New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-07-20
-'THIS HOUSE TO LET. /"

Yes, said old Mrs. Pounce, nodding
her orange-colored eap-strings, they
put me in-the House Agency did-to
take care OF the house; with a bright
painted "TO LETT stuck up in front
of the area-windows, and coal and
.house-rent free. Which / don't deny
my dear, is an object to a lone female
like me, with neither chick nor child,
and my own way to make in the
world, with fine laundressing out Of
the question, on account OF rheuma.
tIsm IN the finger Joints
"4Ou seem like q respectable per-
son, Mrs. Pounce, that has seen better
days." wds what thehouse-agent said,
when he handed over the keys, "and, =
says he, II think we may trust you
to take good care ofour doorsteps
and windows, show applicants over
the house, and answer all questions.
"You may say so, SIR says ], with
"a courtesy; "there's many houses I've
had charge of, and never has a fault
been found yet. And this shan't be
the first one. says l..
EWe've q large business, says Mr..
Eagle, "and if you give satisfaction,
Mrs. Pounce, y says he, as civil spoken
as possible, "it's likely you'll never be
without a roof to your head!"
Well my dear, Of all nice houses
and Eve seen a many in my day
this was the incest. Brownstone
front, with bay-WindoW and snug
garden planted all in box-borders, hot
and cold water all through, a little
conservatory with an arched glass
roof at the rear, and the hall floor
covered with real Minton tiles, as
made you think you was walking on
pictures; walls painted with Cupids
and Venuses and garlands OF flowers,
and dados OF hardwood all through
out. Neighborhood most desirable;
drainage and sewerage perfect, and
churches conveniently near. Excuse
me, my dear, if it sounds like an.
advertisement, but Mr.. Eagle, the
agent, wrote it down for me, and [
never rested until I'd committed it all
to memory, SO, could speak it off,
easy like, without any stops or hitch
aes. And this [ will say, as can t be
said ofall advertisements there wasn't
a word in the agents description but
what the house bore out
And the board hadn't been up TWEEN
ty-four hours before there. was a rush
to look at the house. Young married
couples as wanted to give up apart
1ments; old married folks as wasn't
suited with their location; boarding
house keepers as made believe they
was private families; and private
families as wanted to take few Sc
slect boarders. But the rent was put
Hup tolerably high and most OF them
dropped off, after | named the sum.
"Never mind, Mrs. Pounce-never
mind" says Mr. Eagle, rubbing his
hands. "It's a house that therell be
no difficulty in letting, without any
reduction OF rent. "Just wait, . saws
me ''until spring sets in"
man, with gold spectacles, and q
smooth-shaven face, and business
writ in every wrinkle OF his forehead
'tThls house is to let, ma amp" says
he
Eyes SIR" says l.
@sCan look at it?' says he.
Certainly, sir,' says /. / began, as
smooth as oil, about the hot and cold
water, the marble-f1oored bathroom,
and the Minton tiles, when all Of a
sudden, he put up two hands in a.
warning sort Of way.
'"Ehat'll do, Esa'am," says he,
s'that'll do. I've eyes, and | can see
for myself"
Certainly, Sir" says I; but / won't
deny as Twas tookaback by that queer
,dictatorial way OF his.
'Any ghosts about the place,
ma amp" says he.
''ESir?" says /.
Ghosts" says he, out loud and
sharp. "Mysterious footsteps-lurk-
ing MISUNDERSTANDING chains at mid
night?''
Mercy, no, sir, says I, beginning
to feel my flesh creep all over.
Rats" says he.
Certainly not says /, with solid
cenlented cellar floor and sealed
boards"
'sBeetles2" says he.
'Iook for yourself, SIR, says /,
bridllng up a little.
~ like the house, says he, after he
had gone shifting about the drain
pipes and peered into the coal cellar
and wine vault aud sounded the cop
per boiler with his knuckles, Just for
all the world as if he was in the plumb
ing business. You may tell the agent
I'll take it, if he and / can come to
terms about the rent. When shall
you see him?"
"Most likely this afternoon, sir, !,
says /.
..I'll dropin at his office to NOR
row. at nine, says he. "I'm going to
he married, says he, as composed as
ii he were saying that he was going to
take blue-pill. And the house will
suit my wife'sideas. She thinks we're
going to board, says he with an odd
sort OF chuckle in his throat, nand
she's notia bit pleased with the idea.
It'll be a pleasant surprise for her, q
says he.
Well, no sooner had he gone than in
comes a stout, middle-aged lady, in a,
black silk dress, rows OF curls oneith-
er side OF her face and cheeks as red
as any cabbage rose.