The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-05-11

HOnora said. but dear me! starving
is serious business, when one comes to
consider it face to face"
Sally Mulvey came back, putting and
blowing like human whale, in about
two hours.
Mother said she sent the wrong bas-
ket, said she, breathlessly.
Il thought it very probable, Sally"
said Miss haywood.
"And mothers compliments, added
Sally, land she can't undertake your
things no longer, because she does cash
business, and there hain't nothing been
paid on your account since last june"
Honora felt herself growing scarlet
II am very sorry, Sally" said she.
"Please tell your mother l will settle
my bill as soon as l possibly can"
Sally founced out of the room, red
and indignant, like an over charged
thunder-cloud, and poor little Honora,
dropping her head on her hands, burst
into tears.
pretty girl that--very pretty indeed"
remarked Mr.. Broderick, an old bache-
lor, to Mrs. Pennypacker, the landlady.
do you mean"
Il mean the young lady boarder Of
yours that l see on the stairs now and
then" explained Mr.. Broderick. "Nice
figure-big, soft eyes, like gazelle. I
believe. some one told me she was a
music teacher. Is she?"
"That's her profession" answered
Mis-. Pennypacker. "But there amt
many pupils as wants tuition, and poor
little dear, she has had hard time of it.
"Hump" grurted Mr.. BrodeIick.
"What fools women are not to have
regular profession! If I had daughter
I'd bring her up self-supporting insti-
tuition"
And Mr.. Broderick disappeared into
his room, in the midst whereof stood a
girl with tapping slippers, pretentious
shawl. and a bonnet which had origi
nally been manufactured for O woman
twice her size.
"Who are you, my good girl?" de-
manded Mr.. Broderick.
please, sir, I'm Sally, the washer.
woman's Sally" was the response.
Sand what do you want here?"
please, sir, I've come to bring your
things said Sally, chattering off her
lesson like parrot. "And, please. sir,
her umble duty, and hopes they'll suit,
that it was that damp and muggy Mon
day and Tuesday as starch wouldn't
stick; and she hopes you'll excuse mis-
takes, as they will be done better next
time, SIR"
"Who mended them?" demanded Mr..
Broderick, whose hawk eyes had caught
sight of the dainty needlework upon his
garments.
"Nobody mended them" said Sally.
"And mother she says it's easy to see
as the new gent is bachelor, ON account
of the holes in his heels and toes, and
strings off his dickeys."
~ can tell you who mended 'em,"
said Mrs. Pennypacker, 'for see her at
it. the pretty dear-Miss haywood.
And says she, Il don't know whose they
are. Mrs. Pennypacker, but they need
mending, and a kind action never comes
amiss.' No more it does, bless her"
"Humphw said Mr.. Broderick; "she
is right-no more it does. And she's o
regular scientist at the needle, Miss
haywood. Just look at that patch, Mrs.
Pennypacker! 'Euclid's Geometry
couldn't produce straighter line or
truer angles. See the toe of that stock
ing! It's like a piece of Gobelin
tapestry. That's the way l like to see
things done"
And Mr.. Broderick never rested until
he had been formerly introduced to
Honora haywood, and thanked her with
equal formality for the good offices she
had rendered him.
1t was a golden October evening that
Honora came down into the kitchen
where Mrs. Pennypacker was baking
pies for her eccentric boarder with the
crust made of the best Alderney butter,
instead of lard.
"Oh dear! oh, dear!" sighed Mrs.
Pennypacker; what an awul thing to be
an old bachelor, to be surew
HE won't be bachelor much
longer" said Honora, laughing and col
oring as she laid her cheek on the land
lady's shoulder.
"What do you mean?"
HE has asked me to marry him after
only fortnight's acquaintance. He says
that girl who can mend stockings as
do needs no other test. And he says he
loves me, and-and-"
"Well?"
Il almost think love him." whispered
Miss haywood.
And so the problem Of Honora's soli-
tary life was solved, all though the mag
ic influence OF needle and thread.
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