The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-09-25
A DESIRABLE HOUSE.

got tired of life in the country.
OF course, wild roses, Strawberries
and cream, and the song of blackbirds
and linnets before dawn were very en-.
chanting, but they had their balancing
disagreeables. The gothic roof leaked
under its braided greenery of wisteria
vines and honeysuckle; the kitchen
stood an inch deep in water whenever
there was II triile heavier rain than us
ual, and the half-mile walk from the
depot, however enchanting in nowery
time, gave Mr.. Franklin the jumping
neuralgia when traversed in grizzly
equinoctial. The butcher forgot to call
just when his wares were needed most,
the next-door neighbor charged a 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 out
into harmless erysipelas of bills hav-
ing the legends: ITO Lett and "For
Sale" she said 10 her husbands:
Don't you think. dear, it would be
well enough for us to return to the
cityp'
Eyes, l do" said Mr.. Franklyn.
Miss Julia Lesiardi, Mrs. Franklyn's
pretty l8-year-old sister. clapped her
hands.
Good! goodr' cried she. Now
shall have some sort of chance al
morning concerts and tho opcrs
again!'
And house-hunting commenced in
good earnest. But it tagged after the
first edge of enthusiastic enterprise was
worn off, None of the houses suited
exactly. Mrs. Franklin declared that
1t was of no use weari.i /, out one s shoe.
leather and temper looking for what
couldn't be found. Mr.. Franklyn said
it was pity they hadn't found that
out before. Mrs. FRANKLIN said that
as far as she was concerned, she would
just as soon stay where they were.
MIR. FRANKLIN retorted that anything
was better than an indolent woman.
Mrs. FRANKLIN burst into tears Mr..
Franklyn went out of the room. bang
ing the door behind him. Miss Lesiar-
Iii dec AIRED that all men were brutes.
and that she for one never intended tc
be married.
II don't care" sobbed Mrs. Frank.
lyn. at was all Laurence's fault, tax.
ing this horrid, damp hole"
''Oh. Bee, how can you say sop
said Miss Lcsiardi (Mrs. Laurence
Franklyn's baptismal appellation was
Beatrix). "You were rs wild after Il
as he was"
And" added Bee. ignoring this in
terruption, ''if we have to live on tn,
grass under an umbrella shall make
no further efforts"
Mr. FRANKLIN said the same thing,
and Miss Lesiardi was just making up
her mind to another season of frogs
damp kitchen, and fresh eggs at 8 cents
apiece, when Bee came exultingly back
from the city one evening.
"Oh, julia" cried she, "I've seen
the sweetest little gem of housev'
"Been house-hunting, ehp" asked
Miss Lesiardi.
"Well-no, not exactly house-hunt-
ing, you know. | wouldn't do that af'
ter Laurence's shameful behavior! Blu,
! saw the bill and l went in. Double
parlors. and frescoed dining-room in
the rear; hot and cold water. gas,
range. baths-everything, in short, and
the hall floor laid in those delightful
mosaic patterns of tesselated marble.
The neighborhood delightful. the park
handy"
"And the rentP" eagerly demanded
Miss Lesiardi, with eyes like blue
moons.
"Only eighteen hundred year"
"Oh," said Julia, ''but isn't that a
great dealP"
mot when you consider the prices
of houses in general. I'll 60 back to-
morrow and secure it; but mind, it's 9
secret. don't want Laurence to know
that have taken any trouble, after his
hateful words"
81 don't quite believe in secrets be.
tween husbands and wivcs," said julia
Lesjardi. "But, of course. I'll KEEP
your secret!"
Mrs. FRANKLIN had retired to bed
when her husband came home. Miss
Lesiardi, however, was up to pour his
tea.
well, julia" said Mr.. FRANKLIN,
triumphantly, "l've found the very
house we want"
Julia looked up with almost scared
expression in her face.
"You haven't taken it, Laurencep'
"No; but ! shall tomorrow.
81 wouldn't do anything without
consulting Bee," pleaded Julia.
81 shall give hera pleasant surprise, v
said Mr.. Franklyn, buttering Il muffin.
Remember, Ju. this is between you
and me-"
"Oh, of COURSE" said Julia, begin.
ming to feel little embarrassed by the
amount OF confidence reposed in her.
Early next morning Mr.. Franklyn
went 10 New York. Bee followed in
the next train, while Miss Lesiard
breathlessly awaited the crisis.
We shall have to 1.-Two in two houses
as sure as the world" said she to her.
self. What idiots these young people
are!'
Mrs. Franklyn returned rather ear
lier than her sister expected her, with
a bright, flushed face.
"WellP" said Julia, breathlessly.
"Ive agreed to pay $1,000 year fol-
it" said Mrs. Franklyn.
.'rwo lhousand!' echoed Miss Les
iardi. 81 thought it was only l,So0r
well. 50 il was, but there's another
party, it seems. very anxious to secur,
the house, and"