Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-06-20
.POOLYOOLY AND THE LUMP
Copyright, 1909, by the Pearson Pub
fishing Company.
BY Edgar yspson.

JOnn Ruffln watched fOllyOoly, WHO
was tidying up his sitting-room, with
a considerable pleasure. He was not
one on whom the possession OF an an
geiic housekeeper Is thrown away;
and there was no gainsaying the fact,
that, though red-headed. Pollyooly was
the authentic angel child.
Presently he said IL have come to
the conclusion, Pollyooly. that since
you have so many admirers, you can
no longer be considered as Mrs.
Bride"
mo, sir" said Pollyooly.
Moreover. | don't think that Polly
dolly is quite the name for house
keeper. 1t is position of dignity"
Yes. sir" said Pollyooly.
Therefore, shall call you Miss
Bride"
Yes, sir" said Pollyooly.
I'D made up my mind that you
must be called Mrs. Bride. shudder
to think of what British Society will
say to my having Miss for house
keeper. But risk my reputation.
With admirers swarming about, you
must not be handicapped by the we'd
ded prefix. shall call you Miss
Bride"
Wasn't I rather young to be called
Mrs, sir?" said Pollyooly.
Undoubtedly. But housekeepers are
always 'Mrs'-in the best families.
Well, We have righted wrong"
Yes. sir" said Pollyooly.
The Honorable John Ruffin surveyed
her thoughtfully: then he said in a
somewhat rueful tone, 81 feel that
something ought to be done in the
matter of your dress: but. alas. the ex-
chequer mot the public Exchequer. OF
which intend 10 he one day the Chan
cellor). but my own private exchequer,
is empty"
Pollyooly looked down at her Oft
washed blue print frock; and faint
flush mantled her clear. pale cheeks.
She said quickly: I'm going to get
a new dress. sir. Since you took 10
getting so many things for breakfast.
which you don't eat, I'm saving lots
a little on food
The Honorable John Ruffin shook
his head: and a cloud OF gloom spread
over his thin, distinguished face: Il
feel that | ought TO provide you with
some frocks, as the intelligent employ
ers OF angelic housekeepers always do.
But my creditors howl so at my
gates"
They never get in now, sir" said
Pollyooly, with some pride.
Thanks to you. they get in no more.
broken by the clamor OF unworthy
tradesmen. You have a really magnifi.
cent eye for dun"
Yes. sir" said Pollyooly. flushing
with pleasure at the compliment; and
she carried the armful OF garments,
with which in the course OF his dress
ing the Honorable John Rufln had be-
strewn his sitting-room, into his bed.
room.
The Honorable John Rufln finished
his breakfast and his Morning Post,
and went 10 the Law Courts. Polly
dolly finished his bedroom and that Of
Mr. Gedge-Tomkins the barrister who
occupied the set OF rooms on the other
side OF the landing; and then she went
up 10 the garnet which the Honorable
John Ruffin had handed over to her
and her three-year-old brother. the
Lump She found that red-headed
cherub playing sedately on the floor.
and took him forth TO the gardens on
the Thames Embankment She
brought him back for his dinner; and.
after II. with knitted brow and rather
clumsily, she mended rents he had
worn or torn in his clothes. Then
they sailed forth once more 10 the
gardens.
But as they went out OF the Tudor
Street gate Of the Temple the dulcet
strains OF a barrel-organ fell on their
ears: and halfway up that little slum
behind the Kings Bench Walk. which
is all that Is left of the Stuarts' Alsa-
tia. they saw the usual far-too-intelli-
gent-to-work foreigner, grinding out
the Opera Of the Poor. Pollyooly had
acquired a fine dignity since she had
gone to live az IS The Kings Bench
Walk as housekeeper to the Honorable
John Ruffn; she had rather Stunned
the friends she had made in Alsatia
when she had dwelt there with her
Aunt Hannah. But the music was too
much for her twelve years: she hand
ed over the Lump TO the care Of
somewhat black Alsatian maiden, and
Joined the dancing children.
She danced lightly, with natural
grace and a delightful abandon. She
danced with spirit so entranced that
she did not notice the presence OF the
big gentleman. with the sombrero hat
and the mop OF curls, Jill she stopped
to take breath. and he was patting her
on the back.
What did | tell you. james," he
cried. to the slight. keen-eyed man who
was with him. II have always said
that the fairies have migrated to the
slums because only there can they
find that atmosphere of the vivid Joy
of life in which alone they can live"
Vivid Joy of grandmother" said
Mr. James, unsympathetically.
But here-here in Alsatia-we have
seen fairy dance" cried the big man.
"You idealistsi" said Mr.. James. in
soothing tone.
"You moderns, You disgusting mod
ernst" cried the dig man Indignantly.
What's your name, little girl?'
"Pollyooly. SIR said Pellyooly.
dropping a courtesy. like the well-man
nered child she was; and she took the
Jumps hand.
"Pollyooly. the Queen OF the slum
fairies" said the big man Well, I
want a model for 4 set OF fairy stories