The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-07

By ELLIS PARKER BUTLER
Copyright 1907 by Ellis Parker Butler.
The front door was evidently one
Of those front doors that are opened
only on special occasions. Eliph' Hew-
lett went around the house and knock
Cd at the back door. 1t was Monday
morning, and when the door opened
. rush of steam poured out into the
frosty air; 1t was also wash day. The
little book agent with the sandy
whiskers put his foot over the sill, so
that the door could not be shut In his
face. and smiled. II ever there is a
time to smile 1t Is when you are try
Ing to sell book to a woman who Is
1T work doing the family wash.
LADY OF the house in?' inquired
Eliph' Hewitt.
ct don't want no books" snapped
the hook nosed woman, trying to close
the door. who do you think I am,
anyhow? The hired girl?"
You don't mean to tell me that
you are Mrs. smithers! cried Eliph'
Hewitt, In pleased surprise. els It
possible that you are the Mrs. Smith
ers your dear pastor told me was the
president Of the Curleyville Culture
= Club7 Am I really speaking to the
Mrs. Smithers, the one / was told In
Des Moines delivered the admirable
address at the meeting of the State
ceueTdIlOn OF Women CluUS
WELL I'm her." said the woman,
"and I don't take it no compliment
that you took me for the hired girl.
neither. I may look like one in this
rig, but IL you don't like it,
"Ma'am." said Eliph' Hewitt.
you'll pardon me. I took you for
your daughter. I wasn't looking for
one so young to be the president of the
Culture Club. admit freely that
lad
time dined with Mrs. vandergould.
On Fifth Avenue, in the city of New
York, U. 8. A. But you may think
It strange that book agent should
dine with the four hundred as they
are called in the press, although tho
number is enormously stated"
IF you want to know what think,
I don't think nothin' no book agent
never does Is strange" said Mrs.
Smithers, "and I don't care who Mrs.
vandergould lets eat with her. Some
folks amt as particular as others.
But no book agent eats at the same
table as me; not IL know 1t. draw
the line somewheres.
well, ma'am." said the book agent.
Il won't deceive you. I wasn't a book
agent when ! took food with Mrs.
vandergould at her house with the
four hundred and eighteen-that be-
ing the correct number. No ma'am,
/ was a common plumber. and the
very minute Mr.. vandergould asked
me to dine with them was down un-
der the washtubs in the Kitchen on
a Monday morning mending the pipes,
which had sprung leak. That's
why + like to visit the ladies In
their kitchens on wash days, I like
the smell of the steam. It reminds
me of that day, which may call the
day that made a new man of me.
Yes. ma'am."
The hook nosed woman curfed her
lips scornfuIly.
'Tiesl" she said. "Just book agent
lies! Don't tell me that man like
Mr.. vandergould would be In his
kitchen on wash day morningi What
would he be doing there, I'd like to
known"
"what, indeed" said Eliph' Hew-
lit, but speaking to his wife, who
was doing the washTi
"F1ddlesticksr' said Mrs. smithers.
And I wish you would either come
in or go out" she added. 'and not
keep this door open, and all this cold
air coming in"
.I'll come in" said Eliph' cheer
fully. 'T never do unless I'm asked,
hut since you insist I won't refuse.
said the same to Mr.. Vandergould
when he asked me to dinner that
day. Mr.. vandergould,' I said,
don't srowd in where I'm not wanted.