The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-06-22


clean and neat that it looked like toy
house. Each window pane shone like
diamond in the sunlight, and the
whole place, from the porch with its
lines of snowy glass towels hung along
one side, to the tiny flower garden, and
the lawn that resembled a pocket
handkerchief, was marvel of neatness
and order.
"They seem to take great pride in the
place." said Mrs. Darlington. 81 have
been in a number of such houses when
I've been visiting my poor, but they
usually look very untidy. lean tell you
just what they probably have in the
parlor. Mating on the floor, horsehair
furniture with worsted tides; one table
with photograph albums and another
with stand of wax flowers. They may
have black walnut whatnot, but
doubt their having arrived at that dis
tinction yet, as they were only just mar
ried when they moved in, four months
ago. The furniture man comes prob
ably every week and collects two dol
lars. You see, know all about such
people, and l feel sorry for them, and
l do all can to help them, but one
doesn't want them living right under
ones own nose," finished Mrs. Darling
ton, pathetically, if little vulgar.
"That is the trouble with a city house.
slums or full of shops tomorrow" said
Mrs. Mason, who only rented her own
town house. "Are they quiet, well-be-
haved people?"
"Quiet? Well-behaved? ?" echoed Mrs.
Darlington, in a high treble. ''Why, the
man is actually trying to learn the
violin. Where he got the money to buy
it is mystery"
THAT must be very annoying. Isn't
there something you can do about it"
said the other, vaguely, in polite ac
quiescence.
81 asked James to speak to him, but
he says the man has a perfect right to
play on his own violin, and that he is not
disturbing the peace as long as he
or something of the sort. But my mind
is made up. AS James will do nothing,
l shall take the matter in my own hands
and speak to that mans wife. l shall
tell her the noise must be stopped, and
l will take her package of tea and an
other of sugar, which will have the eff
feet of making her shut her husband in
the attic when he wants to play. So
shall speak to her at the first oppor-
tunity," ended Mrs. Darlington, and
then the conversation turned to other
matters.
The opportunity presented itself on
the following afternoon. Upon consult
ing her watch, as she was being driven
home after making round of calls,
Mrs. Darlington discovered that it was
much earlier than she had supposed.
This was the time to go and speak to
that woman about the violin, and, hav-
ing first stopped at her own door, and
sent the footman into the house to get
the tea and the sugar, she directed the
coachman to drive her to the cottage.
She had never seen the front of the
house, and she eyed it curiously. 1t was
small and square, with porch across
the front and bow window at one side,
and the paint was light yellow, with
white trimmings. At each window
tiny awning tapped lazily in the breeze,
and on the porch stood some small
chairs, and several palms and rubber
plants in jardinieres.
"Tell John not to wait, I will walk
home" Mrs. Darlington said to the foot
man as he touched the electric bell for
her.
She was richly and tastefully dressed,
and under her spring cape of silk and
lace she carried the tea and the sugar.
The door was opened by young wom-
an whom Mrs. Darlington had often
seen in the back yard attired in a neat
calico dress and a Bingham apron. She
now wore a house drcss which showed
itself at glance to- irreproachable.
1t was not wrapper, nor what is called
(Heaven knows Why, tea gown, yet
there was something in its loosely gath
cred folds that suggested the privacy of
home.
SIS Mrs. Madison at homer" asked
Mrs. Darlington, coldly.
81 am Mrs. Madison. Won't you come
III Shi tHC y "Ohldu. one was
tall and rather slender, with dark blue
eyes, and great masses of light brown
hair that showed care in its arrange
ment. Her face was pretty, but there
was an intellectual quality about it that
made the beauty a secondary considera-
ton.
Mrs. Darlington's face was a study
~
through the hall, with its square stair
case of polished wood, its oak hatrack
and umbrella jar, to the parior which
was larger than one would have sup
posed, judging by the outside OF the
house.
Mrs. Darlington paused uncertainty
in the center of the room, and looked
about her helplessly. She did not quite
know how to begin.
won't you sit down." Mrs. Madison
said, gently.
The elder woman sank into a seat