scenting a brown
stone sale, or a red brick exchange, at
the very least.
My name is Jones'" said the stout
stranger.
Happy to see you, Mr.. Jones'" sim
pered the real estate agent, rubbingaWa
harder than ever.
'And want to rent a respectable
house in a pleasant neighborhood,"
added the gentleman. 81 am sick Of
boarding, and intend to take a house
and 60 to housekeeping"
Certainly, by all means" said the
agent, beginning briskly to flutter over
tne leaves of his book. eve have, I am
happy to say, number of most eligible
residences here, which can hardly fail to
meet your acquisitions"
"Give me lis" said the old gentle
man.
Certainly" said Mr.. EllicOtt, dipping
his pen into the wooden standish.
II mean business" said Mr.. Jones.
81 am glad to hear it, +" said the agent.
And scarcely five minutes more had
elapsed before the middle-aged gentle
man, with the alpaca umbrella, and the
square-toed boots, was where a fat let
tered "To Let" hung cOnspicuOusly be-
side the door.
+-+4EA9 A eNA-ANAAea A BCA4AA44Ah " do lAA5N
taking her hair out of erimD in the front
third-stOry apartments as the bell sounded
its hollow tOcsin through the house.
Joanna" said Miss PAMELA, over the
stairs, "lOok ont Of the area window and
see who it is"
1T is gentleman, ma'am," Joanna
answered, in a shriu whisper, ''in a su-
perfne brOadcloth coat and a new UNI
brella."
"COme to answer the advertisement"
said Miss PAMELA, Tadiantly. 'ShOW
him into the parlOr, Joanna and tell him
I'll be down directly"
She settled her Crimps once again,
pinned petite ribbon bow in her back
hair, gave her forehead q farewell dab
with a powder puff, and read over for
the last time a paragraph in the morn
ing's paper, which ran as follows:
WANTED-By q young lady of educa-
ton and experience, a position as House
keeper to a gentleman of means. No
trifeTs need apply to Miss P, No. 80
Nixon street.
Dear me-" said Miss Peppermint,
''hOW my heart futters-fOr surely this
is a crisis III my life. How often does a |
hOusekeeper eventually become some !
thing nearer and dearer to a gentleman |
Of susceptibility and appreciation! I !
hope he is fond of poetry"
. She crossed the threshold with trip |
ping step. To her surprise, the apart |
meut was empty.
"Where is he, Joanna 3? said she look |
ing around in dismay.
"Please ma'am." faltered the maid. II |
think he's an escaped lunatiC-fOr hes |
1l-fr,rr oil rY-0rrV,I FI,n l1n1- 1~SA,I,,--
and peerin' into the stationary wash |
tubs, and mutterin' to hisself like every, |
thing"
"Ah p' said Miss Peppermint. with a /
smile. "Very natural-ouite so. |
He means to find out what kind of a .
practical hOusekeeper l am. A-hem /
here he comes. Run, Joanna, there is |
on the bridge of your
nose and a hole in your stocking
A-hem Please to walk in sir" to the |
gentleman, who appeared |
on the threshold, with his speCtacleS /
tipped over the bridge of his nose, and |
his umbrella carried iavelin-fashion. 4
under ms arm. Il have the pleasure of |
"My name is Jones, said the gentle
man brusquely. "YOU are the lady
who"
who advertisedY' Yes" said Miss
with a smiling inclination
Of her head.
'"Then L wonder at your enunciated
Mr.. Jones.
"SirW p said Miss Peppermint.
"As old as the hills" said Mr. Jones'
i'all out Of repair. Fifty years old at the
very Ieast."
"Sir p calculated the lady, more
than ever.
Truth is truth" said the gentleman.
Not even decently painted"
Painted ?" gasped Miss Peppermint,
instinctively remembering the pearl
powder.
'Rheumaticky, and full of fever and
ague 2" energetically added Mr.. Jones.
'But forty dollars a month";
"Only twenty" said Miss Peppermint,
iaintly.
''I wouldn't consider the question at
any .pricep roRred Mr.. Jones. "a
old ruinp, I