Smyrna times., 1893-11-29
" THIS HOUSE TO LET"
Frost
Comes.

put me in-the House Agency did,
'aHe care OF the house; with a bright
painted TO LET" stuck up in front o
Ihe area windows, and coal and hons,
rent free. Which l don't depy m,
dear, IS an object to lone female III,
me, with neither chick nor child anC
my own way to make in the world
with fine laundressing out of the ones
tlon, on account of rheumatism IN thu
finger Joints. '"'
=. Ou seem like respectable person
MIS- F0unce,t that has seen better days. ,
was wnat the house agent said, as be
nanded me over the keys, ''and saws he
tnink we may trust you to take
good care of our doorsteps and win.
dows, show applicants over the house
and answer all questions.
You may say so, sir" SAYS I. with a
courtesy; there's many houses Tve
mad charge of and never a fault has
6een found yet. And this shan't be the
first one," says 1. WV
| We've large business" saws Mr.
Eagle land if you give satisfaction
Mrs. Pounce," says be, as civil snokan
as possible, its likely, you'll never be
without roof to your head"
Wen, my dear, OF all nice houses
ana We seen many in my day-this is
the incest. BrOwnstone front with a
oay WINDOWS and snug garden planted
al IN Oox borders, hot and cold water
all through, little conservatory with
an arched glass roof at the rear. and
Cne nail hoor covered with real Milton
tl-es, and made you think Won was
walking on pictures; walls Dainted
with Cupids and Venuses and parlands
OF flowers, and dadOes of hard wool oil
throughout. Neighborhood most do.
slr9ie; drainage and sewerage perfect
anu churches conveniently near. Ex.
cIse me, my dear, if it sounds like an
advertisement. but Mr.. Eagle wrote il
Gown for me, and l never rested untiI
ia committed it all to memory. so
could speak it off easy like, without
any stops or bitches. And this I will
say as can't be said of all advertise.
ments, there wasn't word in the de-
Sscrlptlon of the agents but what the
house bore out. 'ie
And the board hadn't been nptwentv
four hours before there was a rnsh to
look at the houae. YOUNG. .marrieJ
couples as wanted to give IN anart-
ments, old-married folks who waenit
suited with their locations: boardino
mouse keepers as made believe tbeV
was private families, and private
families as wanted to take a few select
ooarders. But the rent was mt nm
tolerably high, and most of 'em dronp,
pea on, after I'd named the sum.
Never mind, Mrs. Pounce. nevar
mind," says Mr. Eagle, rubbing his
hands. Its house that there will
be no difficulty in letting without anv
reduction of rent. "Just wnit.u savs
ne, Till the spring sets in"
But one day, in trots an old oentIe.
man. WIN gold spectacles and smooth |
shaYep lace. and business" writ in
every wrinkle of his forehead.
I'M inns nonse to let, ma'am ?" saws he.
Yes, sir" says l. -'
Can look at it ?" says he.
Certainly, sir" sBys I.
began as smooth as oil ahout the
not and cold water, the marble-focred
bath. room, and the Milton tiles. when
all OF a sudden he put up two hands in
warning sort of way. :"
Ihatll do, ma'am,. says he. "tbat,u
10. I've eyes, l can see for mvself -
certainly, sir" says I; but I won't
leny as was took aback by that
queer, dictatOrial way of his.
..,,S any ghosts about the place, ,ma'am9
''SirP" saysI.
Ghosts" says he, out Ioud and
sharp. Mysterious footstepsEInrking
shadows - clanking chains at mid.
lightP" ' az miu-
o .iS feel my flesh creep all over,
"RatsY" says he.
Certainly net" says /, with solid.
cellar floor and sealed boards
Beetles? ?" says he.
Look for yourself, SIR" says I bridl-
ng up little.
! like the house." says he, after he
ad gone smiling about the drain pipes'
nd peered into the coal cellar and .
the copper boiler with his
nuckles, just for all the world as n he ,
'as IN the plumbing busines. "Yon ,
lay tell the agent I'll take it. if he and !
can come to terms about the rent .
When shall you see him pr )
MOST likely this afternoon, sir, "says r
III drop in a his Office tomorrow
nine. Im going to be married y Z
lys he, as composed as if ne were saw. n
y tnat he was going to take bIne 4
Ills. The house will suit nv wife,s 4
Ieas. She thinks we are going IN =
oard, " says be, with an odd sort of H
luckle in his throat, f'and she's not !.
i pleased with the idea. ItU he :
easant surprise for her." saws he. j
Weli' no sooner bad he gone than in 81
'mes stout, middle.aged lady, in a N
ack dress, rows of curls on either n
ue OF ner face, and cheeks as red as .,
~ cabbage rose. =,
I've just come from Mr. Eagles of II
e" says she. "He has given nae the q,
iusal OF this house, 10 case it suits ol
II don't know, ma'am, )" says I, "but b,
bat it's let already"
Let already ?" says she, with n sort Or
scream. "But that's impossibleP in
ont tell you I've the refusal of itP 81
loW me the premises at once. M
Wen, was In pretty puszle. as you Ia
ay hellevei but went all over the re
'use with the curly lady, and she de- an
lred It met her fancy exactly. 4,
possessions a,s on the lst of May, a.
ppose? says she. 4
Yes, ma'am," says 1, "if'- nj
There's no If in the question. nsays 4
e, as short as pie crust "You NAV VI
ke down the TO Let, my good ladyi, A.
eurtslss very low, but I SAYS to nv 10
I, Not If know it, malam' without az
ders frem the agent himself" % %
Away went the lady with the curly NJ
" and rose-red cheeks, aud was In
g putting on my hat to run around w,
the mouse agency, when in comes M
:, Eagle himself, all smiles. m
'Well, Mrs. Pounce" says be. $50 he
e house is let?u aI,
TO my thinking. sir" says /, "it's be
twice over.n -,
Then ! up and told him about my WI
gentleman. ta
Dear me, ,"says be, ''this is very per. N
sxing: At what time was this per- IL
mage here ?" ~
The clock zfruoi~ 10 pi~ u = -