Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-30
Darirla and
The Agents
| She Makes One Mistake
By MILDRED STEVENS
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation. 1911.
By MILDRED STEVENS

I lawHs ~
Miss Charity Decker tied a knitted
"fascinator" over her scanty hair,
bundled herself into long, warm
cape and drew on thick wooden NIT
tens.
"Darinar' she called shrilly, and
when a girls slender form had ap-
peared in the kitchen doorway she
continued: "I'm going now. HannibaPs
been waiting for ten minutes, and !
expect that old horses hoofs are most
froze off. know it's cruelty to AMI
mails to keep 'em standing around IN
the snow like this, but / had to get
ready, and l couldn't find my spec
tacles, and then I lost my handker-
chief, and l found it and lost 1t, and
l haven't found it again yet. Why,
there it is on the almanac. I was looB
ing to see what the weather is going
to be tomorrow
The girl laughed softly as she push
ed the older woman gently toward
the door. There, Aunt Charity; If you
stop and talk much longer the horses
hoofs will freeze off, and Hannibal IS
looking so impatiently at the door. l
won't forget to put the bread In the
oven at IL o'clock, and I'll water the
plants and put Toby in the woodshed
before l go over to cousin Sarah's to
sleep. And III expect you home on
the 8 o'clock train tomorrow afternoon
without fail-there"
Miss Charity was on the porch py
this time and waving mittened hand
TO Hannibal Jones, the stage driver.
"I'll be there in jiffy, Hannibal I've
got to say something more to Da.
rina"-
Darina laughed merrily as she
waved a farewell to Miss Charity's
cesticulating mittens, and she went
back into the house and closed and
locked the door. Miss Charity's de.
parture for GreenvilIe, the next vii
lage, was an event that had been
talked about for fortnight, ever
since her brothers wife had invited
her over to the Baptist donation party
and to spend one night. She had left
q dozen different commands for her
granduiccc to carry out, and the last
and the greatest OF these was the one
concerning agents of any description.
Charity Decker detested agents. She
was scarcely polite when members OF
that honorable calling knocked insinu.
atingly ut her kitchen door. Her strict
orders for the reception of any that
might call during her absence had been
thoroughly drilled into Darina's under,
standing and out Of the tenderness OF
her heart the girl hoped that the agents
would stay away.
"They are not so plentiful in snowy
weather" thought Darina as she rolled
out some ginger cookies. II hope none
Of them E.ili call, but somehow it does
seem rs if Little River harbored more
canvassers. and-there is one now!'
She popped pan Of cookies in the
oven and pushed back her fair hair
with floury hand, leaving dab OF
white on the rose Of her check. She
opened the door to find Syrian rug
dealer sGuatted on the doorstep. Miss
Charity's admonitions still rang in he,
ears.
"So-no-no." said Darina emphat
cally in response to his appealing Ges-
lures as he displayed his wares. Sne
closed the door and watched him
shamble down the path. Her heart
icapcd with fright as she saw him
pause at the gate and make some SORT
Of mark on the white post with a bit
of red chalk. Then, with a sly loos
over his shoulder at the house, he went
on his way.
How dreadful" thought Darina as
she returned to her baking. Perhaps
be has marked the house so he can
return tonight and rob us-or perhaps
murder"
There was another knock at the door,
and Dariua took her cookies out Of the
oven before she tiptoed over to the
entrance and peered through the crack
In the door curtain. 4 man with a
long handled patent mop impatiently
waited on the doorstep.
Darina opened the door.
Good morning." said the agent
courteously. "Are you the lady of the
house,"
Yes" said Darina. "But I do not
wish to buy anything today. We have
a mop we bought from you last year"
Very good, ma'am; you cannot need
another one now, and you will never
unless yours is stolen, for, as I told
You last year, when sold it to you,
our mop is practically indestructible.
Now, let me show you the best clothes
brush you ever saw-there, ma'am-
look at THAR
When Darina had finally added a
firmly voiced NO. no?' to his mono
logue he gathered up his wares, dis
posed them about his person and with