St. Landry democrat., 1886-08-21
AN ELDERLY PERSON.
Why Little Mrs. Sphinx Deceived
the Good Doctor.

'.Dr. Nathaniel Reed! Yes, this must
be the house, murmered prim-looking
little body, as she peered through her
glasses at the door-plate, and from it to
a newspaper clipping which she held in
her hand. AS she awaited the answer
to her modest knock, her thoughts ran
very much in this wise:
''What pity! Such nice garden as
it could be made her eyes taking in
the tangled mass of weeds that flour
ished on either side of the broad tagged
path leading down to the high stone
wall and iron gate, that shut out the
dusty road beyond. Then, as her glance
wandered to an awry blind and the tar
nished door-plate, she exclaimed. half
aloud:
.'Poor man! 1t looks as if he needed
somebody to put things to rights. The
advertisement says nice, quiet, elderly
person.
Here a dirnple stole into view and
played hide-and-seek about this little
body's sweet mouth, for there was no
gainsaying the fact that her lips pos
sessed dainty curve, revealing, as she
smiled, a glimpse of unusually pretty
teeth for lady of her apparent age. In
a moment, however, the dlmple van
ished, and her mouth assumed its before
demure expression as she sighed:
q ssOh. do so hope | will suit. Ihave
tried so hard, and-and know | could
make things look SO different, if he isn't
frumpy and will let me"
s.Did YOU knock, ma'm?"
This from slip-shod girl, who stood
good-naturedly cycling the ''knock"
from her post on the door mat. With
a. start, as if caught doing something
she ought not to be doing, this rather
old-fashioned-lookin little lady ans
wered:
Eyes; isis Doctor Nathaniel Reed
imp
..Yes, am; the master, he's in. If
you're patient, master says as you're
to go in the library
Ooh! no, T.. Tell your master
Icalled about the advertisement.
No sooner had the servant, with
nod of her untidy head, departed,
after bidding the lady stake chair
in a half-darkened room off the hall,
than that small body with a quick
look around, darted across the room to
q mirror. After careful survey of
herself, with nod of satisfaction, she
resumed her seat to await the doctors
coming. Not minute too soon. for
lust then voice outside the room re-
marked:
I'm the sitting-room, did you say,
Janep" #
Then the handle turned, and gen.
tleman of apparently about thirty enter
ed the room. An exclamation escaped
the lady as she half arose from her seat,
and in a confused, hurried sort OF way
murmured:
II think-you will excuse me. There
is mistake. Lwished-I called to see
Doctor Reed
s.No mistake at all ma am, assure
YOU. am Doctor Nathaniel Reed. l
Understood the girl say that you called
about the advertisement inserted in the
paper She is rather stupid, so perhaps
The mistake is on her side. =
Seating himself, the doctor awaited a
reply, thinking ''poor, little woman,
triie nervous about stating her capable
ities.' All at once the trim little figure
opposite him seemed to become more
erect as in clear, sedate tones its owner
answered:
s.No, your servant was quite right.
1t is concerning the advertisement that
I have called. =
..Well, / am glad Jane was right
this time, for she has decided talent
for making blunders. Still, the girl is
good-hearted and honest, and | would
like to give her as fair chance as can.
Her mother, poor woman, is a widow,
with four other children to provide for.
do not know exactly where the fault
is. but of course can see that things do
not work as they should do, and SO it
occurred to me that if / could meet with
a nice, motherly little body twas the
slittle' an artful compliment on the doc
tors partly who would undertake to set
eyery thing straight, why it would be
great relief to me.
II would try to do my best, l am
sure, sir,'' was the rather faint re-
mot a doubt of it," was the hearty
rejoinder; then striding across the
room the doctor rather energeticany