The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-03-15
NEEDLE AND THREAD.

IAN old bachelor" said Honora May
wood.
That's what he told me, just in so
many words" said Mrs. Pennypacker.
who stood on the threshold of her best
room, with her head tied up in a pocket
handkerchief, and hair-broom in her
hand, wherewith she gesticulated, after
tragic fashion, as she talked, while
Miss haywood, who was 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
shawl, And he's willing to pay me cash
price every Sunday. Never attempted
to beat me down a penny, If you'll be-
lieve it, my dear"
why should he?" said Honora
Most people, dc. my dear" said Mrs.
Pennypacker "a wrinkled old widow
like me, who has her living to earn. is
mostly fair game for everybody. But
he never objected to my terms. A real
gentleman, my dear-every inch of
MIN. But he's q little particular, I'm
afraid"
Il suppose old bachelors are" said
Miss haywood, smiling.
Eyes, my dear-yes!" nodded Mrs.
Pennybacker. "But this gentleman is
beyond the average, think
And if he is?"
Nothing" said Mrs. Pennypacker,
making dab with her broom handle at
a stray moth miller which was fiuttering
blindly against the garnet damask win
dow curtains; nothing, except one
don't know where to have him. He
drinks only English breakfast tea, and
Ra wants his Mo m alp with rho
best Attorney butter, instead of lard, as
good enough for other people; and he
must have ventilators to all his windows,
and an open CRATE instead of the base
burning stove. and-I hope you II not be
offended, my dear-but he particularly
dislikes piano."
'Dislikes a piano." said the little
music teacher, reddening in spite of her.
self.
And he says, says he: 4 hope, Mrs.
the house. A piano, says he, plays the
deuce with my nervous system, with its
everlasting tum, tump These were his
'You'l be troubled with one here, sir
and SO, my dear, I'll be grateful if you
won't mind dom your practicin' until
AC . Oub lOI Alo 0oAN Wulh-lIOul one W
three, Just as regular as the clockp'
Miss haywood looked up pitiously in
the landlady's face.
II will do anything to oblige you,
Mrs. Pennypacker," she said earnestly.
II have not forgotten how much 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.
NY dear, don't say a worl." said
Mrs. Pennypacker, hastily. You've
been sick, and it's quite natural that you
should be low spirited now and then.
But You mustn't get discourage. Things
will look up after awhile. And you are
quite welcome to stay until you are able
TO settle up your little account"
Honora haywood sighed as she
thought how often her little advertise
ment had been inserted in the daily
newspapers without attracting the least
notice from the world of patrons and
pupils. There were so many capable
teachers willing to give lessons a. mod
crate prices nowadays. and how was any
one to know how sorely she needed the
money!
Auu as Tune crept gu anu no pupils
came. Honora began 10 ASA. seriously
whether she go out in some mental capa-
city or stay genteely at home and
starve.
Clothes, ma am.
Honora started from her reverie A. the
vasherwoman's stumpy girl banged her
self, like . human bat,ering ram. up
against the door, With . prepesteroasly
large basket on her arm.