Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-06-23
MET THE DIFFICULTY
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lie Smashed the Piano, but
She Smashed His
Heart.
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"YOu understand that l expect you to.
look after my three rooms, sweep and
dust and all that sort OF thingT'
"Yes," remarked Mrs. Petersen, II
understand. The rooms suit me per-
fectiy," she went on as they passed
down stairs again, "and 1 shall begin
to pack up tomorrow. 1t will be so
nice to be able to turn around and not
be always running into everybody. And
now that Mr.. Petersen's sister Is living
with us Well. good day. The things
will begin to come by day after tomor-
row. Good day"
Theodore Foster stood looking after
her a moment; then he went into the
empty pnrlor and tool the large "To
Let" placard from the front window.
He carried 1t up to his sitting room. 81
hope It win be n long time before 1
have to see you again." he told 1t rs he
put 1t in his desk.
1t was the first time for n month that
he had felt really happy. During that
time he had tried to get n tenant for
his house, but had been unable to find
n suitable one. 1t had been horribly
lonesome coming home ut night TO n
Geld, ecboing house. But 0 he would
have the Petersens there. and he look
ed forward to day after tomorrow with
Joy. He used TO know Joe Petersen,
but he supposed he wouldn't see much
OF hlIn, as Joe was away from home all
the week. There were the children too.
lie was fond of children, even IL he
was an old bachelor. Then he remem-
bered that the children must be nearly
grown up by this time. Wen, young
people were almost as good rs children.
1t was the mex day, while he was
out taking his constitutional, that Ev-
erson saw him and crossed the street
70 speak to him. $50 you have got the
Petersens?" he snld after they had
walked a few blocks. "Well, there's
only one thing about them that you
won't like"
what is thatY' questioned Mr.. Theo-
dOre.
''Their piano"
ooh. l don't mind piano practice as
some do" said Mr.. Theodore easily
ain fact, J rather like it,"
"Xou haven't lived over the Peter
sens yet" said Everson sententiously
you wait n little. It's an old piano
shat came over in the Mnyhower-that
Is, II any pianos did come over theI
this is one OF them. / could get more
music out of brass kettles and tin pans
It's all out of tune, too, and, worst Of
all, they keep banging away on it al
the time. In vacation it's somethin;
awful. There are three girls that TAXI
lessons, and they are bound to be play
fng, so they keep the old thing goin.
about nine hours n day"
Mr.. Theodore's face had lengthenel
during this description. What make
them keep such an old trapr' he asked
well, you see, they're kind of poor
and they can't afford n new one"
Mr.. Theodore walked modify alon.
after his friend left him. Then sud
dsnly his face frightened. II can fl.
II all right" he said and went on NOR
briskly.
The mex morning there was consit
cradle grumbllng from the two me
who moved the Petersens because NJ
Theodore Foster insisted on helping.
He was especially troublesome aboU
the placing OF the piano. He inslste
on having 1t on the very end of the loa
and tied 1t with his own hands. Whe
the tenn started, be trotted along b.
side 1t, and they reached the house {
the same time.
1t was n raw morning, and the m
Aw.~. .utNfa- hIonlratu "a. NIa har-t
when suddenly there came a janglir
crash. They hurried to the back Of II
wagon and found Mr.. Theodore lookin
IA horror and dismay at n very bad
smashed piano. ITS all my fault
was all he managed TO say before a to
rent of abuse and curses loud and dee
overwhelmed him.
Mr.. Theodore went and told Mrs. p
tersen about the accident, and after
had gone n loud wall arose from n
three girls, but when the household G
fects were all moved and the Petersen
themselves went to their new hon
there, in the parlor, was n beautifu
brand new piano.
They all stood In the doorway an
stared in amazement.
"AIr. Foster had it sent" Aunt Sara
Petersen explained. She had bee
there attending 10 that end Of the mo
ing. HE said that as It was due to h
earelessness that the other was wrec.
ed he should take the liberty OF sendir
for this one"
Maud. the oldest girl, went and tTi,
the instrument. Isn't 1t beautiful
she cried rapturously.
Time went on. and the girls practic'
diligently. Their aunt also took advs
tage OF the chance to play, 80 that NJ
Theodore had all the music he wante
Tue Petersens had been there tv
months, when one day Mr.. TheOdo