The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1880-10-07


the threshold, with his spectacles tipped
over the bridge of his nose, and his um-
brella carried, javelin-fashion, under his
arm. "I have the pleasure of address
ing"
"My name is JONES'" said the gentle
man, brusquely. "You are the lady
Who"
"Who advertised? Yes" said Miss
Peppermint, with q smiling inclination
of her head.
"Then I wonder at you" enunciated
Mr.. Jones.
"Sir |" said Miss Peppermint.
Gas old as the hills" said Mr.. Jones.
"All out of repair. Fifty years old at
the very least"
"Sir!" calculated the lady, more as
founded 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 energetically added Mr.. Jones'
GA tumble-down old ruin -
"Sir, you insult me " cried the spin
ster, bristling up.
"Then, madam, you shouldn't OBJ
trude your damaged wares before the
public"
"I was never so abused before in my
life!" falGered Miss Peppermint, wiring
ing her hands.
"It's high time somebody spoke the
truth, " said Mr.. Jones.
"Leave the house, sir !" said Miss
Peppermint.
"And welcome" said Mr.. Jones, put
ting his hat belligerently on the side of
his head: and shouldering his umbrella
like bayonet.
''But first let me give you little adj
vice. The next time you have house
to let"
"But haven't any house to let," in
dignantly interposed Miss PAMELA.
"Eh ?" said Mr.. Jones'
"And never had," added the lady,
breathlessly.
Isn't this house to lett?
eyes, but it isn't mine, and I've moth
ing to do with it,"
"You said you advertised"
$50 I did," said Miss PAMELA. with
difficulty keeping back her hysteric
tears. "But I wanted O. position as
housekeeper, and"
The emiddle-aged bachelor stood aghast,
the full horror of his situation gradually
breaking upon him.
Madam" he said, CT beg your par
don"
"Sir," said Miss Peppermint, there
has been an unfortunate misapprehen-
sion all around"
81 was alluding to the house, ma'am,
when 1 used those unfortunate adiect-
Ves," explained Mr.. Jones. "I hope
you don't think, ma'am, that could ap-
ply them to lady ?" &c.. '."-.
. 81 am q solitary female" said Miss
peppermint, retiring behind her hand
kerchief, "and find myself compelled
TO earn my bread in genteel way. You
couldn't recommend me to any single
gentleman in want of capable house
keeper, could you ?"
Mo ma'am, couldn't, that is lust
at present, stammered MIR. Jones. "But
II hear OF one [ will certainly let you
know. Good morning"
And he bolted out of the door in n state
OF cold perspiration. ,s..
What fool I've been /" said he to
himself, as he strobe along the windy
April streets, wiping his forehead with a
red silk handkerchief. ""In go back to
Mrs. Budgets and engage my rooms there
for the next ten years.
And so he did.
Nobody answered Miss Pamelia's adj
vertlsement; no one rented the desirable
mansion No. 80 Nixon street.
Mr.. Ellicott, the real-estate agent. de-
clares that business is duller than ever.
and Mrs. Budget, the clearinghouse
keeper, says to her daughter:
"Whatever has come to Mr.. Jones',
don't know, but he's as docile as lamb.
and hasn't found fault with his roast Joint
in q month"
"Wonders will never cease, {" says Miss
Budget devoutly.