Arizona republican., 1911-06-22
POOLY0OLY AND THE LUMP
By Edgar yepson
Copyright. 1909. by the Pearson Pub-
 fishing Company.

uced It. MTs. lnomdS nust heSioSI it."
 "I expect she's an old woman who drinks" said Pollyooly.
 Now, that is an admirable descrip- tion of Mrs. Thomas. How did you guess it?"
 They're generally like that, sir" said Pollyooly. Can I clean it after I've done sitting?"
 Robin Goodfellow and Titania in one" said the artist. How unfortu- nate it is that Mir. Ruff1n has already shall clean it"
 Soon after four the artist stopped working: Poliyooly washed the Lump in his bedroom: and they had tea-a splendid tea-of cakes and milk. Over it Mir Hilary Vance talked to them about fairies in the slums with fam boyant enthusiasm which impressed, but did not convince, Pollyooly. She knew too much about Alsatia. After tea he worked again till a quarter to six. then he paid Pollyooly, went out. and left the studio 10 her ministra- tions. She dusted and swept till half past seven Before going home she wrote a note to the artist: 1t ran:
 Please. MT. Vance, the floor ought 10 be scrubbed and the rugs beaten"
 When she came the next afternoon, she found the floor still wet from its scrubbing: and the rugs had gone to the beaters.
 The artist welcomed them and said: "I had 10 be very firm with Mrs. Thomas. It was the memory of your pained face which spurred me on to the stern expression of human dignity. Do you always have this stimulating effect on human character
 Yes. sir: thank you,' said Polly ooly. who had not the very slightest idea of what he meant.
 She had sat to him for a week Ia week Of splendid teas), adding three shillings a day to. the hoard which should the Honorable John Ruffin sue cumb 10 his creditors, would stand between the Lump and the Workhouse till she found fresh work. Then one afternoon MT. James came in.
 Mir Hilary Vance stopped working. and said. James. I've got magnifi- cent idea"
 Then Heaven help you," said MT. James.
 I'm going to try the anasthetic revelation" said MT. Hilary Vance.
 And what may that be-" said MT. James.
 You take gss-ordinary dentists gas-mixed with large proportion or air. and without losing consciousness the walls of flesh vanish, you sally forth into the empyrean, and see wis ions. I shall see colors undreamed of by the artist. and wonderful beings, the amazing denizens of the sky
 You will You will see scarlet snakes and purple opossums." said Mir James.
 Purple opossums-glorious." said MT. Hilary Vance. You will come with me"
 "I don't think gas is exactly what you want. Hilary" said MT. James thoughtfully.
 My mind is made up. It's no use your trying to stop me. Will you come?"
 II suppose I must" said Mir. James gloomily. All my leisure seems to be spent in saving you from the conse- Quences of your folly"
 You are so unsympathetic," said MT. Hilary Vance
 I'm Arts E2artyr; you can't expect me to like it," said Mir. James. Lets have tea"
 They had tea. all of them together. Over 1t the artist explained the ar rangements he had made with dent ist friend: and Mir. James agreed to dine with him and assist al the reve- lation. Then he went away; and Mir. Hilary Vance got back 10 his work. The next afternoon Pollyooly ob- served that MT. Hilary Vance was en- loving an uncommon lightness of spirit. He sang. or. to be exact. he beloved. heartily. though with little regard 10 tune. over his work. He bubbIed oyer with laughter. Then there came a knock at the front door; he went to it. and ushered into the studio a young person with 8 master full air. a somewhat vinegerish aspect, high color. and thin lips. wearing a large. but execTable. feathered hat.
 She came in, bridling. glanced in- differently al Pollyooly and the Lump. and said in a mincing, lanSuishing voice: "Oh. 'Ilary. why ever didn't you come thlS mOTnlO ID lthc Hlc tO choose my engagement ring, as you said you would? 1 didn't expeck you to beyive like this. when 1t was only last night you harsked me to be yours
 Mir. Hilary Vance looked at her blankly. opened his mouth, and gssped as only a big man can gasp: Last night? Asked you to be miner he said in blankest consternation.
 Last night as ever was" simpered the young person, with fond smile which brought out the cold perspira- ton in beads on the artists forehead.
 "I-I-wasn't myself last night" he stammered.
 Now. don't sye as you'd been drink in. Ilary-
 of course I hadn't been drinking; I never drink" Mir. Hilary Vance broke in.
 No. you was as sober as judge. l never seed you so serious. An when you harsked me to be yours, was that tyken aback you could ave knocked me down with a feather.
 Mir. Hilary Vance grasped his abun-