Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-09-29

50 dV"n came the "To Lctr' and it
tluttercd i@nomin:o,sly into tie gutter.
Mr.. Bayberrv arrived to late tea,
with lobster and Il bunch of spring let
tucc under his arm.
"Wcll. Fanny said he, "i'vc got
good news for you. This house is letr'
"How did you know" said Mrs. Bay
berry.
1.-The real estate agent told me. Just
now. To Very respectable old couple
"A man and wife. Intending to take a
few lodgers. I'm told"
Mrs. Bayberry opened her eyes very
wide.
"Well." said she, "he certainly
does look very respectable But when
he said invalid relative" / hadn't an
idea that he meant his wife. And
shouldn't think it could be very pleas
ant for the lodger to have sick per-
son in the house"
And she told her husband about the
benevOlent-visaged old gentleman in the
broad-brimmed Shaker hat.
Its very odd" said Mr. Bayberry,
reflectlvely. "But it's mono of our
business"
All this being. as they supposed, def.
nitely settled, Mrs. Bayberry was not q
little surprised, the next day, at the ar.
rival of Mrs. Fitzfaddle, the bride, with
tape-measurc and Il small memoran.
dum-book
ITO measure for the carpets. you
KNOW" said she. ut isn't quite the
sort of house we could have wished: bul
dear James salary has been cut down
twenty-five per cent, and so we have
taken this house in default of anything
better"
"But it's taken already" said Mrs.
Bayberry.
"You must be mistaken" said Mrs
Fitzfaddle, stifiiy. james rented it,
yesterday, for year, of the owner, Mr.
Trimmer, No. 46 Peanut Court. And
if you could give us possession n few
days before the first of May, it would
be very great accommodation in
deed"
"Fm sure l don't understand it at ALL"
said Mrs. Bayberry. You'll have to
settle it with the landlord. I'm not re-
sponsiblc"
But while the discussion still waged
high. in hustled portly. double chinned
old lady. just as if the house belonged
to her.
"Mrs. Hodgson," said she. with a
comfortable nod of the head. 1.-The
new tenant. Come to see what arrange
ments could be made about storing q
few of my trunks and things, before ]
move in regularly"
"Madam," said Mrs Fitzfaddle, 'the
house is mine"
"Pve got the blank lease in my pock-
ct, ma'am, all ready for signatures
said Mrs. Hodgson.
And the two ladies were glaring furi.
ously at one another. when the stout
gentleman, in the broad-brimmed hat,
entered, followed by an old negro. with
hair white as wool.
II thought remarked the broad
brimmed old gentleman. "that per.
haps it might be as well for Cato and
me to make a diagram of the rooms, SC
that if"
''Oh, stop, stop" cried Mrs. Bayber-
ry. despairingly. clasping her hands TO
her head. "Its been let twice over
already! | do hope you'll not be disap-
A dark frown overspread the old gen.
tleman's benignant countenance.
Madam" said he, "this is scarcely
business-like!'
"Oh. dear! oh, dearr' said Mrs. Bay
berry. my head is whirling around
like top! don't see how it can posi-
bly, have happened, but here are three
people, all saying that they have spe-
cially and separately engaged this house.
Somebody telephone to my husband, or
l shall go crazy!'
In came Mr.. Bayberry. accompanied
by Lettall & Co., Rentquick & Son, and
Mr.. Elias Trimmer, who owned the very
eligible residence under discussion.
And in this committee of the whole il
| speedily transpired that the house act.
ually had been rented to three different
tenants by the various persons in whose
charge it was. And not one Of them
was willing to abate one jot or title Of
his or her rights and privileges.
But presently up spoke the fat old
lady, with the cozy double chin.
dear me-" said she; "can't we all
arrange matters comfortable-like? Amt
we making deal of fuss about a very
little thing? This ere old gent don
really want but three rooms; and the
young lady," with a courtesy to Mrs.
Fitzfaddle, whose Rhine pebbles she
believed to be genuine diamonds. "will
be quite satisfied with the second floor,
through. And me and Hodgson-we
want to take dodgers, and will be suited
with the basement-stOry. And the rem,
won't be but third as much-don't
you see my dears?-and everybody quite
snug and satisfied"
IA capital idea" said the old gentle
man.
~ don't know but what it is worth
considering" said the bride, lin con-
sideration of twenty-five per cent. re.
duction Of my husbands salary. And
one can call it a flat, if one chooses"
And the countenances of the agents
and landlord, who had anticipated
nothing less annoying than three.
cornered lawsuit, grew radiant again,
and matters were all settled.
But" said Mrs. Bay berry. eff i,
had been necessary to put up that bill
again, think should have run away
to Patagonia! Anything-anything but
aHouse to Let"
Two convicts in the California State
prison took delight in torturing a timid
fellow, whose oell was between theil
own, by pretending at night that they
Sow phnSfS Thay talt Oh tn oorh nj hor