The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-09-24

UG~lrI Softly anu the very
MGIhT ~ brown sparrows
WMV AN dart in and out I'M
der the caves in an
ecstacy of tiny delight. And the gold
en- darts of sunshine, peeping through
the shabby brown moreen curtains at
No. 10 Darrell street, made a 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 indistlnctly'
on account Of the pencil, "and three
are sixteen-and three are nineteen!
Three and three are siX-and thirteen
are nineteen. That's all l can make
of it. do what | will! oh, DEAR!
Polly, what a noise you are max
'ag!" said a gently reproachful voice
from the adjoining room. "How 40
you suppose l can get divine repose
into my 'Evangeline's' face if you keep
on chattering 500"
Polly rose up, slowed the pencil be-
hind he- ear, took the account book
under her arm and went into the otner
room, where Miss Musidora Hopkins.
her elder sister, stood before an easel
with her yellow hair coiled carelessIy
around her head and her slim, pretty
form enshrouded in brown linen
painting blouse. And at one glance II
was easy to see that in the Hopkins
family Musidora represented the IDEA!
md Polly the practical.
'Musidora' said the little brown
checked, brown-eyed maiden, lis there
any chance of your getting FUfchaser
for that picture on exhibition at Mon
roe's?"
II don't know, I'm sure" said Musl-
dora, stepping back pace or two 10
obtain better view Of "Evangellnes
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,
"no one can hope to be genius with
such a sister as you. To conceive
grand idea ones mind must be entire
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, them
But what?"
1.-THE little silver teapot"
81 sold that last week" sighed Pol
~.
THE barometer
THAT is already offered in Schnei-
der's window"
Aunt Janets gold beads"
I'VE paid the grocer yesterday with
Aunt Janet's gold beads"
"Well-something then-anything,
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
err 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:
Il wish l was genius like Musldora,
Geniuses don't feel care and debt eGd
poverty like other folks do"
Just as this fancy was passing
through her head. she found herself
face to face with a 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?"
II am the woman of the house" said
Polly, with dignity.
Your" said the middle-aged gentle
man. "Whew-w-w! Beg pardon. I'm
sure; but the sign on the door"
"a furnished room to let" said Pol
", eagerly. Quite right, sir; would
YOU like to look at it?''
Il don't mind" said the gentleman.
as the house quiet? Any other lodg-
ers?"
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 u.s."
That will suit me to a T." said the
stout gentleman, surveying the neat
little room, with its pale green carpet,
it's suite of cottage furniture and the
water color drawings on the wall, land |
l like the room. 1t seems clean and |
cool, and its windows open to the south. |
1 like a southern aspect. It's as good |
for people as it is for peaches! How |
much a week? In advance. of |
cOurse?"
Five dollars, sir" said Polly, ex-
pectantly.
It's bargain" said the stout gen.
tleman, pulling out bill. Here's the |
first week. My trunks will come this
afternoon. Please send up towels aud
hot water at Dnce."