Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-09-26
SELECT STORY.
A DESIRABLE HOUSE

and cream, and the song of black
birds and linnets before dawn was
very enchanting, but they had their
balancing disagreeables. The gothic
roof leaked under the braided green
cry of wisteria vines and honeysuckle;
the kitchen stood an inch deep in
water whenever there was u trif1e
heavier rain than usual, and the half
mile walk from the depot, however
enchanting in fowery time, gave Mr..
Franklyn the jumping neuralgia
when traversed in a grizzly equinoc-
tial. The butcher forgot to call just
when his wares were needed most, the
next-door neighbor charged little
more than city prices for his milk,
eggs, and butter, and the cook and
the chambermaid left at the end of
| the first month.
So that life in the rural districts
was not altogether without trials to
Mrs. Laurence Franklyn, and about
the time that New York houses
break INTO harmless erysipelas of
bills having the legends ''Io Let"
and "For Sale" she said to her hus.
band:
"Don't you think, dear, it would
be well enough for us to return. to the
city,"
Eyes, l do" said Mr.. Franklyn.
Miss Julia Lesiardi, Mrs. Frank
lyn's pretty 1S-year-old sister, clapped
her hands.
"Good! goodw cried she. 'Now
| shall have some sort of chance at
morning concerts and the opera
again.
And house hunting commenced in
good earnest. But it tagged after
the first edge of enthusiastic enter
prise was worn off. None of the
houses suited exactly. Mrs. Frank
lvn declared that 1t was of no use
/ Gearing out ones shoe-leather and
femme" in looking for what couldn't
be fonnd Dir. FrankIyn said it was
Il pity they hao., 'o"No ''l"' o'. e'
fore. Mrs. Frankly. '''o '''"', 80 i''I
as she was concerned, sh, "o'''o ,''
as soon stay where they WEI M '
Franklyn retorted that anything "
better than an indolent woman.
Mrs. Franklyn burst into tears. Mr..
Franklyn went out of the room,
banging the door behind HIM. Miss
Lesiardi declared that all men were
brutes, and she for one never intend
ed to be married.
Il don't care" sobbed Mrs. Frank
lyn. 1T was all Laurence's fault,
taking this horrid, damp hole"
"Oh, Bee, how can you say So"
said Miss Lesiardi (Mrs. Franklin's
baptismal appellation being Beatrix).
"You were as wild after it as he
was"
"And," added Bee, ignoring this
interruption, "if we have to live on
the grass under an umbrella, | shall
make no further efforts.' Mr..
Franklin said the same thing, and
Miss I.eslardi was just making up
her mind to another season of frogs,
damp kitchen, and fresh eggs at 8
cents apiece, when Bee came exult-
lngly back from the city one even
ing.
"Oh, julia" cried she, 81 have
seen the sweetest gem of house,"
"Been house-hunting, eh :" asked
Miss Lesiardi.
"Well--no, not exactly house hunt
ing, you know. | wouldn't do that
after Laur9nce's shameful behaviour!
But ! saw the bill and went in.
Double parlor, frescoed dining room
in the rear, hot and cold water, gas,
range, baths-everything, III short,
and the hall floor laid in those de-
lightful mosaic patterns of tesselated
marble, the neighborhood delightful,
the park handy"
"And the rent ?" eagerly demanded
Miss Lesiardi, with eyes like blue
moons.
"Only eighteen hundred year."
"Oh," SAID Julia, "but isn't that u
great deal ~
"Not when you consider the price
of houses in general. | will go back
tomorrow and secure it but mind,
it is secret. | don't want Laur-
ence to know that | have taken any
trouble, after his hateful words"
81 don't believe in secrets between