The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-10-21

= to his prospective tenant.
Ho< ''is to look after my three
rooms and see that they are swept and
busted"
Il understand" replied Mrs. Peter
son. "Thc rooms and Arrangement
suit me perfectly" she went On. as
they started downstairs again. "and
l shall begin TO move tomorrow. II
will be 80 nice to step round and not
always be running into somebody. And
now Mr.. Petersons sister is living with
us. Well, good day. The things will
begin to come after tomorrow. Good
day Theodore Foster stood looking
after her moment then he went into
the empty sitting-room and took the
large Apartments 10 Let" notice from
the front window. He carried II ND
TO MS own room. 81 hope II will he
q long time before | have 10 see you
again. he told IL as lie put II i'm his
desk
II was the first time for month
that he had felt really happy. Dur.
Ing that time he had tried TO get
tenant for his house. but had been I'M
able to find suitable one. II had
been horribly lonely coming home nt
night 10 a cold. cchoing house. But
now he would have the Pctcrsons
there, and he looked forward to tho
day after tomorrow with Joy. He
used TO know Joe Peterson. but he
supposed he wouldn't see much of
him, as Joe was away from the house
all the week. There were the chill
dren, too. He was fond of children.
even d he was an Old bachelor. Then
he remembered that the children must
be nearly grown up by this time. Well.
young people were almost as good MS
children,
IL was the next day. while he was ont
taking his constitutional. that his
friend Everson saw him and crossed
the street TO talk to him. $50 you
have got the Petcrsonsf" he said. af-
ter they had walked some distance To-
gether. "Well, there's only one thing
about them thrt you won't like"
What's that?' questioned Mr.. Eos
ter.
Their piano"
"oh, | don't mind piano practice Ms
some do said Theodore easily. In
fact. ! rather like it."
"You haven't lived with the Peter.
sons yet" said Evcrson sentcntlously.
You wait little. It's terrible old
piano. | could get more music out of
brass kettle and tin pans. It's all
out OF tune too; and, worst OF all.
they Keep banging away on it all the
time. It's something awful! There
are three girls who take lessons. and
they keep the old thing going about
nine hours day" Thcodore's face
had heightened during this dcscrip-
ton. What makes them keep such
an antiquity?" was asked.
Wei, you see. they are rather poor.
and they can't afford n new one"
Theodore walked moodily along ar
ter his friend left him. Then sudden
ly his face frightened. al can arrange
matters all right" he said, and went
on more brlskly.
The next morning there was consid
erable grumbling from the two men
who moved the Pctcrsons' belongings.
because Mr. Theodore Foster insisted
on helping them.
He was especially troublesome about
inc placing OF the piano. He insisted
on having it on the very end OF the
load. and tied it with his own hands.
When the horses started he trotted
along beside it, and they reached the
house at the same time. 1t was n raw
morning, and the men were putting
blankets on the horses. when sudden.
Iy there came n jang,ing crash. They
hurried TO the back of the van and
found Theodore looking in horror and
dismay at the very badly smashed nj
ano.
ITS all my fault" was all he man.
aged TO say before torrent of abuse
and oaths loud and deep overwhelmed
him.
Theodore went and told Mrs. Peter.
son about the accident and after he
had gone n loud wall rose from the
three girls, but when the household cf-
fects were moved i'm and the Petersons
themselves went to their new home.
there, in the drawing-room. was
beautiful brand new piano awaiting
them.
They all stood in the doorway and
stared i'm amaZement.
"Mr. Foster had il sent" Aunt Sarah
Peterson explained. She had been
there attending to that end OF the
moving. "He said that as IL was due
to his carelessness that the other was
wrecked. he should take the liberty
of replacing IL by this one" Maud.
the eldest girl. went and tried the in
strument. Isn't il beautifulg' she
cried rapturously.
Time went on and the gi1is practiced
diligently. Their aunt also took ad-
vantage of the chance to play. so that
Theodore had all the music he want
ed.
One day Theodore asked Maud e.
90 with him to the piano shop.
II want you to try them ALL" he said
sand see II there is one you like b.
Ger than the one at home"