The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-06-29
Pollyooly
and the. Lump
By Edgar Jepson)
,s.. ~ THE ,.A.sos ,vsl,sxrso CO
tc.shsssd Jrve- ,s,s.rA.,,

MIS-. MeeKen was one OF the genuine,
| old-fashioned Temple laundresses, who
| apparently earned that title by wash
J ing nothing; not even themselves. She
was slovenly. dirty, dishonest, and
! gtn-sodden. Indeed, from her aroma,
she might have been perambulatipg
| Juniper tree. She had resented bitter
ly the intrusion Of Hannah Bride, be-
cause she had expected on tbs death
OF Hannah Brides predecessor to OBJ
tain herself the post OF laundress to
the Honorable John Rufan and Mr..
| ge-Tomkins- She could not in
deed have done the work of four sets
Of chambers; but that would not have
distressed her at all. as long as shc
WAS drawing the money, and enjoying
double the quantity Of gin. Her orig
inal bitterness had been increased
by distinct lack of sociability on the
part OF Hannah Bride. who had not
only failed to treat her to gin, but
had refused to come and be treated,
with contemptuous asperity exceed
ingly CALLING to highly spirituous
woman. Her rivals prolonged absence
from her work had awakened in her
the hope that she was too Ill to return.
and that the coveted posts would at
last fall to her lot
She had devoted that morning to an
inquiry into the matter, and had OBJ
tanned the amazing and delightful In
formation that Hannah Bride had been
dead three weeks. She WAS sure that
Pollyooly had suppressed this fact and
was keeping her aunt's posts under
false pretenses. With infinite 10Y she
saw her way to take a yicarious re-
IN dnto rfr L.
her income. Glorious visions Of I'M
limited gin floated before what she
had in mind
Pollyooly was washing the sleepy
Lump before putting him to bed-thas
the Honorable John Rufin became
aware, chiefly through the medium Of
his olfactory nerve, of the presence
of Mrs. Meeken waiting at his door.
and gave curt but grudging assent
to her request for an interview. He
led the way into his sitting-room.
lighted the gas, and surveyed his visI.
tor with an expression OF considerable
disfavor.
II you please, sir, It's about that
little gel what does your work, sir.
that I've bin wyeting to speak to you,
".
sir" said Mrs. Meeken
''Your duty would be plain" sa,d
the Honorable John Ruffln, looking
critically at Mrs. Meeken's ilI-fayorei
face.
Yes, sir; that there little gel 'aa
bin deceivin' you, sir, mos shameful
the hartful little 'uzzy, she is" said
Mrs. Meeken, with an admirable dis.
NJ Vt ~, tn
How rarely do we find beauty and
virtue conJoined," said the Honorahls
John Ruffin in guarded tone.
" You may well say 30. sir: an when
! card as how that little 'uzzy's aunt
was dead. an 'ad bin dead this three
weeks, an you KNOWN nothink about
1t, SEE to myself, Not single wink
Of sleep will you get this night, Maria
Meeken, KNOWN as 'ow those two poor
gentlemen are bein' hartfully de.
ceived.'"
:" In matters of morals one should
never wait" said the Honorable John
Rut1n sententiously. ~ congratulate
you on the speed with which you have
performed this painful duty. Good.
evening"
Mrs. Meeken's face fell; and she
lOuhCu at uiul Will d palQ6Q SuTDTlSe.
Then she said, You'll be wantin'
laundress, SIR"
You are wrong, Mrs. Meeken u. ;.
what shall be wanting e. what l
am wanting Is a valet" said the Hon.
orable John Rufin.
And well did / know It," said Mrs.
Meeken, cheering up. AN often an
often ave l said to myself. If Mr.
Ruffln would let me wallet them there
rooms OF is, e wouldn't know 'isself."
Another Whit of Mrs Meeken struck
on the sensitive nostrils OF the Hon.
orable John Ruff1n; and he shuddered:
can we'll believe It," he said coldly.
But | am afraid that the proprieties
would not permit It, Good evening"
But you'll be wantin' some one to
attend to you, sir. That there little
uzzy can't do rooms like these prop.
erly. She can't keep them clean
not what l calls Clean" cried Mrs.
Meeken.
i should think that very likely in.
Decd" said the Honorable John Ruf.
I'm. But 1t is wiser to endure the
evils we have than to fly to those we
smell. Good evening, Mrs. Meeken.
You will find the front door open. l
left 1t OPEN"