The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-09-18
ROOMS TO RENT.
BY X. TEMPLE MORE

She had paused before the neatest. and
trlmmest, and contest Of little suburban
houses. 1t was just two stories high it
was painted snowy white it had bright
green shutters; it boastcd a veranda and
a huge, old, shady porch. Moreover, there
was garden-a delicious, diminutivc
patch of budding blooms.
It's the very Identical place for me =
she decided, enthusiastically, standin :
like small gray statue of approval in
the sweet spring sunshine "1llat is, If
the rent isn't too high. But I'm very
much afraid it is
Nerving herself to equally endure dis.
appointment, She pushed open the gate
and went up the path
Miss Pamela was called an old maid.
She had Just climbed the hedge Of thirty !:
if she was, she was the Very nicc>t old
maid that ever existed She had pump
little figure, a pair of blue, >nn>hnl ewes,
rosy lips, soft brown hair, and checks a.
pink as peaches.
How inviting everything looked. to.bc-
sure The windows were open, and some
birds hanging directly within. in their
shining cages, were shlcIing in Shril cN-
ultation; a placid and prosperous locking
cat reposed upon the door-sil; the trealing
OF those stainless steps, with dirty feet,
seemed desecration.
Miss Wilde rang the bell; servant
appeared in hurried response
My stars :" she exclaimed, gleefulv,
and fell to surveying the lady before her,
in an ectasy of grand admiration.
You have rooms to rent =" qucried
Miss Wilde. slightly disconnected.
The girl apparently considered an I'M
mediate answer supertluous She could
not have been bad-naturc1 girl for her
face was constantly delugcd in grins Of
the most dazzling description but She
was decidedly peculiar girl
"No," she declared, slowly, after she
had taken a minute, mental memoranda
of the strangers simple, but stylish cos
tune" no, hain't got no rooms to rent,
but my missus, she has"
"Can | see your mistress ?" demanded
Pamela, with some impaticnce
"No," blinking obliqucly at her visit
or's bonnet, "you can'tn'
"Why?"
"Cos she amt to home inst now. Did
We make yersel?" with an upward mo
tion of grimy forefnecr.
"Yes Now will you Ict me see the
rooms that are to rent 2"
'Course-come in Would We mind
walkin' upstairs atore me: | want to see
how ye've got yer polynane hung
never kin get mine to hang eggsackly 50 -
Miss Pamela laughed and mounted to
the floor above. The rooms were delight
ii 4 /. /
both furnished simply but tastciuly.
There were soft-hued carpets, and cur
tains of delicatetintcd cretonne; there
were wicker-chairs, all tied with bright
ribbon; there was walnut desk, a toilet
table smothered in pink silesia and dotted
muslin, and great, tall lamp with globe
of rosy transparency.
What is the rent % asked Miss Wilde,
nervously.
"I-I don't remember" replied the
girl, smiling harder than ever "You
see, Pm absent-minded-I'm awful absent
minded. I'm that absent-minded, missus
got me cheaper on account Of it. Let me
see, though. If any e-called-about
the rooms-I was to say to en- She
broke off abruptly, and looked up at Miss
Wilde, grlnning quite ferocously. "W hat
was that | was to say to 'em :" she de-
manded, serenely.
"Pm sure if you don't know, | don't =
said Miss Pamela, helplessly.
"Oh, yes !" exclaimed the girl, with a
sudden CLEAN of recollection the dror
its in the dror. !"
She ran to the desk, pulled open drawer
and took therefrom sheet of paper,
which she brought back in triumph. 1t
was statement of the terms, written by
the landlady, also the stipulatins-good
references and no children.
Miss Wilde's brow cleared. The terms
were low-decidedly low.
"I'll take 'em! 7" she declared, promptly
Missus left that there paper for me to
show to folkses!" exclaimed the girl
Pm that there absent minded, yc know -
"You'll not forget to tell her Tvc en-
gagged them 2" said Pamela, severely
must take possession the day after to-
morrow Give me pencil and I'll leave
a note for your mistress, which you can
give her when she returns. Will you ?"
"There !" when she had written out
her acceptance Of the terms named and
unexceptional references" there. Now,
don't forget to give it to her'' y
My stars" no nodding and smiling,
confidently. "Say! is sech long gloves as
them the fashion-eh ~"
She stood and stared after Miss Wilde
as that lady walked briskly down the
path
"Now, if only could get my dress to
look like her'n. What's this paper? Oh,
yes-Pm to give to missus! Well, Pll
put it safe away for fear o losin' it."
And she slowed it carefully away in
the slimmest, and narrowest, and most in
accessible drawer in the walnut desk, and
forthwith forgot all about it.
Half an hour later, her mistress re-
turned.
"Any one been here, Susanna ?"
"No," with cheerful grin" not a
soul!"
"Now, Susanna, you know how absent
minded you are. Try and remember"
"Lemme see!" ruminated Susanna,
looking thoughtiully. "No, honor-bright, u
with a more cheerful grin than before,
not solitary soul "
"Well," said Mrs Tobey, taking of