The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-06
CLEANED BY A GIRL.

There is an old Irishnan in the city
who enjoys the distinction of having been,
in days gone by, valet to- Lord Marlbor-
ough. From this high estate he has come
to be man of all work" in down
town boarding house in The land Of the
free. Sometimes he grows reminiscent
and then rivals a trashy novel in his
tales of dukes and duchesses, lords and
Ia dies of the realm. He never fails to
wind up with. AN sure, there was a
tonne when Moike was as good as the
Dist of them" Aside from attending to
the furnace and grounds, he performs the
very enviabie duty of answering the door
bell to admit such of the boarders as
happen to forget their latch keys when
going out in the evening. There is Il
lady at the house who one night went out
with friend to the theater. Mike, who
usually retires at an early hour, was
awakened by loud peal Of the door bell.
He arose, dressed. and opened the door.
when the young woman sailed by him and
UP stairs without a word.
He retired, grumbling under his breath,
mot even a thank you did she give me
for my trouble.
Torrance was repeated. Mike was en-
joying happy dreams of the Land beyant
the sea-" when the sharp ringing Of the
bell brought him back to glorious Amer
,ica, and he again flew to the door. Who
was there but the young woman so chary
with her thanks. Again she came in and
was about to pass the faithful door tend
er in silence, when Mike, drawing him.
self to his full height, said, with imperi-
GUS dignity. Thank you, miss, and as
her footsteps died away, "I'H teach her
politeness,' he added. 70
1t was nearly a week later when he was
again reused to open the door for her.
Scarcely had he admitted her when she
smiled and said. sweetly, Thank you,
very much, Mike. I'm very sorry to have
troubled YOU
80 tArrah. she can learn after ALL he
said as he sought his downy couch.
I was reminded last week of Mike s
method of teaching the small courtesies.
Coming up a crowded street one day OH
my wheel a pretty girl dressed in fault
less spring suit suddenly crossed in front
OF me. I slackened speed, but could not
stop until it was too late, and bumped
heavily against her making an ugly,
dirty stripe on her pretty skirt. She
had not seen me coming, and L wonder
that the force of the collision did not
knock her down. I at once dismounted
and was just collecting my wits to apollo
gize when she said earnestly, ST beg your
pardon" and at once hurried Off.
think 1 stood there all of two minutes
recovering from the first shock of sur
prise her words gave me, and ever since
/ have wondered what manner of girl
she was who could apologize for being
the victim in a bicycle encounter.
There is a girl in town who is bright
and pretty and very lovable, but she has
one affectation which amounts to a
fault. She possesses an overwhelming
desire to exhibit her knowledge, espe-
cially of modern languages. Now, the
truth is, she has never studied French
in her life, but has picked up phrases
here and there which she trots out OPP
portunely and otherwise. 1t is much
easier to write such things than to use
them In conversation, for there is the
pronunciation, you know, which is the
most difficult part of using the Ian
guage
She has a pretty passion for writing
notes to her friends, and everyone of
them is sure to contain a phrase or two
of French. Most of the friends so ia
vored regard the phrases with respectful
awe, and do not strive to unravel their
meaning.
Among the recipients Of her missives
was drug clerk, comparatively young
in years. but very old in brutality He
didn't believe she read French any bet
ter than he did, and conceived a fiendish
plan for testing her ability
On the day Of Mansfield's last appear
ance in "Cyrano' here, the young man
secured the services of a French scholar
and had him write in somewhat simple
but lengthy terms, an Invitation to at
tend the play that night. He then rang
up messenger boy and dispatched him
with the note, telling him to wait for an
answer. Within an hour the boy re-
turned with dainty envelope
The young man tore it open and took
out sheet of paper bearing the brief
message:
Mon cher ami Will let you know to-
morrow"
Tomorrow will be a little late" he
soliloquized, tbut If she wasn't SO short
on French I'd be that way on few dol
lars Roth