Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-05
ALSO GOT THE HOUSE

season. They expressly contracted for the
whole plant and fixtures, from cellar to
attic.
The owner Of the furnished house-a club
and guild woman of degree--held out for a
good. round rental. Her terms were. ac-
cepted. the contract was signed, a sizeable
bunch of the seasons rental was paid In
advance, and the young couple from the
west, breathing signs of relief naturally
figured that they had an outfit all their
own till the cold weather began.
But they were wrong In their handicap
ping figures.
Three days after they were installed their
iandlady. all amiability and smiles as be-
fitted the manner of lady who frequently
presides over woman's meetings of one
sort or another. called in the afternoon. in
the absence of the head of the house.
She was received by the young man s
wife. They talked weather, ailments. cut
on-the-blas and polo hat for a few mo-
ments, and then the landlady's eye sudden
ly-that Is with apparent suddenness-fell
upon couple of small busts-Beeth oven
and Mozart-that rested upon ebony pedes-
tails In the parlor
''Oh. those dear busts." she exclaimed. in
tone of passionate longing. You cannot
conceive how l miss them-I do so dote on
Baytoven particularly! Would 1t greve you
too much. my dear. IL 1 were to ask you
to let me have them for my rooms?"
The young mistress Of the household was
bit taken back, but young matrons are
easily hypnotized by elders of their sex.
especially those who are so distinguished
that they occasionally preside over women s
meetings
"Er-certainly; can understand how one
becomes attached to little articles of that
sort-take them, by all means" she replied.
wondering what her husband would say
when he discovered the absence of the
| busts.
Thank you so much. my dear-I'H send
man for them this very afternoon" said
the landlady, rising and taking ELUSIVE
departure.
An hour later a man with pushcart hove
to alongside the curb in front of the house.
and when he got under way again he had
the busts of Beethoven and Mozart, with
their pedestals, In the hold Of his craft.
"Huh!' was all that the young matron's
husband said when, upon his return that
evening She told him about the absentee
busts.
Five days later the landlady called again,
bubbling over with good spirits and cheer
fulnesS. After 81 few moments of breezy
conversation, she got an eye-focus on a
leather couch i'll the sitting ROOM with
four or five couch-pillows banked upon the
same.
ut is silly of me. my dear. know" she
calculated. but do you know that l miss
that couch dreadfully? l used to always
lie down on IL for hour after luncheon.
and found 1t so restful! Would you think
it-er-covetous of me, my dear, if l should
ask you to let me have ii for nv roonos?''
"Why-er-ah-if-er- the Young mis-
tress of TIE household began weakly when
she was impaled by the landlady's eagle
eye.
II am sure 1 should not object myself, -
She went on. but my husband you see, has
become quite attached to the couch, and
when ne comes in. all tired out he likes to
| but I'll tell him
so kind of you, my Gear-your husban
will not object. know-he is so agreeable, :"
| interrupted the landlady effusively 1t
makes an old woman like me feel quite en-
vious to see how happy you two are to-
senc for the couch this afternoon, and
please do not let the man who comes forget
| the pillows, there's dear"
Whereupon she rose, pressed the young
matron's hand fervently. and was off. Half
| an hour later the push-cart man came up
| four bells. under a full head of steam and
forced draught. and when he pointed down
street again he had the couch and pillows
| properly slowed amidships.
why, what's become of the lounge?" in
| quired the head of the house when, after
dinner that evening, he was ready to
! His wife told him. He looked at her quite
| fxedly.
My dear" said he, you're developing
| into more different kinds of a come-on. a
mark, and good thing than you ever were
| before. Get contiguous to yourself my
| dear. Practice the frozen countenance a
| little more. even if you do have to abandon
some of the DelSarte. l was very fond of
| that couch. l sure was"
| About a week later the landlady showed
up again.
Il do hope she won't be wanting anything
| this timer fervently said the young
| matron to herself when the servant brought
| her the card
The landlandy was girlishly, giddily
| amable and affectionate upon her pre-
| vious visits. After eXpatiating at consider
! Nble length upon sundry and divers topics
| of the day. she had a sudden think
oh my dear. l knew there was some
| thing l wanted to ask you" she exclaimed,
! her crafty countenance wrinkling with be-
| nign smiles. THAT piano lamp-iSn't it a
/ lovely one?-Dresented to me for being the
| most popular lady of my guild. / do miss
it SO much! 1t sheds such a soft. mellow
| glow, don't you think? And I'm going to
| have a small midsummer musicale in my
| teeny, teeny rooms the first cool night, and
| I'd be so much obliged to you if you could
| let me nave it for a couple of weekS!
But l fear that my husband-he plays,
| you -might-er-he is SO particular
about the little things around the house.
| you know-and he might-er-" was the
weak reply of the young matron of the
| household.
| "Oh. l am perfectly sure he would
I not mind, interrupted the landlady Off
| hand. in her confident way. Why. he is
the most delightfully."- agreeable mani de.
| clare. l have quite fallen in love with him
Very well. then, my dear. Shall send the
man for it this afternoon"
| Then the landlady, giving the young ma
| little squeeze imaginable. took her leave.
| well, she's been here again" said the
| Young wife to her husband when he came
in.
| who's that?" he inquired.
| "Why, tie landlady," said his wife.
And what did she swpe this timer" he
| asked her.
| The piano lamp was the reply.
Tile young professional man is self con-
| tanned individual. but this time he was too
| hot for utterance. SO he put on his hat and
| coat and went out into the air for the pur
! pose Of permitting sundry and divers
| thoughts to percolate the better through his
| skull in the open.
! The next morning at II O'Clock a big
| moving van pulled up in front of the house.
| The young professional man was waiting
| for it. HIS wife was not. He lad the p ano
| and the piano stool loaded into the van
| and ordered the man in charge of the
| wagon to take them to the landlady's ad-
| dress. He gave the man note to deliver
| to the landlady. The note ran thus:
Respected Madame: | am naturally of a
warm, generous disposition, and L cannot
bear to think of your having your piano
lamp without the piano and stool that go
with same So l am sending them to you.
Please do not embarrass or confuse me
with words of thanks The pleasure Is