Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-01

the threshold Of her best room, with her head
tied up In pocket-handkerchief, and hair
broom In her hand, wherewith she gesticulateG
| after tragic fashion, as she talked while Miss
haywood, tall and slender as a wild lily stood
In the hall, with roll Of music under her arm
and her slight figure wrapped in a shabby black
shawl. "And he's willing to pay my price
cash down. every Sunday night. Never at
tempted to beat me down penny, If you'll be-
heve it, my dear"
| Why should hep" said Honora-
| Most people do, my dear" said Mrs Penny
packer IA :wrinkled old widow woman like
me, who has her living to earn, is mostly fair
game for everybody. But he never objected to
| my terms. real gentleman, my dear-every
inch of him. But he's little particular, I'm
afraid"
Il suppose most old bachelors are" said Miss
| haywood, smiling.
"Yes, my dear-yes." nodded Mrs. Penny
packer. "But this gentleman is beyond the
average, think"
"And if he is?'
| "Nothing," says Mrs. Pennypacker, making a
| dab with her brOom-handle at stray moth
miller which was futterlng blindly against the
| garnet damask window curtains; nothing. ex-
| cept that one don't quite know where to have
him. He drinks only English breakfast tea, and
| he wants his pie-crust made with the best Al
derney butter, instead of lard as is good enough
| for other people; and he must have ventilatOrs
TO all the windows, and an open CRATE; instead
| OF the base-burning stove; and-I hope you'll
| not be offended, my dear-but he partic ularly
dslikes piano."
''Dislikes piano?" said the little music
teacher. reddening, in spite Ofherself.
And he says, says he: 4 hope, Mrs. Penny
packer, that there is no piano in the house. A
piano., says he, plays the deuce with my ner-
vOus system, with its everlasting tuIn, tum!'
| Those were his words, my dear. So courtesys,
and says /: You'll not be troubled with one
here. SIR And so, my dear, I'll be grateful if
you won't mind doing your practicin' until he's
out for his daily walk-from to 8, just as regu-
lar as the clock"
Miss haywood looked piteously up in the old
landlady's face.
civil do anything to oblige you. Mrs Pen
nypacker," she said, earnestly. 81 haven't for
gotten how much l am indebted to you, both in
actual money. and in kindness, which money
can never repay"
And her soft blue eyes filed with tears as she
spoke.
"My dear, don't say word" said Mrs. PEN
you've got little behindhand, and it's quite
natural you should be a little low-spirited now
and then. But you mustn't get discouraged.
| Things will look up, after awhile. And you're
quite welcome to stay on here, until you're able
to settle up your little account"
HOnOra haywood sighed as she remembered
how often her little advertisement had been in
serted in the daily newspapers. without attract
ing the least notice from the world of patrons
and pupils. There were so many capable
music teachers, willing to give lessons at mod
crate prices" nowadays, and how was any one
to know how sOrely she needed the money!
AND as the time crept on and no pupils came,
HOnOra began seriously to ask herself whether
she should go out in some mental capacity, or
stay genteely at home and starye.
CLOTHES, ma'am!'
HonOra started from her reverie as the wash
erwOman's stumpy little girl banged herself like
human baftering-ram, up against the door,
with prepOsterOusly large basket on her arm
YES" said HOnora, cOloring. ''Put them
down, Sally. But I'm afraid it isn't conye-
nlent to pay your mother to-day"
MOtner didn't say nOthin' bout the pay"
said Sally, wiping her forehead with a whsk Of
ner arm, and shifting herself well nigh off her
feet. Il was to leave the clothes, with her
| 'umble duty, and she 'oped they'd suit; but it
was that damp and muggy on Monday and
tuesday as starch wouldn't stick. And she
'0pes you'n excuse all mistakes, as they shall be
done better next time"
II dare say they are quite right" said Hon.
ora, with little SIGH as she marveled at this
unexpected access Of courtesy on the part Of her
Milesian laundress
But when Sally had stumped off down stairs,
her tapping slippers beating sort of tattoo as
she went, and Miss haywood took off the fringed
towel that covered the basket Of clothes, she
gave little start.
Shirts" said Honora, "and socks and turn
over collars No. Is, and great big pocket-hand-
kerchlefs, like the sails Of ship, and white
vests, and-gOOdness me, what does it all mean?
Mrs. Mulvey has sent me some gentleman's ward
robe By mistake. ! must send these things
back at once"
But then Miss haywood looked down at the
articles in grave cOnsiderati on,
I" l never had brother" unused Miss Nav
wood; "and can't remember my father; but of
this am quite certain-ifI had either one or the
other should thank any girl to mend their
dilapidated wardrobes, if they looked like this.
And Mrs. Mulvey can't send before night, and
un fortunately I've nothing to do, SO I'll lust
mend this poor young fellows clothes, whoever
he may be. half-starved theological student,
perhaps, training for the POlynesian Islands; or
perhaps newspaper reporter. or pale clerk,
under the dazzling skylights of some dry goods
palace. At all events, he's worse off than am
for he can't mend his own clothes. and can"
And the smiles dimpled around HOnOra May
woods little rosebud Of q mouth. as she sat
down to darn holes, sew on tapes and insert
patches.
"Hell never know who did II" said Honora
to herself; 'but, l dare say he'll be thankful;
and If one can get chance to do little good
time and trouble"
And as HonOra stitched away, she unused
sitiOn which had offered itself of assistant ma
trOn In an orphan asylum, where the work
would be almost uncomfortable and the nav next
to nothing, with no Sundays nof holidays, and
ladies' committee, consisting ofthree starched
old maids, to sit" upon her the first Friday Of
every month.
81 almost think I'd rather starve," said Hon.
ora "But, dear me! starving is a serious bust
ness, when one comes to consider it face to
face"
salley Mulvey came back. putting and blow
Ing like human whale, IN about two hours
"MOther says she's sent the wrong basket"
said she, breathlessly.
haywood
':And mothers compliments" added Sally.
"and she can't undertake your things no longer,
Miss haywood, cause she does cash business.
and there amt nothing been paid on your &C.
count since last June"
HOnOra felt herself turning scarlet.
IL am very sorry, Sally said she. 'sTell
your mother will settle my bill as soon as pos
sibly can"
Sally flounced out of the room, red and indig-
nant, like an overcharged thunder-cloud, and
poor little Honora, dropping her head on her
hands, burst into tears.
pretty girl that-very pretty" said Mr.. Brod.
erick, the old bachelor, to his landlady
"DO you mean
II mean the young lady boarder of yours that
see on the stairs now and then" said Mr..
Broderick. "Nice figure big, soft eyes, like a
gazelle. Didn't some one tell me she was
muSc tQaohor