Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1909 — TALES OF A TUB. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TALES OF A TUB.

When Cupid Used Soapsuds to Ensnare His Willing Victim. By HARRIET G. CANFIELD. The Landors. with the exception of Dick, whose business detained him in the city, were spending the summer at tbeir country borne, some thirty miles out of C. One day Mollie decided to run in for a few days “to see Dick and shop a little.” The next morning she walked into her brother’s office, much to his surprise and delight, for Dick was fond of his little sister. “I thought you must be lonely, dear,” she said, “when you go home at night, and I’ve come to be company for a day or two.” “That’s good of you, Mollie. I’ll tell Mrs. Klapper to come over early and get breakfast for us. She keeps my rooms in order, but I get all my meals downtown.” “Bless you. Dick. Lean get breakfast for us both! You need not say a word to Mrs. Klapper. How surprised she’ll be when she comes over in the morn-

ing! I must go to do some shopping now, but I’ll take tea with you at 5, and then we’ll buy bread, coffee and some kind of breakfast food. Won’t it be fun camping out in the house?” After a jolly breakfast Mollie watched him swing into a car; then she went into the kitchen. Mrs. Klapper found her there. “Why, Miss Mollie,” the good woman cried, "what ever are you In town for?” Mollie explained. “Now that I’m here,” she added. “I think- I’ll wash all of the bedroom curtains—those dotted swiss ones, you know. Jane should have attended to them before she went but to Hill Side.” “Oh. let me wash them. Miss Mollie! It’ll spoil your pretty hands.” And Mrs. Klapper looked distressed. But Mollie laughingly declined. “No,” ahe said, “.you may sweep and dust to your heart’s content, but I shall do the washing.” The water was soon bubbling on the kitchen range. Mollie scorned the basement laundry, and, with Mrs. Klapper’s help, carried her wash bench and tubs to the back porch. Enveloped in one of Jane’s big aprons, with sleeves rolled up to her dimpled elbows. Mollie bent over her washboard. Mrs. Klapper, broom in hand, stood for a moment watching her. “Don’t tire yourself to death,” she said. “I hope you’ll call me before you’re all tuckered out.” She turned to go into the house, but paused to say, “I’d most forgot your brother said he.expected a young man here today.” “Yes, 1 know—it’s some one that wants work. Dick says. I’m to find something for him to do. If he comes in time I think I’ll let him take a turn at the tub if I'm tired. Now you can go to work in peace, Mrs. Klapper, for I shall have an able assistant.” and Mollie laughed and splashed the water right and left with her vigorous rubbing. A half hour went by, and then Mrs. Klapper appeared In the doorway. “That young man’s come,” she said. “He walked right up to the front door and rang the bell. He didn’t look as if he needed work much—dressed as well as Mr. Dick every bit I’ve left him on the porch and locked the door after me. You can’t be too careful. No one knows but he stole that suit” Mollie laughed. “Tell him to come around here where I am.” she said, “if he wishes to work.” “Mercy! He ain’t so much as memtloned yet that he Is hunting a jobacts as if he expected you to see him in the parlor. I’m most afraid to have such a man around.” “Oh, no!” said Mollie. "You are too hard on the poor fellow. Probably some one gave him the clothes. Please send him here, Mrs. Klapper.” A minute or two later a pleasant faced, athletic looking young man swung around the corner of the house ind lifted his hat to Mollie. Yes, he has well dressed and fine looking. “Miss Landor?” he asked.' “Yes, and you are the—the”—how should she say It?—“young man my brother was expecting?” “The same—Brent Carrol, at your service. Your brother said I’d find you here. I’ve just been down to his office.” “Very well,” she said. “You can put your hat and coat on the chair just Inside the kitchen door there, then come here.” A look of surprise crossed the

young man’/ face; then his blue eyes* twinkled with fun. and he sprang to do her bidding. “What next, ma’am?’ he said submissively. Brent had been a star performer in the college plays, and now He fell at once into the part Mollie had assigned him. “Next I want you to take ny place at this tub while 1 rest. It Isn’t a man’s work, perhaps, but- you look strong and”— “Yes’m, I’m strong,” he Interrupted her. “but they thought I’d die once, when I had ammonia of the lungs.” 'And he bent over the washboard with a pensive air. “Of course he means pneumonia,” Mollie said to herself., “No one would imagine from his appearance that he was so Ignorant.” She sat on the top step and wiped her wet hands on Jane’s apron. The young man found time to glance at her now and then, but he did not neglect his work. Indeed, after watching his vigorous operations for a few minutes Mollie felt it necessary to curb his zeal. “You will wear the curtains out if you rub so hard.” she said. “See! This is the way.” And she took his place at the tub. Her pupil looked on admiringly. “Aye. there’s the rub,” he said softly, for the moment forgetting his part. Mollie turned and looked at him in surprise. “Do you like ‘Hamlet?’ she asked.

He was on his guard again. “1 never met the gentleman, ma’am,” he said, “bein’ only a poor washerman.” “Oh,” Mollie exclaimed, “is washing your usual occupation?” “It’s a good one. ma’am, as you know, or you wouldn’t be at It yourself. beggln’ your pardon.” He bent low over the tub as he made this speech. “Yes,” she said gravely, “it is a good occupation—making things clean and sweet. ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness.’ Now the curtains are in the rinse water, and we’ll have lunch and then get them on the line as soon as possible.” So they ate bread and jelly together on the back steps to the dismay of Mrs. Klapper. who saw them from an open window. When Dick came home from the office a little later she met him at the door. “Well.” he said to her, “1 suppose you’ve had two callers this morning—the man after work and my old friend Carrol. I was Surprised when he walked in.” Mrs. Klapper looked mystified. “Only one man came,” she said. “He’s here now. helping Miss Mollie wash curtains. They were sitting on the steps awhile ago. eating a cold lunch together. You’d be frightened If you knew how she’s trusted that strange young man. I told her it was dreadful risky, but she said she’d trust him exactly as she would any friend of yours and shejiked him much bet-ter-all but his language, which was not always grammatical. I believe he heard her, too, for he’s been freer than °ver since.” Dick stalked through the house and on to the back porch. A cuffless, collarless young man was banging curtains on the line. Dick could not see his face, but there was something familiar about those broad shoulders. “Brent Carroll,” he said with a chuckle and was down the steps with a bound. Mollie’s assistant turned, finger on lips. “Hush!” he whispered. “She takes me for a washerman, and I like the job.” it was too late. Mollie’s quick ears had caught the word of warning, and an explanation was unavoidable. I’m sure that she forgave him, for he Is still tn her service. Cupid does not always slay his victims with arrows. Sometimes he uses soapsuds

“SEE! THIS IS THE WAY,” AND SHE TOOK HIS PLACE AT THE TUB.