Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-09-23

hSIGSSS.IW the leaves flutter
.MTkI N softly and the very
WMW ,@ brown sparrows
WV EE dart in and out un-
der the caves In on
ecstacy of tiny delight And the gold
On darts of sunshine, peeping through
the shabby brown moreen curtains at
NO. - Darrell street. made little
aureole of brightness around Polly
hopkins brown braids, as she sat with
the account book in her lap and the
top of the pencil between her teeth.
Thirteen" said Polly, indistinctly,
on account of the pencil, land three
are sixteen-and three are nineteen!
Inree and three are six-and thirteen
are nineteen. That's all can make
OF 1T. do what will! Oh. dear!"
Polly, what a noise you are maxi
,1ng!" said a gently reproachful voice
from the adjoining room. "How do
you suppose can get divine repose
into my 'Evangeline's' face If you keep
on chattering so?"
Polly rose up, slowed the pencil be-
mind her ear, took the account book
under her arm and went into the other
room, where Miss Musidora Hopkins.
ner elder sister, stood before an easel,
with her yellow hair coiled carelessly
around her head and her slim, pretty
form enshrouded in a brown linen
painting blouse. And at one glance It
was easy to see that in the Hopkins
family Musidora represented the ideal
and Polly the practical.
"Musidora," said the little brown
checked, brown-eyed maiden, "is there
any chance of your getting purchaser
for that picture on exhibition at Mon
roe's?"
II don't know, I'm sure" said Musi-
dora, stepping back a pace or two to
obtain a better view Of "Evangeline's"
nose.
Because, If there isn't" added Pol
ly, desperately, 1--WE can't pay the rent
that's ALL"
Polly" said Musidora, in despair,
mo one can hope to be genius with
such sister as you. To conceive a
o. eAAA AOCd OAO . n1uu uuSL NC cAIl1 G
ly at ease. To portray that idea one
must be free from every lurking care"
"But the rent must be paid" per-
sisted Polly.
Sell something, then"
tBut what?"
"The little silver teapot"
II sold that last week." sighed Pol
ly.
"The barometer
"That is already offered in Schnel-
der's window"
Aunt Janets gold beads"
1--WE paid the grocer yesterday with
Aunt Janet's gold beads"
understanding then-anything, l
don't care what. Didn't that old lady
decide to take the furnished room up
stairs?"
Polly shook her head dolorously.
''There are so many furnished rooms to
let," said she.
"Well, then. we had better sell the
furniture" said Musidora, frowning at
her palette.
"But-don't be vexed, Musidora, aft
er we've eaten and drank and lived
that out"
'"Then," said Musidora, tragically,
well starve! At all events, Polly,
leave me in peace now until I've
dreamed out 'Evangeline's' face"
And Polly trudged downstairs, saying
to herself:
II wish was genius like Musidora.
Geniuses don't feel care and debt and
poverty like other folks do"
Just as this fancy was passing
through her head, she found herself
face to face with stout gentleman in
gray, with ruddy face and clear blue
eye.
"Hello, little girl" said he, good hui
moredly, "don't run over me! Where's
the woman of the house?"
IT am the woman of the house." said
Polly, with dignity.
"You?" said the midlle-aged gentle-
man. "Whew-w-w!' Beg pardon. I'm
sure: but the sign on the door"
"a furnished room to let," said Pol
ly, eagerly. "Quite right, sir; would
you like to look at it?"
II don't mind" said the gentleman.
"Is the house quiet? Any other lodg-
ers?"
1.-THE house is very quiet, sir" said
Polly. "And there's only one old lady
who is quite deaf and rather near
sighted and only goes out on Sundays
Mrs. jerks. her name is"
"That will suit me to T." said the
stout gentleman, surveying the neat
little room, with it's pale green carpet,
it's suite of cottage furniture and the
water color drawings on the wall, "and
I like the room. 1t seems clean and
cool, and it's windo VS. open to the south.
I like a southern aspect. It's as good
for people as it is for peaches! How
much a week? In advance. of
course?'