The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-06-22
RENTING A HOUSE.
By AMY RANDOLPH.

By AMY RANDOLPH.
"It's 4 very pretty house" said Madge
Dodd. @With lots OF lilacs in bud in the
froul garden, and the borders all yellow
with daioiils and jonquils, and the clear
est little stream you ever saw meander-
ing away under the bill"
"Aladge all over, said the elder Miss
Dodd, supercihously.
"Exaetly what you might expect" OBJ
served Araminia Dodd, uplifting her fine
Roman nose.
"Dafodils I" said old Mrs. Doid, cast
ing her spectacles despairingly on the
table, "and lilacs and . stream Mar
garet Do1j, where on earth were your
wits wool-gGthering to? Was there a
sink in the house, with water-faucet?
How many bedrooms were there? Was
the dining-room cheerful? And how
many would it hold?"
2iadge wrinkled her brows and triedt to
think.
"I-dont-quite remember" said she.
"But know there was such nice tor
toise-shel! eat in the kitchen; and the
sun was shining into the dining room
windows. on, yes. I'm certain that it
was a cheerful room
~AEi ycU engaged th2t house without
any more definite knoBledge than this ?''
"Why yes Didn't you tell me to?r
The eldest Miss Dodd drew a long
breath Of disspproval. Hiss Araminta
shrugged first one lean shoulder then the
other,
Mamma pleaded Madge, If you
think Of taking a few select boarJers,
there could not be a nicer place. City
people Ike flowers and brooks, and it's
only twenty minutes walk from the
station. srd an hour from the city. And
the re-t vas extremely reasonable. For
ty dollars a month for such big house J
Oh, mamma Oh, girls I'm sure you
can't help being pleased. And the Mar
tyn cottage IS only a quarter Of a mile
awsy-theyn u be such pleasantneighbors,
you know I"
The opposition members Of the Dodd
family burst into a cackle of fjeering
laughter. Madge Redeemed TO the very
temples.
"Why are you laughing?" said she.
"What right have you to make fun Of
me?H
"Why don't you say Mare Martyr will
be a pleasant neighbor, at once, and be
done With it, said Araminta. satirical-
ly.
"We understand, very we'll, what you
mean, said the eldest Miss Dodd.
"Its leap year, you know malicious
ly added Miss Aramiatl, and yol have
him at your mercy
~Yol shen't a.. tease Nalge and make
her cry, sid Joe, backed damsel Of
twelve. ainsing heT arms around Nadge's
neck, ~SAy, Madss, dear, 30 you think
can have the tortoise-shell cat all for
my oaH? 1 should 50 Ikea cat for
pe;
SIIs. Dojl wrote to the agent. The
agent returned . most satisfactory letter.
The house he said was slightly ont Of re-
pair, which fact + oo-, Impractical Madge,
in her aImiraiion Of tue viii l1w tree and
tie daGJJiis had entirely overlooked
bat the owner would, doubtless put It
into excellent order. There was water
in the kitchen conducted by pipes from
a spring on the hiilside-there were nine
bedrooms (-Not bad number" said the
eldest Miss DoddI, and cheerful veran-
da fronting the west. He thought there
would be no difficulty in obtaininga
number Of desirable bo4rders. In fact,
If Mrs. Dodd desired il, he would men
ton it in The neighborhood.
eve let the old Corey place" said he,
carelessly, to Dr. Nartyn, in the course Of
the day. AIT last~
Indeed And TO whom? -
'Oh, some strong-minded widow or
other, with q family Of old-maid daught-
ers, who want 10 take boarders."
Dr. Martyr whistled softly; but, after
al, at distance of a quarter Of a mile
FROM his house, what did it matter who
took boarters and who did no.2
Il dare say We shall find them very
pleasant people, said Nrs. Martin, good
naturedly. aud, really, it does not sig
Nifty 50 much, as we don't come from
town until June this year"
Il was a belutifal day in the first
blossomiug week Of May, when the
Dodds, with inuumerabIe packages, par
GELS, shawl straps and bundles, climbed
the liz from the railroad station. The
sun was down, but there still remained
in the west g gl1x as soft as that of the
dail0diis ih1. had 50 taken poor Mldge's
eye. Numberiess silver dos we're begin
ming to sprinkle the heavens; the dex-
scented air vas delicious 70 inhale but
the Jodd family we're and dusty, and dis
posed, in a general way 10 ind alult vita
everything.
Twenty minutes walk from the de
pot! It's half an hour ct the very least,
said the eldest Mss Dood, stopping 10
res. at the prettiest Of rustic stiles
@Madge has no more accuracy than
kitten
Il wonder if the tortoise-shell cat IS
here YETI said Joe. pArentheticaliy.
aAnd, added Miss Dodd, Il shouIdnla
bit wonder if We lost our way"
Like the Babes ia the woods" said
Joe. ~Bai the bi4ck5srr;es aren't even
in bloom vet, AL there isn't an autumn
leaf to be hal"
"Its Ike A4dge's fully. sending us with
out her" said Miss Dodd, aeidly.
"She wanted 70 come you know she
did?T burst out Joe; "but yoh wouldn't
le. her. Eliza You said some one had
got to STAY and look after the packing
boxes and send them OF in the morning.