Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-09-24

NV softly and the very
MHh( ~ brown sparrows
WIZ Nm 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 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!
Three and three are six-and thirteen
are nineteen. That's all l can make
of it. do what l will! Oh. dear!"
Polly, what a noise you are max
ing!" said gently reproachful voice
from the adjoining room. How do
you suppose can get divine repose
into my 'Evangelines' face II you keep
on chattering so?"
Polly rose up, slowed the pencil be-
hind her ear, took the account book
under her arm and went into the other
room, where Miss Musidora Hopkins,
her elder sister, stood before an easel,
with her yellow hair coiled carelessly
around her head and her slim, pretty
form enshrouded in brown linen
painting blouse. And at one glance 1t
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, sis 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 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 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, then"
But what?"
1.-THE little silver teapot"
81 sold that last week." sighed Pol
ly.
THE barometer"
THAT is already offered in Schnei-
der's window"
Aunt Janet's gold beads"
1--WE paid the grocer yesterday with
Aunt Janet's gold beads"
"Well-something 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
or we've eaten and drank and lived
that out"
"Then," said Musidora, tragically,
"we'll 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 I was genius like Musidora.
Geniuses don't feel care and debt and
poverty like other folks do"
Just as this fancy was passing
her head. she found herself
face to face with stout gentleman in
gray, with a ruddy face and clear blue
eye.
Hello, little girl" said he, good hui
don't run over me! Where's
the woman of the house?"
81 am the woman of the house." said
Polly, with dignity.
"You?" 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
ly, eagerly. "Quite right, sir; would
you like to look at it,"
81 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 a T." said the
stout gentleman, surveying the neat
little room, with its pale green carpet,
Its suite Of cottage furniture and the
water color drawings on the wall, land
I like the room. 1t seems clean and
cool, and it's windows open to the south
I like southern aspect. It's as good
for people as it is for peaches! How
much week? In advance. of
course?"
Give dollars, sir" said Polly. ex-
pectantly.
Its bargain" said the stout gen.
tleman, pulling out bill. Here's the
first week. My trunks will come this
afternoon. Please send I'D towels aud